Assyrian Astronomical Tablets

(British Museum.)
Translated by Rev. A. H. Sayce.
Tablets ascribed to 16th century B.C. and earlier.

To the King, my Lord, thy servant ISTAR-IDDINA, the Chief of the Astronomers, of the city of Arbela. May there be peace to the King my Lord. May NEBO, MERODACH (and) ISTAR of Arbela to the King my Lord, be propitious.

On the 29th day a watch we kept. (In) the observatory (there was) mist. The moon we did not see.

(Dated) the month of Sebat, the 1st day during the eponymy of BEL-KHARRAN-SADUA.

To the King my Lord, thy servant ABIL-ISTAR. Peace to the King my Lord. May NEBO (and) MERODACH to the King my Lord be propitious. Long days, soundness of flesh and joy of heart may the great gods to the King my Lord grant.

(On) the 27th day the moon is fixed. (On) the 28th day, the 29th day (and) the 30th day a watch for an eclipse of the sun wekept. The sun behind the shadow (of the eclipse) did not pass. (On) the 1st day the moon was seen in the day time, during the month Tammuz current, above the planet Mercury; of which I have already to the King my Lord sent this account. During the period of 5 days when the moon is called ANU in the circle of the star Shepherd of the Heavenly Flock it was seen declining. By reason of rain the horns were not visible very clearly. Thus during this 5 days period when the month is ANU in regard to its conjunction, to the King my Lord I have sent. Thus it extended itself (and) was visible below the star of the Chariot. During the 5 days period when the moon’s course is called BEL it is fixed; round the star of the Chariot it turned its course. Its conjunction was prevented; but nevertheless its conjunction with Mercury which (took place) during the 5 days period when the moon is ANU of which I have already to the King my Lord sent a special (report) was not prevented.

May the King my Lord have peace.

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Chicago: A. H. Sayce, trans., "Assyrian Astronomical Tablets," The Library of Original Sources in The Library of Original Sources, ed. Oliver J. Thatcher (Milwaukee, Wisconsin: University Research Extension Co., 1907), 437. Original Sources, accessed January 15, 2025, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=Y7HFTUM12R3HRAM.

MLA: . "Assyrian Astronomical Tablets." The Library of Original Sources, translted by A. H. Sayce, in The Library of Original Sources, edited by Oliver J. Thatcher, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, University Research Extension Co., 1907, page 437. Original Sources. 15 Jan. 2025. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=Y7HFTUM12R3HRAM.

Harvard: (trans.), 'Assyrian Astronomical Tablets' in The Library of Original Sources. cited in 1907, The Library of Original Sources, ed. , University Research Extension Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pp.437. Original Sources, retrieved 15 January 2025, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=Y7HFTUM12R3HRAM.