Front - Line 1

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Hand drawing below by Ernst F. Weidner (1952)


MUU.U.U7DIŠAGŠA2DUŠEŠLUGALTINTIRKIMAŠU.U.UU.U.UUBGU4ANIGIU


Transliteration:

MU37mdAG.NIG2.DU.ŠEŠ LUGAL TIN.TIRki BAR 30 sin ar2, GU4.AN IGI x [... NA ...]

Translation - by P.V. Neugebauer and E. F. Weidner (1915) edited by Hermann Hunger (1988)

Year 37 of Nebukadnezar, king of Babylon. Month I (the 1st of which was identical with) the 30th (of the preceding month), the moon became visible behind the Bull of Heaven; [sunset to moonset:] .... [ .... ]

Note

Can the Year start in May?

This is a common argument against VAT4956 being dated to the year 588 BC. See article Late Start

Note B

the moon became visible behind the Bull of Heaven

When the Moon is first visible it normally isn't that far behind the setting Sun. The stars would not be visible in the twilight sky. This position must be approximated based on what is visible once all the stars can be seen in the western sky, or by the experience of the observer.

"the moon became visible"

For more information read the article about New Moon Sightings

.

Note C

Moon position 1

the moon became visible behind the Bull of Heaven

The Moon is behind (sets after it) Taurus in 588 BC, in either year the stars of Taurus would not have been visible by the time the Moon had set.

Critics say that the Babylonian year never started as late as May, please read Late Start for an explanation.

Another argument against the year 588 BC is that critics say they the moon would not have been visible on this day. Consider the article New Moon Sightings for a comparison to a new moon sighting in modern times.

Position 13 | Position 1 | Position 2

588 BC #1 | 568 BC #1

Note D

SymbolSyllablesMeanings
MU MU
37 thirty-seven
DIŠ Constantly, always, one, sixty,
if
AG AG
ĝar
niĝ2
ša2
 Place
Thing
of
DU
DE6
GUB
TUM6
 go
bring
stand, sheep
ŠEŠ ŠEŠ
LUGAL Jupiter; one of the Seven Twin Stars; α Centauri; α Leonis - P. Felix Gössman; Planetarium Babylonicum (1950) pg 89
šarru: king
TIN.TIRKI Babylon
MAŠ
BA7
BAR		 ḫuzālu: gazelle kid; ṣerru: snake, possible name for Hydra constellation; Māšu: twin, Gemini; bīru: goat
half
Nissan, first month - on VAT4956 there seems to be no distinction between BAR and MAŠ
ušu3
ba3
es2
sin		 šalāšā: thirty, 30
half

the moon
ušu3
ba3
es2
sin		 šalāšā: thirty, 30
half

the moon
UB Translated as: behind;
tubqu: a corner.
GU4.AN only refers to "bull of heaven" on VAT4956. Not used on any other astronomical diary
IGI naṭālu: (to be able) to see , to look at, to gaze ; to observe (the sky); to be visible;
ina maḫar: before (someone), in the presence, in front of - The Assyrian Dictionary, Volume 10, M, Part I, (1977) pg 106
U
bur3
šu4
ge14
 Earth, finger, ten, totality
Unit
Cover
Blow
and

Note E

A. The moon observations.

1. On Nisan 1 the moon became visible behind the Hyades (Vs. 1).

New Moon —567 April 21 5h afternoon. The moon will be visible the following evening.

April 22, 7h evening:

  • Moon λ = 40°.2 ß = -3°.8
  • Hyades λ = 32°.2 ß = -6°.0

TRANSLATION FROM: Paul V. Neugebauer und Ernst F. Weidner (1915) Ein astronomischer Beobachtungstext aus dem 37. Jahre Nebukadnezars II (- 567/66).

Modern Results

New moon: -567 Apr 21 17:36 (+3) (astropixels.com )

SkyCharts:

  • BC568-04-22 19h00m00s ( +03 )
  • Moon = L: +39°26'48" (+39.44°) B:-03°57'24" (-3.95°)
  • θ2 Tauri = L: +32°13'10" (+32.21°) B:-06°07'14" (-6.12°)
  • ΔT 18208.16s ( 05h03m28.16s )

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