Abstract
The most commonly attested form of rising time scheme is one in which culminating points at or behind Ziqpu Stars are given either for the beginning and end of a sign of the zodiac or for the end of each twelfth of a sign of the zodiac (known as a microzodiac sign). This chapter studies the texts containing zodiac-based rising time schemes showing that they all attest to the same basic scheme. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that this scheme is identical to the calendar-based scheme, and that the calendar-based scheme was probably the earlier of the two schemes.
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- 1.
In addition, BM 41679 (=LBAT 1509) may contain a text of this type or may just quote from from the scheme. Unfortunately, the surface of the tablet is extremely badly damaged and I have not succeeded in making a coherent reading of more than a few lines text.
- 2.
For an edition and extensive discussion of this part of the tablet, see Horowitz (2014: 124–139).
- 3.
For further discussion of this term, see Horowitz (2014: 135–139).
- 4.
Rochberg (2004) incorrectly places the culminating position at the end rather than the beginning of the statement.
- 5.
Star names which include positional reference to other stars are known in other contexts. For example, one of the Normal Stars is named “The Small Star Which is 4 Cubits Behind the King” (MÚL TUR šá 4 KÙŠ ár LUGAL).
- 6.
Schaumberger (1955: 241) considered the possibility that the text refers to zodiacal sign of Scorpio which includes the rear balance of Libra as part of the constellation. There is no support for this suggestion in Babylonian sources.
- 7.
As discussed in Sect. 2.3, the list implies either a total of 359 UŠ or 364 UŠ, not the expected 360 UŠ.
- 8.
- 9.
See Horowitz (2014: 130) for a detailed discussion of this issue.
- 10.
It is tempting to consider whether this blank space was intended to include a drawing that was either never inscribed, or which was drawn in ink and has now been lost. Similar blank spaces appear on BM 34719 (=LBAT 1494), a text describing the construction of several gnomon-like instruments which almost certainly was intended to have drawings.
- 11.
As I will discuss in Chap. 5, the so-called “GU Text” hints at the existence of the calendrical scheme before the development of the zodiac in the late fifth century BC.
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Steele, J.M. (2017). Zodiac-Based Rising Time Schemes. In: Rising Time Schemes in Babylonian Astronomy. SpringerBriefs in History of Science and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55221-7_4
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