Babylonian HoroscopesEmerging for the first time in the 5th cent. B.C., horoscopes reflect the application of the idea and practice of celestial divination to the life of the individual. Whereas an omen focuses on a single astronomical phenomenon, the horoscope takes into account the positions of the moon, sun, and five planets at the moment of a birth. As such, Babylonian horoscopes presuppose the concept of the ecliptic and a methodology for obtaining the positions of heavenly bodies when they are not observable. This is the first complete edition of the extant cuneiform horoscopes -- with transcription and philological and astronomical commentary. This study offers a systematic description of the documents as a definable class of Babylonian astronomical/astrological texts. |
Contents
Astrological Data | 4 |
Introduction to the Text Editions | 8 |
Index to Texts Cited | 12 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
ABSIN Addaru almanac apodoses Aquarius Aries Arsaces astrology astronomical data attested Babylon Babylonian day Babylonian horoscopes beginning of night birth note Cancer Capricorn celestial divination celestial omens Centaurus Centaurus 32 computed longitudes Critical Apparatus cuneiform Cuneiform Texts dele-bat ina diaries Enūma Anu Enlil equinox Gemini GENNA ina GÍR.TAB Greek Horoscopes GU.UD horoscope texts ina ZALÁG Julian calendar Jupiter last lunar visibility late Babylonian LBAT Libra logogram longitude LÚ.TUR a-lid LUGAL lunar eclipse lunar longitude Mars MÁŠ MAŠ.MAŠ Mercury modern computed month moonset after sunrise MÚL MUL.APIN MÚL.BABBAR ina MURUB nativity omens Neugebauer normal star position omen series passim phenomena Pisces planetary positions planets reference šá Sachs Sachs-Hunger Sagittarius šamáš ina Saturn Scorpius scribes seasonal hour Seleucid Seleucid Era solar eclipse solstice ŠÚ sunset tablet Taurus Text 22 Text moon Transcription obv uninscribed Uruk Uruk Scheme Venus Virgo zodiacal sign