Astronomical Texts

There are a number of texts that describe various astronomical events, such as positions of the moon, stars, planets, lunar eclipses etc., which allow us to date the reigns of the Babylonian Kings.

This is in itself a very complicated topic and as such I have created a separate project to analyse them: astro-tablets.

Summary

BM 32312 (ADT I Diary No. -651) contains planetary observations from the 16th year of Shamash-shum-ukin dated to -651.

BM 41222 (ADT V Planetary Text No. 52) contains planetary observations from the reigns of many kings, and matches the 14th year of Shamash-shum-ukin to -653, 1st year of Kandalanu to -646, and 7th year of Nabopolassar to -618.

BM 76738 and 76813 contains observations of Saturn through the 1st to 14th years of Kandalanu, dating his 1st year to -646.

BM 35115, 35789, 45640 (ADT V Lunar Text No.3) (LBAT 1415-7) contains eclipse reports arranged in 18 year groups from the reigns of many kings, including Shamash-shum-ukin and Kandalanu. The text indicates Shamash-shum-ukin’s reign was 20 years long, and dates his accession year to -667.

BM 32234 (ADT V Lunar Text No.4) (LBAT 1419) contains eclipse reports arranged in 18 year groups from the reigns of many kings, including Nebuchadnezzar. The observations and predictions date Nebuchadnezzar's 14th year to -590.

BM 38462 (ADT V Lunar Text No.6) (LBAT 1420) contains eclipse reports from the 1st through to 29th year of Nebuchadnezzar. The observations and predictions date Nebuchadnezzar's 1st year to -603.

VAT 4956 (ADT I Diary No. -567) contains lunar and planetary observations, lunar six timings, and an eclipse report from the 37th year of Nebuchadnezzar conclusively dated to -567.

BM 33066 (Strm. Kambys. 400) (LBAT 1477) contains lunar six timings, planetary observations, and two eclipse reports from the 7th to 9th year of Cambyses, dating the 7th year to -522.