Studies in Ancient Astronomy. VII. Magnitudes of Lunar Eclipses in Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy

Abstract

When F. X. Kugler’s monumental work “Die Babylonische Mondrechnung” appeared in 1900, it presented for the first time an insight into the methods and achievements of Babylonian astronomy of the Hellenistic age. Continued research made it increasingly clear that the Babylonian lunar theory is equalled only in the best works of Greek mathematical astronomy. The results reached in the present article point in exactly the same direction. It is the purpose of this study to show that several features in the Babylonian theory of eclipses are the results of a common methodological idea which in itself is of great historical interest.

The first five articles of this series were published in the “Quellen und Studien zur Geschichte der Mathematik,” Ser. B, Vol. 4 (1937–1938), under the title “Untersuchungen zur antiken Astronomie.” The sixth study will be published in the anniversary volume dedicated to G. Sarton.