Category: ?
1 Introduction
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The glosses in tablet 1 have several different functions:
- Sometimes simply to explain the pronunciation (e.g. 3b).
- To give an alternative designation (e.g. 2).
- To identify a star or stars in relation to a better known one (e.g. 8).
- Many interpret a constellation or star as a deity (e.g. 1), which is sometimes further qualified or characterized.
- Or a combination of several of the above (e.g. 15–16).
- Occasionally there is no gloss, just a name ().
2 Translation of the first tablet
<I. the stars of enlil>
(1) Plough = Enlil = the leader of the stars of Enlil
(2) Wolf = seed-funnel of the Plough
(3a) Old Man = Enmešarra
(3b) ᵐᵘˡGAM₃ = gamlu (‘Crook’)
(4) Great Twins = Lugalira and Meslamtaea
(5) Small Twins = Alammuš and Ningublaga
(6) Crab = seat of Anu
(7) Lion = La-tarak
(8) the star which stands in the chest of the Lion = King
(9) the twinkling stars which stands in the tail of the Lion
(10) spadix of the Frond = Zarpanitu
(11) ŠU.PA = Enlil who decrees the fate of the land.
(12) the star which stands in front (of ŠU.PA) = Helagayu (‘Abundant One’), minister (sukkal) of Ninlil.
(13) the star which stands behind (ŠU.PA) = Baštu (‘Dignity’), minister of Tišpak.
(14) Wagon = Ninlil.
(15) the star which stands in the shaft of the Wagon = (16) Fox = Erra, strong one of the gods.
(17) the star which stands in front of the Wagon = Ewe = Aya
(18) Yoke = Anu, the great one of heaven
(19) Wagon of Heaven = Damkiana
(20) the star which stands in the ‘knot’ (of the Wagon of Heaven) = Ibila-Emah (‘heir of the Emah temple’), (21) the foremost descendant of Anu
(22a) Standing Gods of the Ekur temple
(22b) Sitting Gods of the Ekur temple
(23) Goat = Gula
(24) the star which stands in front of the Goat = Dog
(25) the bright star of the Goat = Lamassu, minister of Baba
(26) the 2 stars which stand behind (the Goat) = Ninsakar and Erragal
(27) Leopard = Nerigal
(28) the star which stands on the right (of the Leopard) = Pig = Damu
(29) the star which stands on the left (of the Leopard) = Horse
(30) the star which stands behind (the Leopard) = Stag = minister of the stars
(31) the twinkling stars which stand in the chest of the Stag = (32) Vole = Rainbow
(33) the bright star which stands in the kidney of the Stag = Obliterator
(34) As the stars of Enlil have been assembled, (35) the great star, of dim light, divides heaven and stands (there) = star of Marduk = Ferry = (36) Jupiter (Sagmegar); it changes its position and crosses heaven
(37) 33 Stars of Enil.
Notes
1:
1. Plough, 2. Wolf, 3. Old Man, 4. Crook, 5. Great Twins, 6. Small Twins, 7. Crab, 8. Lion, 9. star in the chest of the Lion, 10. stars in the tail of the Lion, 11. spadix of the Frond, 12. ŠU.PA, 13. Abundant One, 14. Dignity, 15. Wagon, 16. Fox, 17. Ewe, 18. Yoke, 19. Wagon of Heaven, 20. star in the ‘knot’ of the Wagon of Heaven, 21. Standing Gods of Ekur, 22. Sitting Gods of Ekur, 23. Goat, 24. Dog, 25. bright star of the Goat, 26. two stars behind the Goat, 27. Leopard, 28. Pig, 29. Horse, 30. Stag, 31. Vole, 32. Obliterator, 33. Jupiter.
<II. the stars of anu>
(38) Field = seat of Ea = leader of the stars of Anu
(39) the star which stands opposite(?) the Field = Swallow
(40) the star which stands behind the Field = Annunitu
(41) the star which stands behind (the Field) = Hireling = Dumuzi
(42) Bristle = the Seven = the great gods
(43a) Bull of Heaven
(43b) Bull’s Jaw = Crown of Anu
(44) Faithful Shepherd fo Heaven = Papsukkal, minister of Anu and Ištar
(45) Twins which stand in front of the Faithful Shepherd fo Heaven = (46) Lulal and La-tarak
(47) the star which stands behind (the Faithful Shepherd fo Heaven) = Rooster
(48) KAK.SI.SA = šiltaḫu (‘Arrow’) = the great hero Ninurta
(49) Bow = Ištar the Elamite, daughter of Enlil
(50) Snake = Ningišzida, lord of the underworld
(51) UGA = arebu (‘Raven’) = star of Adad
(52) Furrow = Šala = Ear of Grain
(53) Scales = Horn of Scorpion
(54a) Zababa
(55b) Eagle
(55c) and Corpse
(55) Venus (Delebat) […]
(56) Mars (Ṣalbatanu) […]
(57) Saturn (Kayyamanu) […]
(58) Mercury (Šiḥtu), whose name is Ninurta, […]
(60) 23 stars of Anu.
Notes
: Hireling = Aries.
: Bull of Heaven = Taurus.
:
: Furrow = Virgo. The most brilliant star in the constellation is still called Ear of Grain (Spica), interpreted as an attribute held by the goddess, sometimes identified as Demeter (roughly analogous to Šala).
: Scales = Libra; similarly identified either as scales of a balance (=Libra) or claws of the Scorpion in Greek and Latin.
:
: 23 stars = 1. Field, 2. Swallow, 3. star behind Field, 4. Hireling, 5. Bristle, 6. Bull of Heaven, 7. Crown of Anu, 8. Faithful Shepherd fo Heaven, 9. Twins in front of the Faithful Shepherd fo Heaven , 10. Rooster, 11. Arrow, 12. Bow, 13. Snake, 14. Raven, 15. Furrow, 16. Scales, 17. Zababa, 18. Eagle, 19. Corpse, 20. Venus, 21. Mars, 22. Saturn, 23. Mercury.
<III. the stars of ea>
(61) Fish = leader of the stars of Ea
(62a) Great One = Ea
(62b) Eridu = Ea
(63) the star which stands on the right (of ?) = Ninmaḫ
(64) Mouse = Ningirsu
(65) the star which stands besides (?) = Harrow = weapon of Mar-biti; (66) inside which one can see the Apsu
(67) the 2 stars which stand behind (the Harrow) = Šullat and Haniš = Šamaš and Adad
(68) the star which stands behind (the two stars?), (69) which rises like Ea and sets like Ea = Numušda = Adad
(70) the star which stands on the left of the Scorpion = Wild Dog = Kusu
(71) Scorpion = Išḫara, lady of the inhabited world
(72) Chest of the Scorpion = Lisi = Nabu
(73) the 2 stars which stand in the stinger of the Scorpion = (74) Šarur and Šargaz
(75) the star which stands behind (the Scorpion) = Pabilsag
(76a) Barge
(76b) and Goatfish
(77) 15 stars of Ea
Notes
: 15 stars = 1. Fish, 2. Great One, 3. Eridu, 4. star on the right (of ?), 5. Mouse, 6. Harrow, 7. two stars behind the Harrow, 8. star behind the two stars, 9. Wild Dog, 10. Scorpion, 11. Chest of the Scorpion, 12. two stars in the stinger of the Scorpion, 13. star behind the Scorpion, 14. Barge, 15. Goatfish.
<IV. appearances through the year>
<V. coordinated risings and settings>
<VI. timespan between risings>
<VII>
<VIII>
<IX>
<X>
<XI>
<XII>
<XIII>
<XIV>
<XV>
<XVI>
<XVII>
<XVIII>
<XIX>
<XX>
<XXI>
<XXII>
<XXIII>
<XXIV>
<XXV>
<XXVI>
3 Translation of the second tablet
<I. planets>
(1)
…
(7)
(8)
<II>
<III>
<IV>
<V>
<VI>
<VII>
<VIII>
<IX>
<X>
<XI>
<XII>
<XIII>
<XIV>
<XV>
<XVI>
<XVII>
<XVIII>
<XIX>
<XX>
<XXI>
<XXII>
<XXIII>
<XXIV>
<XXV>
<XXVI>
<XXVII>
<XXVIII>
<XXIX>
<XXX>
<XXXI>
<XXXII>
<XXXIII>
<XXXIV>
<XXXV>
<XXXVI>
<XXXVII>
<XXXVIII>
<XXXIX>
<XL>
<XLI>
<XLII>
<XLIII>
<XLIV>
<XLV>
<XLVI>
<XLVII>
<XLVIII>
<XLIX>
<L>
<LI>
<LII>
<LIII>
<LIV>
<LV>
<LVI>
<LVII>
<LVIII>
<LIX>
<LX>
<LXI>
<LXII>
<LXIII>
<LXIV. >
<LXV. star of marduk>
<LXVI. yoke>
<LXVII. wind omens>
…
SARTRIX 