Ninive

Xusac's Semitic ^ert

an}>

translation Seines^

IDoL

VIL

^

&u5ac*6 Semitic text an^ txansfaiion ^etiez.

VOL.

I

The Laughable

:

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II

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:

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Introduction and

:

King.

VOL.

Stories collected by Bar-Hebr>eus.

Ill

E. A. Wallis Budge.

Inscriptions

21^-.

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of

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By

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:

Inscriptions of Hammurabi.

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I

}

THE REPORTS MAGICIANS AND ASTROLOGERS

NINEVEH AND BABYLON.

THE REPORTS or IMK

MAGICIANS AND ASTROLOGERS OF

NINEVEH AND BABYLON IN

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

THE ORIGINAL TEXTS, PRINTED IN CUNEIFORM CHARACTERS, EDITED WITH TRANSLATIONS, NOTES, VOCABULARY, INDEX, AND AN INTRODUCTION.

N

.-'•

BY

R^XAMPBELL THOMPSON, ASSISTANT

IN

B.A. (Cantab.),

THE DEPAUTMKNT OF EGYPTIAN AND ASSYRIAN ANTIQUITIES, BRITISH MUSEUM

VOL.

II,

ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS, VOCABULARY,

ETC.

'4 LUZAC: AND AT

Co.

1900.

{All Rights Reserved.']

^/

^ /

HARRISON AND SONS, VRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJEfeTV, ST.

martin's lane, LONDON.

TO

FREDERICK WILLIAM WALKER, HIGH MASTER OF

ST.

PAUL'S SCHOOL,

A MARK OF GRATITUDE

FOR MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT, HELP,

AND KINDNESS.

M.A.,

(preface.

Since the year 1865, when the

Rev.

late

Edward

Hincks, one of the early pioneers of the science of Assyrlology, of

existence

first

made known

the

world

Assyrian tablets inscribed with

relating partly to astrology call

to

and partly

to

the texts

what we now

astronomy, students have devoted much time to

the investigation of this class of documents. Jules Oppert and the late further advanced our

Prof.

Fran9ois Lenormant

knowledge of

astrological

still

and

other cognate texts in a series of learned papers, but it

was not

entitled

until the publication of Prof. Sayce's paper,

"

The Astronomy and Astrology

of

the

Babylonians," that any very considerable progress was

made

in

this difficult

branch of Assyriology.

It

is

true that the cuneiform texts which formed the base

of this work had already been published by Sir

Henry

"Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," but Prof. Sayce was the first to show the general drift and meaning of Rawlinson

their

in

contents,

the third volume of the

and

to

enable us

to

accuracy of the traditions of Greek and

appreciate the

Roman

on Babylonian astrology and astronomy.

writers

PREFACE.

viii

With

the view of supplementing the labours of the

above mentioned

scholars,

I

have printed

in the first

volume of this work, in cuneiform type, the texts of about two hundred and eighty Astrological Reports, of which only about fifty have hitherto been published. It

hoped

is

useful

to

that

mass of new material

this

Assyriologists,

who

now,

will

if

will

be

we may

judge from the descriptions of the

tablets

of the

Kuyunjik

Bezold

in

his

texts

of

the

Nineveh.

In

"

given

Collection

Catalogue,"

have

before

by

Dr.

them the

complete series of the Reports found the second volume

I

have given

at

transliterations

these texts, and, wherever possible, translations

owing

translations have been impossible,

the occurrence of words

no

unknown

attempt to render them

duplicate

number,

texts,

the

to

me,

where

to breaks or

have made

I

English.

in

;

of

Of

the

about two hundred and twenty in

have been given.

transliterations only

All important variants have been added in the Notes to the translations. It is

unnecessary to

insist

upon the importance of

the texts herein published, but that the glosses

it

may be

and explanations of

pointed out

difficult

phrases,

which they frequently give, are of the highest value philologically, and they certainly throw considerable light

on the professional methods adopted by the early

Mesopotamian astrologers. Moreover, it is probable that a number of the astrological reports were written with the special object of informing the king and his

people whether certain months would or would not

PREFACE.

contain

days,

thirty

eventually

find

and

this

if

necessary

it

ix

to

be

so,

modify

we may our views

concerning the lengths of the various months of the Assyrian year.

This point

is

more

fully treated in

the Introduction.

In conclusion,

my

thanks are due to Dr. E. A.

Wallis Budge for his valuable help, and to Mr. L.

King

for

many

W.

useful suggestions.

R.

London, March

CAMPBELL THOMPSON.

\si,

1900.

—

—

Contenfe. PACE

INTRODUCTION TRANSLATIONS I.

II.

III.

IV,

xiii :

WHEN THE MOON APPEARS ON THE OF THE MONTH

FIRST DAY XXxiii

OMENS FROM THE HORNS OF THE MOON WHEN THE MOON APPEARS ON THE TWENTVEIGHTH DAY WHEN THE MOON APPEARS ON THE THIRTIETH .

.

.

D.\Y

V. VI. VII.

(b) (c)

(d) (e)

X. XI.

XII. XIII.

XIV. XV. XVI. XVII.

OMENS OMENS OMENS OMENS OMENS OMENS OMENS OMENS OMENS OMENS

li

:

on the on the ON THE on THE ON THE

FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM FROM

TR.ANSLITERATIONS

VOCABULARY INDEX LISTS

xlvii

WHEN THE MOON AND SUN ARE SEEN WITH ONE (a)

IX.

xliii

xliv

VARIOUS OMENS FROM THE MOON OMENS FROM HALOS

ANOTHER

VIII.

XXXvi

TWELFTH DAY thirteenth DAY FOURTEENTH DAY FIFTEENTH DAY SIXTEENTH DAY

Ivi Ivi

Ivi

Ix Ixi

THE SUN

Ixiii

STARS

CLOUDS THE MOON'S DISAPPEARANCE. STORMS

THUNDER EARTHQUAKES ECLIPSES

AKULUTUM BIRTHS

IxV Ixxvii .

.

Ixxvii Ixxviii

Ixix

Ixxxi

Ixxxiv

XC xci

I-IH II3-132

133-144 145-147

3ntrobucfton.

For more than two thousand

years the records of

Babylonian and Assyrian astronomy lay buried and forgotten under the ruins of Assyrian palaces, and

all

was known of the subject came from a few passages in the Bible and in the works of Greek and that

Roman

To

writers.

the

Hebrews

the sorceries of

Babylon were an accursed thing, and the prophet Isaiah

^

them

scoffs at

in

these words

"

:

Stand now

with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, if

wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth

so be thou shalt be able to profit,

mayest

prevail.

thy counsels.

Thou Let now

art

wearied

if

in the

;

so be thou

multitude of

the astrologers, the stargazers,

the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee

from these things that shall come upon thee."

Greek

Among

writers Strabo^ (died a.d. 24) asserted that the

Chaldeans were

skilled in

astronomy and the casting

of horoscopes, and Aelian^ (3rd century a.d.) mentions

both

the fact that

the

enjoyed a reputation astronomy.

Babylonians and Chaldeans

for

possessing a knowledge of

Achilles Tatius

1

Isaiah xlvii, 12.

3

xxii, ed.

*

ÂŁx

'^

(6th century) reports the "

xvi,

i,

6.

Hercher, Paris.

Achille Tatio Isagogc, ed. Petav.,

i.

INTRODUCTION.

xiv

existence of a tradition to the effect that the Egyptians

mapped the heavens, and knowledge on

their pillars

that they inscribed

the

;

same

their

tradition declared

that the Chaldeans claimed the glory of this science,

god be some

the foundation of which they attributed to the

For

Bel.

this

belief there

last

seems

to

evidence in a statement of Berosus,^ to the effect that the god Bel created the stars and sun and moon, and

Diodorus Siculus,^ a contemporary

the five planets. of

Augustus,

tells

us

Babylonian priests

the

that

observed the position of certain stars derived omens from the

serious

order to cast

and that they interpreted dreams and

horoscopes,

eclipses

in

movement

The

and earthquakes. us

leads

writers

of birds and from

general evidence of

believe

to

astrology

that

formed part of the religious system of the Babylonians,

and

it

certainly exercised considerable influence over

the minds of the dwellers between the Tigris and the

Euphrates. Chaldeans,

In i.e.,

any the

the

case,

reputation

of

the

Babylonians and Assyrians, for

possessing magical powers was so widespread, that the

very

name Chaldean

at

a comparatively early date

became synonymous with magician. From Mesopotamia, by way of Greece and Rome, a certain amount of Babylonian

astrology

nations of the West, and superstitions

peculiar

which

made it is

way among the many

we commonly regard

product of Western 1

Ancient Fragments,

"

ii,

29.

its

quite probable that

ed.

civilisation,

Cory,/. 28.

as

the

took their

INTRODUCTION.

origin from those of the early dwellers

on the

alluvial

lands of Mesopotamia.

At

the time

when

the astrological forecasts printed

book were composed, the district of Babylon, where they were written, was bounded on the northin this

west by Akkad, on the north-east by Subarti, on the south-east by Elam, and on the south-west by Aharru in

every

The

side.

foretell

fair

;

Babylonia was open to invasion on

other words,

astrologer or the prophet

things

for the

nation,

who

could/

or disasters and

was a man whose words were regarded with reverence and awe. They were calamities for their enemies,

written

and

down

as treasures to be preserved for

serve

to

successors in

models

as

office.

The

for

the

all

of

benefit

time his

much a

soothsayer was as

and he was not slow in using the indications of political changes to point the as the statesman,

politician

Thus

moral of his astrological observations.

called astrological forecasts contain elements will

be impossible

until the

for the

modern student

complete history of the

the so-

which

it

to explain

political relationship

of Babylonia with her neighbours

Nothing was too great or too small

is

known. become the

fully

to

subject of an astrological forecast, and every event,

from a national calamity such as famine or disaster to

down

to the

appearance of the humblest

peasant's last born child,

was seriously considered and of causes which had already

the army,

proved

to

be the result

been duly recognised.

When

Assurbanipal, king of Assyria,

b.c.

668-

INTRODUCTION.

xivi

626, added to the royal library at Nineveh, his contri-

bution of tablets included

which

related

series of

documents

astrology

the

exclusively

to

the

who

in

turn had borrowed

Babylonians,

ancient

many

of

it

with modifications from the Sumerian invaders of the

Among

country.

these must be mentioned the Series

which was commonly called

"

The Day

of Bel," and

which was declared by the learned of the time to have

been written

in the

of Agade,

3800

c.

time of the great Sargon

With such

B.C.

I,

king

ancient works as

these to guide them, the profession of deducing

omens

from daily events reached such a pitch of importance Assyrian Empire, that a system of making

in the last

periodical reports

came

king was informed of

and on the in

earth,

respect

and

29).

results of astrological studies

The heads of the were men of high rank and was hereditary

{see Diod., II,

the chief astrologer were a

who on

the king

occurrences in the heavens

events.

their office

Under

officials

and the

profession

astrological position,

all

future

to

and by these the

into being,

number of

certain occasions together addressed

thus Rammanu-suma-usur, Nabu-musi'si and

;

Istar-suma-iris write together [see K. 5470) Rammanusuma-usur and Marduk-sakin-sumi write together {see ;

KK.

1087,

1

Istar-suma-iris

1428)

;

197);

Rammanu-suma-usur,

and Akkulanu write together

Istar-suma-iris,

{see

Among

other duties,

it

K.

and

K. 527); and

and Nabu-ahi-iriba write together

565, 569).

{see

Rammanu-suma-usur

Marduk-sakin-sumi write together Balasi

Arad-Ia,

{see

KK.

was the duty of

INTRODUCTION.

the astrologers to write both

and

certain letters

we

should,

hardly

Thus

document.

omen

xvii

reports

and

expect

find

to

in

this

class

;

of

the writer of K. 167 excuses himself

from setting out on a journey because the day favourable

letters,

mention, incidentally, facts which

the writer of K. 551

tells

is

not

the story of

how

a fox made its way into the Royal Park of the city of Assur and took refuge in a lake, but was afterwards caught and killed and the writer of Rm. "j^ tells the ;

twenty-second

king that he believes the twentieth,

and

twenty-fifth days

to

be lucky

for entering into

contracts.

The reports

variety of the information contained in these is

best gathered from the fact that they were

removed from each other as Assur in the north and Erech in the south, and it can only be assumed that they were dispatched by runners As reports also or men mounted on swift horses. Nippur and Borsippa, all come from Dilbat, Kutha,

sent from cities so far

of ancient foundation, the king

cities

was probably

well acquainted with the general course of events in his empire.

Of

the documents

three are astrological

;

printed in this

book

all

but

they are written on rectangular

by | inch to 3I by 2\, and they generally bear the sender's name. They contain quotations from ancient astrological

clay

tablets

varying

in

size

from

works concerninor the omens, but

i^

it

is

interestino; to

note that, although the ipsissima verba were preserved, the

interpretations

were based upon more modern 2

INTRODUCTION.

xviii

Thus Aharru

lines.

lay

close

originally

Babylonia

to

on

meant the land which

the

but

west,

the

as

Babylonian power extended the boundaries of the

Aharru became a name synonymous with Phoenicia and Palestine, and it is in this sense that it

country,

by the astrologers of the later kingdom. Again, Subartu originally meant a certain district in Northern Babylonia, but in later times it came to

is

used

mean Assyria

proper, and one astrologer, writing in

Assyrian, says

"We

reports,

which we may subsequently

prepared

for use in

nature

attention

Nabua

in

We

of letters.

city

have been

to

may,

however,

those which were

of Assur

to

Nineveh,

K. 603 he reports that the Sun and

call

by

sent

they

for

concern the movements of the Sun and Moon. in

have

astrologers,

volume, because they partake

this

passing

of the

astronomical

find to

some way by the

been omitted from of the

The

are Subartu."

Thus

Moon were

seen together on the fourteenth day of the month, and

another report of his states that

"we saw

the

Moon

on the twenty-ninth day."

From is

certain passages in the astrological tablets

it

easy to see that the calculation of times and seasons

was one of the chief duties of the astrolos^er in Mesopotamia, and it seems probable that they were acquainted with some kind of machine for reckoning time.

In No. 170 (see

p. Ixii)

mention

is

made

instrument called abkallu sik/a, to which the

Bil-riminu-ukarrad-Mardttk

words

ahkalht, sikla

mean

was

oriven.

of an

name

Now

" measure-governor,"

the.-

and

;

INTRODUCTION.

is

xix

probable that they Indicate the existence of a kind

of clock.

It

must not be forgotten

too, that

Sextus

Empiricus [Adv. Math. 21) states that the clepsydra Herodotus too, was known to the Chaldeans. says

109),

(ii,

Greeks

that the

borrowed

certain

measures of time from the Babylonians, (and from the tablet 83-1-18,247, etc.\vje. learn that the Babylonians

had a time measure by which they divided the

actually

day and the

This measure was called Kasbu,

night.

and contained two hours

;

two

kasbic

and three watches made up the are proved

formed a watch,

These

night.

by the report quoted above,

in

facts

which we

are told that in such and such a day in Nisan the day

and night were balanced, there being day and

six

kashc of the

six kasbit of the night, the allusion being, of

course, to the vernal equinox.

We year

know from

consisted

several sources that the Assyrian

twelve

of

months,

each

containing

usually thirty days, and an intercalary month called

Adar"

Ve'Adar of the Hebrews): the Babylonian year consisted of the same number of months, but two intercalary months, Elul and Adar, the "second

(the

were added.

The examination

of the texts edited in this volume

indicates that the Assyrians, like the Babylonians,

had

composed of lunar months,^ and it seems that the object of the astrological reports which relate to a year

1

^d.

On XI,

this p.

subject

see

310, Bd. XII,

Oppert, p.

Zeitschrift fiir

97; and Lehmann,

Assyriologie ibid.

Bd. XI,

tl'432.

2*

INTRODUCTION.

X>:

Moon and Sun was

the appearance of the

determine and

foretell the

Assyria

common must have been lunar. The

to each

month

be

If this

use throughout

the year in

so,

days

thirty full

to help to

length of the lunar month.

;

calendar assigns

month

the Junar

is,

more than twenty-nine and a half days however, therefore some of the calendar months must consist of little

;

In proof of this statement,

twenty-nine days only.

submit the following

which

Moon will

is

On

facts.

a report from Balasi,

No. 171

we

I

(see p. Ixii),

When

"

read,

the

does not wait for the Sun" such and such things

The

happen.

prediction

is

followed by the words,

which are clearly those of the astrologer, "It appeared fifteenth with the Sun."

on the

not seen with the

"When

the

Moon

is

Sun on the fourteenth day of Adar

such and such things

happen.

will

The

prediction

"

is

followed by the words, which are again clearly those

"The day

of the astrologer,

Moon appeared

Since the

will

complete Nisan."

without the Sun on the

fourteenth,

and with the sun on the

Moon and

the

Sun

will

not be in conjunction before

the afternoon of the twenty-ninth day the

Moon would

~

Cf.

;

not be visible" until the

the next month.

It

the

fifteenth,

case

in this

day of

first

must be noted that when the

on the period of the Moon's invisibihty Cuneiform

l?iscrip-

of Western Asia, Vol. III,//. 51, 1. 9, "The Moon waned on we watched for an eclipse of the Sun on the twenty-seventh day

tions

:

the

twenty-ninth,

twenty-eight,

appeared on the {see p. Ixxvi)

may be

it is

first

and

thirtieth

also stated that the period of the

three days.

days

day [of the next month]."

See also Jensen, Kostnohgie,

;

In

Moon's p. 30.

the

Moon

No.

240

invisibility

INTRODUCTION.

xxi

astrologer uses the words "this night," he does not

day on which he

refer to the

of the day,

i.e.,

is

writing, but to the eve

The words "The day

last night.

will

complete Nisan" refer to the thirtieth day of the

and we know from other texts

month,

month

indicate that the

A

further proof of this

the appearance of the

accompanied

by that

length,"

the

i.e.,

contain thirty

will is

that the

Moon on for

ordinary

Not

calendar month.

day

first

day

in

its

day

length

full

days.^

full

omen concerning

the

"the

infrequently a note

is

iitarra,

often

is

proper the

in

added

to

Here

the effect that the day completes the month.

we must

they

that

notice in passing the use of the words icmtc "

i.e.,

the day turns back."

uses these words in cases where the

The astrologer Moon has been

seen with the Sun on the fourteenth day, to indicate that the

Moon

will

appear on the

month, and therefore there days

next month

in the

(see

will

be only twenty-nine

No.

In certain cases where the phrase e.g.,

day of the

thirtieth

53, obv.

mmt

2,

p. xliii).

iitarra occurs,

Nos. 62 and 70, the omens on the tablets relate

to the

An

moon on

the thirtieth day.

examination of No. 171 shows that

was written

at the

end of the year

in the

this tablet

month Adar,

and that the calendar month corresponded with the lunar month, and further, since Nisan (which began the year) ^

the only other

—

month mentioned,

it

is

passages limuXXX^"'" No. 36, obv. 3 minat arhi No. 42, obv. 4, sa ina ""'" Tasriti iit?iu usallamma, obv. I, """ Sin ina "''''" Nisanni ihnu usaliam.

Cf. the

usa/[/am],

No. 52,

is

:

.

.

.

INTRODUCTION.

xxil

no second Adar was used

clear that

the

all

months had contained

these an intercalary

years to

make up

thirty

been done,

possible for the calendar

month

intercalary

to

therefore probably right

we should

six

naturally

would hardly be

it

month and

to correspond so exactly at the

an

If

days each, and

Adar had been added every

the solar year, as

expect would have

in this year.

the lunar

end of a year

in

month which

was not added. We are in assuming that each month

did not necessarily contain thirty days, and there

evidence

to

added

at a

above

it

is

show

that

the

month was

intercalary

period less than six years.

From

^

Moon and Sun on In No.

or about the fourteenth day of the month. the astrologer reports that the

"The Moon

Moon was

1

19

seen on the

and he makes use of the

twelfth dav with the Sun,

phrase

the

month was

clear that the length of the

foretold from the appearance of the

is

appears out of

its

time."

It is

interesting to note that Maimonides, in speaking of

the Moon,

says

thirtieth day, she

"

When

is

the

called the

and the same writer seems the

of the

leno-th

month,

Moon is Moon seen

i.e.,

whether

or thirty days, when Marcheswan and Kislew may be

'

On

the

in its time,"^

to refer to the variation in

he

twenty-nine

Babylon

seen on the

either

contains

states

that

"full"

or

months containing twenty-nine and thirty days in use at Epping and Strassmaier,

in the era of the Seleucidse, see

Astronofniches aus Babylon, p. 179. ^

Kiddush Hahodesh,

^

op.

ciL,

it

VIII,

5.

ed. Witter, Jena,

1703,

I, 4.

xxm

INTRODUCTION.

From

various indications derived from the astro-

logical reports,

who

it

is

clear that the class of magicians

months and published information concerning them formed a very important calculated the length of the

of the

section

and

it is

Babylonian and Assyrian priesthood,

evident from the denunciations hurled aeainst

them by

Isaieih, in

whose book they are described as

modfiin lehoddsim (Isaiah,

xlvii,

that they occu-

13),

pied one of th^jnQst-premment plRces-ia^-tkeJiierarchy of BaBylonT

~~^he Assyrians called the seven planets by the same

names by which they were known in Babylonia, i.e., Sin (the Moon), Samas (the Sun), UnmnpatMu (Jupiter),

Dilbat (Venus),

Kaimdnu

(Saturn), Gudiid

The known

(Mercury), MiLstabari'il-^niltdnu (Mars). signs of the Zodiac, which were also

Babylonians, are thus called

:

—

Late Babylonian.'

Ku {sarikku)

Inuiisara?

Taurus Gemini Cancer

Tc-te

Gttd-Anna.^

Ttidniu

Tiidinu.

Puhikku

AlluL'

Virgo Libra

Siri\

Sirii,

Zihatiitu

Zibanitii.

Scorpio

Akrabu

Akrabu.

Sas^ittarius

Pa

Pabilsaz^

See

to the

Assyrian.

Aries

Leo

'

twelve

Urgula;' Uniiah^

Epping and

Strassmaier,

149 Jensen, Kosmologie, - Kosm., 2 p. 61 f. ;

p.

Dilgan.'

Asfro/iomkhes

aus

Babylon,

497.

•

*

Kosm.,

®

Kosm,

p. 66. p.

496.

*

Kosffi., p. 62,

See p.

Ixxii.

**

^

See

p.

See p.

xxxv. xl.

XXIV

INTRODUCTION.

XXV

"sheep" which are within the halo. The influence uf the Moon on sheep and cattle upon earth is thus described: "Thy word, O Moongod, maketh sheepfold and cattle-pen to flourish." When a tarbam, i.e., smaller halo, was seen to surround the Sun with the gate, ix.y interruption, opposite the south, it was thought that a south wind would blow but this has ;

been the experience of

all

observers of the weather,

for the direction of the interruption indicates that

and

rain will

come from

It is well

that quarter.^

wind

known

that Sun-halos are usually seen in the west or south-west

when

the

Sun

is

portion of the halo

low on the horizon, and the lower is

cut off

by the gloom of the horizon.

European countries^ storms usually come from those quarters of the sky, and this is also true for In

Mesopotamia. (K. 2Co)

It

is

interesting to note that a tablet

inscribed with

is

omens which are derived

from the interruptions of a halo which correspond to the

four

cardinal

From

points.

the

presence

numerous omens are derived. the

Sun stands within

first

not

sight appear to

mean

The

words,

of

Moon,

planets or constellations within the halo of the

"When

Moon." would at prove that the word tarbasu does

"halo," but

the halo of the

we

learn from the notes written

No. 176) that by the word "Sun" we must understand the "Star of the Sun,"

by the astrologers

i.e.,

Sun

Saturn, and in

{see

we now know

that the

omen

such a case would be given just as '

^

Cf.

Theophrastus,

ed.

Wood,

Abercromby, Weather,

p. 36.

p. 64.

for the if

the

;

INTRODUCTION.

xxvi

Sun

were occupying

we

place

the

From

Saturn.

of

was called Sol.^ Venus or Mercury standing in the halo of the Moon, for neither planet can When a star, standing in appear near the full Moon. the halo of the Moon, is described in the omen as Lubad, a common name for Mercury, it must, of course, be understood to mean simply " planet." Dark halos round the Moon were regarded by the Eratosthenes, too,

There are no

learn that Saturn

omens

for

Assyrians, as well as by other nations, as indications of rain, and

it is

Theophrastus particularly

^

noteworthy that a Greek writer

says,

"

Dark

like

halos are a sign of rain,

those seen in the afternoon."

Aratus,

the Cilician, informs us that dark solar halos indicate

rough weather.^

The appearance the fourteenth day

Sun with

of the

the

was noted with great

Moon care,

and

the express purpose of calculating whether the

would contain twenty-nine or

The

astrologers noted:

Moon were

—

about

month

thirty days. (i)

whether the Sun and

seen together above the horizon

whether they were balanced

for

{siikubi), that

is

;

(2)

to say,

both on the horizon, one setting and the other rising (3)

whether one had

risen,

both

celestial

set

bodies

below the horizon, that

The word

and the other had not yet

is

being, to say,

in

consequence,

invisible {sutatti).

"invisible" represents as nearly as possible '

^ ^

Ed. Bernhardy, Hygin., Ed. Wood, 22, p. 60,

II, 42.

Diosefneia, ed. Prince, p- 43.

INTRODUCTION.

XXVll

we may see by the phrase inihissu sutatTi, i.e., "whose wound (or sickness) is The invisible," which occurs in the hymn to Ni'rgal.^ meaning of

the

sutatzl, as

same view of the meaning of this word is also held by Dr. Jastrow.^ The word sutatTi had probably another shade of meaning also, for the word ittintu, which

means the gradual disappearance of the Moon

as

draws near the Sun

once

used as

at the

end of the month,

equivalent (see No.

its

1

is

it

24, obv. 4).

we meet nadi, which seem to mean The image, or reflection."

In several places in astrological reports

with

words

the

nidtt

"casting a shadow, or "

image

"

appears at the sun's zenith, to the right or

Sun

of the

left

mentioned. "

images

A

"

in

;

cannot

I

refer to

number

one case four such

mock

of

" imao^es " are

thinking

help

these

that

suns.

omens

were

from

derived

the

entrances of planets into the signs of the Zodiac, and the influence of the stars in the various sections of

was thought

where the manzalii, a

we

sfods

stood

in

in

places

Zodiac were called

the

word which means

probably right

are

The

be very considerable.

to

it

literally "stations,"

assuming that

it

and the

is

equivalent of the inazzdloth mentioned in II Kings, xxiii,

5.^

The

use of the word in late

however, somewhat more vague, literally

'

-

^

meaning a

Hebrew

for viazzal,

constellation of the Zodiac,

Rawlinson, Cuneifonn

Inscriptioris,

See Re/igiojz of Babylojiia, See Jensen, Kosm., p, 348.

p.

359.

IV, 24,

i,

36,37.

is,

though is

also

INTRODUCTION.

xxviii

applied to any and every star, and in Bercshith Rabbd, X,

c.

"One

is said,

it

inazzal completeth

thirty days, another completeth

From

we

certain texts

it

its

circuit in

in thirty years."

learn that the star

Akrahu

was sometimes seen within the halo of the Moon.

Now

according to Jensen,^ Akrabit

Venus

the Scorpion or within

the halo of the

only,

referred to

is

may mean

but in the case of the star

;

Moon, Scorpio, and Scorpio

by the

astrologer.

not always easy to follow the train of reasoning

It is

which guided the derivation of omens hand, others are based on ence.

either

on the other

;

common everyday

Thus, dark clouds heralded wind

markets

Moon was

day of the

the last ;

experi-

thunder on

;

followed by steady

thunder on a cloudless day indicated the

advent of darkness, storm, and famine the heralds of favourable events

;

storms were

earthquakes por-

;

tended destruction, the invasion of enemies, insurrections

and

the

of buildings

fall

;

eclipses

typified

disturbance, and their evil effects could only be averted

by prayers.

In the

" Lifting of the

series

Hand,"

^

we

of prayers find a

entitled

number

the

of formulae

which are to be recited with the object of securing the protection of the gods during and after eclipses, and certain that they

is

the devotional literature of the Assyrians.

purpose of accurately recording partial face of the

it

formed no unimportant section of

Moon was

For the

eclipses,

the

divided into four parts, and each

part was identified with a certain country {see p. Ixxxv) ^

Kosmo/ogie,

p. 71.

^

King, BadyIo?iian Magic and Sorcery.

\

INTRODUCTION.

xxix

the portion to the right was Akkad, that to the

left

was Elam, the upper part was Aharru, and the lower part Subartu. A total eclipse of the Moon was called atal

indtdti,

The

a "darkness of the countries."

i.e.,

possible

greatest

astroloo^ers to observe

and

was taken

care

by the

to record the duration

and

•extent of partial eclipses.

Some

of the portents from births recorded in the

Reports are remarkable, and among these

mentioned one

which we are told that the writer

in

augured an increase of power

sow brought [see

tails

to the king, because a

which had eight legs and two

This curious object was, we are

xci).

afterwards preserved in brine.

told,

—

\

forth a pig

p.

may be

A

perusal

of

the

Astrological

Reports

will

convince the reader that the style and language

in

which they are written are not only somewhat obscure

and

difficult

pains

to

grammatically, but that their writers took

make

iiitelligible to

is

possible,

•difficulties

forecasts

and portents as un-

the uninitiated as possible.

Lthey were able It

their

Whenever

they added an alternative portent.

indeed probable,

that

many

of

tlie

which encompass the study of Babylonian

magic, astrology and sorcery, will be removed by the publication of abundant material, and that at length

we may

obtain

to

a

knowledge

of

the

general

principles which guided the astrologer in formulating

the decisions as to the future, which exercised such a ;great

and

lasting

influence over

dwellers in Mesopotamia.

the

minds of the

TRANSLATIONS.

When the Moon Appears on the

I.

Day of the

First

Month. No.

When

1.

the

silence, the land will

to

its

Moon

be

When

be a long

calculation, there will

Obv.

appears* on the

satisfied.

The appearance

I.

indicated that the calendar

It is

KA.Gi.NA

2.

is

long according

Rullutu.

Moon on

the

the

first

day

month began coincident with the

lunar .month, and that the day was

Obv.

From

reign.

of

day, there will be

first

the day

its

proper length.^

= sanaku sa pi (Brunnow, Z/y/,

glossed /«-« i-kan in No. 42, Obv.

No. 6i8).

5.

The day is calculated to last as long as the Sun the horizon. above remains Cf. 81-2-4, 63, Obv. 15, 'the day is the Sun,' and No. 173, Obv. 2, 'the Suns are days.' The use of vihiaii is closely paralleled by the Syriac menyCxna in Obv.

4.

hanon d'menyana

(T

sahra m^ntn, 'those

duration of the moon.'

5,

Ephraemi

Syri,

who measure Opera

Selecta,

the

Ed.

Nos. 2-6 are very similar. 1865, 72, 3.) idallavi, contains the note minat arid thnu

Oxonii,

Overbeck,

No.

(5.

Obv.

3,

XXX

consequence of the Moon's appearance on the first See day, the thirtieth day of the month will be completed.

i.e.,

in

Introduction, p. xxi. ' K. 960, a large tablet beginning this way, has been omitted, the remainder Leing almost illegible. Of other so-called astrological reports, K 115, consisting of quotations from prayers similar to those of the Raising of the Hand, and sent by Istar-Suma-iris, and such tablets as 83-1-18, 206, Bu. 91-5-9, 156 (' lucky days '), etc., and the large unsigned tablets, which probably are not included in tliis Series, have been omitted. - It will be noticed that the preterite is rarely used by the astrologers to •express past time (except in the protases of omens) when speaking of astrological

phenomena

;

the present with -ma attached

rules for the tenses in these texts are present.

:

is

far

more common.

— Omen-protasis, preterite

;

The

general

Omen-apodosis,

Outside the omens, the present does duty for the future or present,

while past time

is

expressed by the present with -fna appended.

3

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

xxxiv No.

When

7.

to

be

appears on the

When

satisfied.

From

the king will go to pre-eminence.

Obv.

5.

Agu

Apir,

See Jensen, Kosm.

No.

When

9.

When

the

Moon

is

103

p.

Moon

the

silence, the land will

literally

be

Moon

the

is

Istar-suma-iris.

ff.

appears on the

satisfied.

regularly

long according

is

When

on a royal head-dress.'

puts

'

day, there will be

first

the day

calculation, there will be a long reign.

its

full,

Moon

the

silence, the land will

full,

This

is

day, there will be

first

Nisan and Tisri

for

(?).

the crops of the land will prosper,

the king will go to pre-eminence.

Obv.

4.

Agu Apir kaimdnu ma,

i.e.,

This

will

the same day in each month. logers are careful in regulating

The omen

month.

differs

the

Moon

happen

No.

10,

on

the astro-

length of the

the

slightly in

full

is

if

calendar

obv.

'The

5,

crops of the land will prosper, the land will dwell in security, the king will go to pre-eminence.'

comment,

writer's

No. iiA, the day,

It

is

No.

11, rev.

2,

has the

omen for the king, my lord.' in the omen for the length of

a lucky

rev. 2, differs slightly *

there will be a long reign, the years of the king (will

Nos. 12-14 are very similar.

be numerous).'

No. 15

'

{Obv. sff-)-

I"

Tammuz

the

Moon and Sun

were seen

From Bil May Bel with one another on the fourteenth. and Nebo give greeting, happiness, health, long days, long years, .

.

.

.

and the establishing of the foundation of the throne of the

my

king,

lord.

No. 16 like

{Obv,

Nisan and

ff.).

Tisri.

Adar and Elul, the beginning of a year, are At the beginning of the year the Moon sends

a lucky sign for the long reign of the king,

my

From

lord.

Assur-

Sarani.

No. 17 is

{Obv.

(>ff.).

lucky for Akkad,

Akkad.

'

It is

evil

When the Moon for

Elam and

lucky for the king,

my

appears on the

Aharrfi.

lord.

day,

it

The month Ab

is

first

From Nabu-suma-iskun.

No. 18 (Rev. 3 ff.) contains a communication from Bil-nasir. let the king the Babylonian magician, is very ill

Bil-ipus,

:

OMENS FROM THE FIRST DAY. command

come and

that a physician

XXXV Rev.

see him,'

limur are the equivalents of the Hebrew jussive.

5, lillik-

Cf. I

Sam.

xviii, 21, etc.

No. 19 day

{Rev.

May

iff.).

month

after day,

Assur, Samas,

month, year

after

Nebo and Merodach

after year, grant happiness,

and exultation, a secure throne for ever, for long days and many years to the king my lord. From Nabu-ikbi. health, joy

No. 20

comes market used

similar to

is

No.

19,

except obv.

be

will

for hail in

No. 21 (Obv.

high.'

No. 261, obv.

ff.

'When

hail

Two

sff-)-

4.

or three times during these days

have looked

for

Mars, but could not see

should say

Is

it

'

5

abundance for men and the The word abnu, properly 'stone,' is

Sebat, there will be

in

an omen that

it

If the king,

it.

invisible ?'

is

it

is

my

not.

wc

lord,

From

Istar-suma-i'n's.

The idiom for two

or three is the same in Assyrian Hebrew. Cf. II Kings, ix, 32. On Mustabarru-mutdnu see Epping and Strassmaier, Astrotioiniches aus Babylon, p. 110, irtibi Jensen, Kosm. pp. 15, 226A. Obv. 8. Rev. 2. For this use of mimini after an interrogative -u, 522, 9, 14 (quoted Delitzsch, Handworterbuch, under cf, K.

Obv.

'

5.

'

as in

izirtu, p. 38a).

No.

21.\ {Obv. 3-4).

Mars went

forth

from Cancer {Allul)

last

night.

That this is a constellation and not a single from K. 4292, obv. 17, ff. (Craig. Astrol. star is apparent Astron. Texts, Leipzig, 1899) Ana "'"^ LUL LA ana iibut(ut) •""' sdri LUL.LA' """ AL L UL. Ana kakkaboini ^' SI ^' sa """ Obv.

4,

Allul.

.

.

AL LUL DIR^^ la .

.

tibut sdri,

etc.).

In the reports, the

appearance of Allul within the Moon's halo is recorded about twelve times ; once within the halo about the same time as

Gemini (No. (No. 1

114A).

muiLUL, LA

mistake for

is

LUL A .

114),

and once about the same time as Regulus Venus passes from

Further we are told that

explained by sa-ar-rum (W.A.I. II, 49, [i.e.,

Mars).

3) 35)>

probably by

—

;

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

XXXvi

AUul

Cancer

to the tropic of

Cancer

8-9 degrees.

is

in five or six

days (No. 207),

i.e.,

the only constellation which agrees

with these conditions.

The p.

name

later

of Cancer was Pulukku (Jensen, Kosm.

311), but this does not occur in these texts.

No. 22

Rev.

{Obv. 4

Nebo and Merodach

Assur, Samas,

3).

have delivered Kush and Egypt into the hands of the king, they have carried In the army of the king, my lord, .

spoil

(and)

.

.

have made

.

all

.

Samas and Merodach opposed

May

my

the king,

lord.

off their

their forces enter thy royal

seat

In the same way

may

Nineveh, and have enslaved their captives. that are

my

.

deliver the

Cimmerians and Mannai ... all hands of the king, my lord.

to the king into the

lord, capture all the silver, gold,

.

.

.

(and) their

forces.

Since the writer states that Kush and Egypt have Obv. 4. been overcome, and prays that the Cimmerians and Mannai may meet wiih the same fate, it may be inferred that the letter

was written about the time of Assurbanipal's third expedition. Egypt was not finally subdued until his second campaign, and it

was shortly

after this that the Assyrians

with the Lydian king, Gyges.

came

into contact

Gyges, finding the Cimmerians

too strong for him, followed the advice which had been given

him

in a

dream, and sent to ask help from Assyria.

His

request was granted, and the Cimmerians submitted for a time

but the Lydian king forgot the benefits of Assurbanipal, and sent his

army

to aid Psametik, king of Egypt,

who was

chafing

under the Assyrian yoke. The Assyrians naturally resented this breach of faith and withdrew their help, thereby allowing the Cimmerians to rise against Lydia for a second time.

was

slain,

his stead.

the

and

his son,

Then

who made peace

followed the fourth expedition, directed against

Mannai with a

successful issue,

events that our tablet refers.

was written about 660

II.

Gyges

with Assyria, ruled in

and

We may

it is

probably to these

therefore assume that

it

B.C.

Omens from the Horns of the Moon.

No. 25.

When

will

devour.

Moon appears on the thirtieth of the month When at the Moon's appearance its horns

the

OMENS FROM THE MOON

HORNS.

S

XXXvH

point away from one another, there will

be an overthrowing of There will be obedience and (GI = taraki GI = salamu GI = kdnu It is evil for Aharru, but good for the king,

and downfall of

fortresses

goodwill in the land. '

its

my

.

horns are kunna.^)

From

lord.

Ohv.

.

Zakir.

turnika

3.

garrisons.

taraku

:

is

to

rend asunder,' and probably

'

6. We find on K. 7192 a description of the various shapes of the Moon's horns (Obv. 3/.), 'When the Moon's horns are UR.BI.MP'

here

the opposite of mithara. No. 26, Obv.

is

(equally dark),

a bow), Obv.

aradu

UR. BI

KI LA kima GIS

mit-ka-ra,

.

4,

.

MA

(TU)

.

(like

.

kima GIS

mit-ka-ra,

.

DAN

.

BAN

When

(like

a boat).'

For

patar, arad, infinitives used as nouns.

5.

in this sense,

No. 26.

KI LA

nain-ra (equally bright),

DAN NU

.

Deut. xx, 20.

cf.

the Moon's horns face equally, there will be a

When

secure dwelling for the land.

at the

Moon's appearance

horns) are pointed, the king wherever his face land, (or) wherever he presses

on

From

overcome.

will

(its

set will rule the

is

Irassi-ilu,

the king's servant, the greater.

Obv.

6.

viitkara

Aratus {Diosemeta,

2

I,

ed.

of viakaru

โ ข=.

be equal.'

io

^

Cf.

Prince, p. 41), 'If on the third day the

two horns do not undergo any change, and (the Moon) does not shine, lying upon her back, but the points of her horns incline equally

.

.'

.

Pev.

iidduda II

Pev.

6.

mnkru

converse

seems

is

kntmi,

to point to

No. 28

Elam

From

.

=

'to sharpen.'

way of Asaridu.

in this

X'^/^/^,

The which

two different people.

When

a star shines forth

Elam

oi idhlii

Aยงaridu makru and Asaridu

i.e.,

.

.

the

Moon at

come and devour

kufiisissii will

disappears, in

i,

used also

is

{Obv. 3-5).

day (?)....

When

.

1.

and the

like a

enemy

knot

will

its

appearance a bright

the sesame.

(?)

{Rev. 2ff.)

from sunset to sunrise

capture

.

.

.

:

the forces of

Zakir.

Obv.

4.

kurusisstt,

Rev.

2.

SUR,

Rev.

3.

The

i.e.

perhaps a

worm

or insect.

isrur, is the usual

character

lib (?)

may be

word ki

for a star rising.

(?).

:

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

xxxviii

No. 29 {Obv.

When

2ff.).

are pointed,, the king of (or) the

When

king of

at the

Akkad wherever

his face

Moon's appearance

at the

When

dates and ...(?)...

Moon's appearance

Akkad wherever he goes

at its

set will ravage the land.

is

face

its

horns

its

will rule the land,

is

turned to the

....

left

appearance a north wind blows

(in that

month a

sunset

there will be a secure dwelling, welfare lucky for the land.

;

When

the

Jupiter passed to the place of

flood will come).

Sun reaches

zenith with a parhelion

its

be angry and there will be war. heavens

many Obv.

From

days.)

idda

2.

;

(Jupiter

(?),

the king will

has remained in the

Asaridu, the greater, the king's servant.

see No. 26.

For the character No. 181, obv. 4, and Amiaud et Mechinaux, A variant is given in No. 183, Tableau Compart, No. 226. nidu

Rev. 4.

translated

obv.

than

its

see Introduction, p. x.wii.

t'zzzz, cf.

3, iz-ziz.

When

No. 30. and

;

left

this.

horn

When

Moon's appearance its right horn is long hand will conquer a land other

at the

short, the king's

is

Moon at its appearance is very large, an When the Moon at its appearance is very the land will prosper. When the day is long

the

eclipse will take place. bright, the crops of

according to

its

The

thirtieth

In Elul an eclipse of Elam.

From

calculation, there will

day completed the month.

be a long

reign.

Nirgal-itir.

Obv.

6.

Rev.

I

ikru

:

Syriac k'ra.

ibta^ili's,

the opposite oi unnut ;

baHl u saruru nasi, contrasted with

10,

1,

cf.

No. 167,

rev.

7,

unniit u sarurusu

maktu; and No. 232, rev. 3 where utanat is contrasted with Both ba^il and imniit seem to indicate a gradual change into Saruru 7iasi (becoming bright) and iaruru maktu (brilliance smitten) respectively. Another form of the root a-n-t seems to be ittititu (IV, 2), used constantly for the Moon's approach to the Sun and gradual disappearance or fading away see No. 124, obv. I, etc. It is once used, presumably by mistake, Wil.

;

for suiatil

(No.

124,

words may have instances

obv.

4),

occasioned

of ba'il are:

— No.

but the similarity of the two a

L83,

scribe's 5,

blunder.

Further

ina ba'il zimusu adir

89-4-26, 160, obv. Z-10"'"' Mmtabarrii-tniitdnu

ba'il

"""'

Mus

OMENS FROM THE MOON'S HORNS. tabarrA-mfitanu adii bright

'"'^"

lib

Airi

ba'il sariiri 7iaSi,

since the middle of lyyar

:

and has assumed

W.A.I.

a brilliance.'

K. 2894, pub. P.S.B.A. 1893, p. Unnut from No. 167, rev.

dim':

cf.

also K.

obv.

I,

7661, obv., Col.

u SI^'

uniit sa atali

the eclipse.'

On

Rev. 5-6.

No. 31

.

.

Ill,

I,

i

DI RI .

.

\Ana A,

etc. :

5,

sin ina ta7narti\

etc.,

and No. 274

P.

60, obv.

When

On

i.

the

a quadriliteral root like ikkilmi.

these see Introduction, pp.

{Obv. 3-5).

i,

53,

17 kakkabdni ^' -su 317, 10, appears to mean 'grows 1.

omen on No.

may be

heart of Akk-ad will

is

'The gradual darkening caused by

.

.

Cf. also the

other hand, ittintu

tiie

AlV

-su

Mars

'

i.e.

has gradually grown bright

it

ba--lu.

-su un-HU-tit

XXXtX

Moon

the will

live,

be

xxi, xxviii.

appearance

at its

bright,

is

people

bright, the

will see

plenty.

of

No. 32 {R.ev. Tammuz, there

be anxious ^^?) horns have

\

When

ff).

the

Moon

appears on the thirtieth

be a wasting of countries. (Let not the king about the evil the Moon has been darkly full and will

:

its

.

.

.

which

is

From Asaridu

lucky for the king).

the greater, the king's servant.

Rev.

33

N'O. forth

.

king,

{Obv.

is

.

then goes forth,

it

my

lord,

be

NÂť"o.

35

are sharp

.

Mo on's

its

{Obv.

and

visible,

Scorpio to go

in

month ...

From

(it

Let the

the king rejoice greatly; until

When

'^

ff.).

heart will

When

When live,

goes

it

the king's

Irassi-ilu,

its

the

Moon

at

its

its

horns

his face is set,

appearance

is

When

bright, at the

horns are equally bright, hostile kings

the day according to

From

Moon's appearance

Akkad, wherever

the people will see plenty.

wi-U be a reign of long days.

Tammuz.

at the

bright, the king of

appearance

fa re well.

anci'

horns

be seen.

brilliance being diminished.

its

satisfied, let

wiri rule the lands. .

its

to

the greater.

servp^Tit,

.'

is

Until the twenty-fifth day of the

forth ^let the king take care of himself.

.

dark and

Mars which has stood

2,ff-)-

turns.

•

stays'),

The Moon's crown

4.

the dark portion of the Moon's circle

i.e.,

The

Nirs;al-i'tir.

its

calculation

thirtieth

is

will

long, there

day completed Nisan

-

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

xl

No. 37 {Obv. 1-3). When at the Moon's appearance month Adar its horns are pointed and dark, the

in the

prince

intercalary

grow strong and the L.nd will have abundance. {Rev. 3 ^) When the Moon stands in a hxed position, there will be want of rain. In the intercalary Adar, the Moon was seen with the Sun on will

From

the fourteenth day.

No. 38 brilliance,

6

{Obv.

When Regulus

ff.).

Akkad

king of

the

Nirgal-itir.

will

effect

assumes

{Sarru)

a

From

completion.

a.

Munnabitu. Obv.

On Sarru

6.

= Regulus, see

Epping and Strassmaier,

Astronomiches, p. 127.

No. 39

i Happy welfare to the land, the Moon will ff.). The Moon has occulted Mercury. From Ni'rgal-itir.

{Rev.

smite the foe.

When

No. 43. will

go

appearance the its

Moon

the

at its

appearance

right

horn

is

Moon

was

full.)

When

full,

the king

(At

dark in the heavens, there

will

Aharru.

dark in the heavens,' which they explain by

'

in

its

Moon's appearance be a ste ady market

at the

in the land, a revolt will take place in

and

.is

to pre-eminence, the land will dwell in secuirity.

('

heaven

horn

right

Its

is,

obscured

At the Moon's appearance its right' horn is Aharru. When the Moon appears on the first day it is lucky for Akkad, unlucky for Elam and Aharru. The Moon will \sa seen without the Sun on the fourteenth day From Nabu-ahi-iriba. is

not

visible.').

Obv.

7.

HI GAR glossed bar-ti here and bar-tu in Nc\

Rev.

4.

The

237..

.

scribe evidently explains dirat as the

DIR (=

fem. from a root of which he thinks

halapu) a

perm,

pa^rt.

No. 44 {Rev. iff.). (When) in Nisan on the first day (the Moon) appears and a north wind blows, the king of Akkad wi'll be happy. Mercury at sunset has stood (?) within Kumal it is ucky ^

;

for the

sword.

king

my

(The forces

1

the king of Aharru will be slain with ,the

lord;

the king,

of)

my

lord,

in

Egypt .... will

conquer.

Rev.

tabarru

6.

Kumal

— muiatm

MUL MUL .

"""

is

explained in No. 10 1, rev.

kakkab Aharri -"ÂŤ

""''

'^'

KU ^ MAL

|

""" \

2

'""' fif.

niws-

Dilgan - sa - arki - sU

KU MAL .

kakkab

OMENS FROM THE MOON S HORNS. Aharri,

i.e.,

Mulmul

=

Dilgan

= star of Aharru

Mars

Kumal

therefore

:

But

51.

Rm.

95

1.

is

The

Texts, 84,

obvious that

13 and K. 2329,

Dilgan is

it

.

GI, in Brunnow's List,

.

cannot be either Mercury or Mars,

it

(Craig, Astr.

7iinmudu',

= star of Aharru. by GUD UD (Mercury),

SU

MuStabarru-mutanu (Mars), and

No.

Dilgan-whose-back-part-is-

:

Kumal

explained

variously

is

xll

12)

On ^U

91, obv. 5).

true explanation of Dilgan

= Absin,

'

i.e.,

remarkable that the

Crops,'

omen

*

its

is

for

from

stars

elita

{Cf. also

a constellation.

is

it

'When

GI, see No. 49. given on No. 88, rev.

8,

moreover,

it

growth

.

'

(Virgo)

;

Dilgan in the Moon's halo fore-

for

bodes 'no grov/th of corn.'

Now,

been shown above, Kumal

as has

back-part-is-Mulmul (two stars or Mars),

i.e.,

Dilgan-whose-

is

probably part of

is perhaps playing on the double meaning of Mulmul to deduce an omen hostile to the king of Aharrft. Kumal, like Dilgan, relates to crops (Craig, Astr. Texts, No. 36, obv. 22).

Virgo, while the astrologer

Rev,

From

9.

this

the tablet at 670-660

No. 45 {Obv. in

remark we may perhaps put the date of

b.c.

When

3-5).

the

Moon

at its

appearance stands

a fixed position, the gods intend the counsel of the land for

happiness.

(It

Obv. 4.

appeared on the milku

is

the

first

day.)

only word

given for the

simple

ideograph (No. 5525 in Brunnow's List).

No. 48. When the Moon appears on the first of Kislew, the Akkad wherever he goes will ravage the land (or) the king (On the fourof Akkad wherever his face is set will rule the land. king of

teenth day the

Moon was

seen with the Sun.)

There

overthrowing of fortresses and downfall of garrisons

obedience and good (will

will in

report

and

No. 49. Sililiti,

From

greeting.

When

the

May

will

be an

there will be

for the rest,

the king

the king soon hear a happy

Asaridu.

Moon

rides

Akkad (The month

the rule of the king of

overcome the enemy.

As

the land.

see?) their good luck.

;

in

will

a chariot in the

month

prosper and his hand

Sililiti

is

Sebat.)

will

In Sebat a

—

'

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

xlii

halo surrounded (the

Moon)

the king will fare well

From

:

When

in the Pleiades (Sugi).

Moon and Aldebaran

surrounds the

a halo

{An?ia-mtr) stands within

there will be truth

and

it,

justice in the land.

Nabu-ikisi of Borsippa.

Obv.

For

I.

Obv. 5-6

chariot,' for Sugi has

(see

read

Si-li-pu-ut-ti in the text,

Si-li-li-ti.

give an explanation of the phrase 'rides in a

Brown, Proc.

been explained

Soc. Bibl. Arch.,

mean

to

XV,

p.

'

chariot-yoke

Sugi occurs

329).

No. 49, where the Moon may be surrounded by a halo in Sugi, {b) No. 206, where Sugi may stand in the Moon's halo, {c) No. 184, where Mercury is as low down (?) in Taurus as Sugi, (d) No. 226, where Mercury rises to the midst of Sugi from the place of Sunset in Nisan (/.<?.,

in the following passages

Aries-Taurus),

ie)

{a)

:

its circle may be bright, may grow dim (?) over the From {c) and {d) it is evidently

No. 244A, where

(/) Nos. 244 and 246, where

Moon and

enter the

Moon.

near Taurus, from {a) [d) and

from (/)

it is

gested to

me

'

'

it

{e) it

is

evidently a small group. that, as

fication of Sugi),

from the ecliptic

evidently a group, and

Now

Mercury cannot be

in

has been sug-

it

Orion (one

identi-

and further that the Moon does not deviate more than a little over 5°, Sugi is probably the

The

This identification agrees with the facts above.

Pleiades.

Pleiades are a small group, 4° from the ecliptic,

and the

rare

word kiirkurru (No. 244A) might very well be applied to them. Anu-agu, from the three cases where it occurs, may very well be a single star, and from No. 106 it would appear to be in Taurus, in which case it will be Aldebaran, for which no suitable identification has

No.

The Moon

51.

will

been suggested.

complete the day

Nisan.

in

From

Nabu-ahi-iriba.

Obv.

I.

On

the meaning of this text, see Introduction,

p. xxi.

The Moon will complete the day in Moon and Sun will be seen together. The

No. 52. day the

thirteenth,

The

lyyar.

night

(?)

.

.

of the

the night of the fourteenth a watch was kept but no

eclipse occurred.

Seven times

I

have been raised

.

.

but no eclipse

:

OMENS FROM THE TWENTY-EIGHTH occurred.

send a sure report to the king,

I

nephew of

sil-Marduk, the

Obv.

day

'

No. 53 {Obv.

'

'the

fifteenth

as in the transliterations.

The Moon completed

1-4).

From Tabu-

lord.

better supplied by

is

the thirteenth

'

xHii

Bil-nasir.

The lacuna

2.

than by

my

DAY.

the day in

on the fourteenth the Moon will be seen with the Sun draw back the day in Nisan and lyyar. will

:

the

Adar

Moon

'

'

The Moon

No. 54.

will

complete the day

in

Sebat.

From

Nabu-ahi-iriba.

No. 55 {Obv.

Concerning Mercury, of which the king, Istar-suma-i'ris in the palace proclaimed

^ff.)

my

lord, sent

its

going forth to Nabu-ahi-iriba.

me, yesterday

came, they have

From

all

The omens

in the festival

been observed and seen, they have passed

day off.

Balasi.

Obv.

igdiri

8.

I,

indicates the exit of

Rev.

3.

The 'going

of karu 'to call'

forth'

constellation.

ipttisu, cf. Syr. J>ds.

When the Moon

III.

2

Mercury from some

appe.\r.s

on the Twenty-eighth Day.

which to the king, my lord, I sent, the gods his ears .... When the Moon appears on On the twenty-eighth day, it is lucky for Akkad, unlucky for Elam. the twenty-eighth day the Moon .... from the adverse (?) omen ....

No. 57.

Of

that

shall straightway (?)

Rev.

4.

open

It

is

doubtful whether the gloss should be read

[uf\-tu mi-hi-tr or \it\-tam-?fii-Iit-ir.

No. 58.

When

the

twenty-eighth day as the

Moon

Moon first

day,

at its it

is

appearance appears on the evil

appears on the twenty-eighth day,

unlucky

for

Aharru.

The

scribe

Aharru.

for it

is

When

the

lucky for Akkad,

Froni the Chief Physician. first

on the reverse, and

wfote the sender's

name

the wrong

way up

afterwards corrected his mistake, writing

again the right way and partly erasing the former.

it

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

xliv

When the Moon

IV.

When

No. 59. will

be cold

When seize

Moon

appears on the thirtieth day, there

be the clamour of the enemy

(or) there will

Moon's appearance

at the

upon the

bright, the its

the

appears on the Thirtieh Day.

month

horns look

When

land. will

bring

in the land.

appears high, the enemy

will

Moon at its appearance is fiercely harm. When at the Moon's appearance the

.... a flood

at

it

From

come.

will

Irassi-ilu,

the king's

servant (the greater).

Obv.

Surubbic

2.

is

lalways explained

by kussu

in

these

texts.

When

No. 60. cannot define

it,

(?)

the

Moon

rain will

thirtieth day, there will

at its

appearance

When

fall.

be cold (or) there

When

will

dim and one

is

Moon

the

appears on the

be the clamour of the

Moon

at its

appearance appears low,

the submission of a distant land will

come

to the all-powerful king.

enemy

From

in the land.

Irassi-ilu,

Obv.

I.

Obv.

2.

the

the king's servant (the greater).

On

unmit, see No. 30, note on ibtail.

Umandi

lit.

'

make

great.'

No. 62. When the Moon appears on the thirtieth of Nisan, Ahlamu will devour a foreign tongue will gain the ascendency in Aharru. (We are Subartu.) When the Moon appears Subartu

on the

:

thirtieth day, there will

be cold

(Surubhu

in the land.

=

kussu).

The Moon appeared without Tebet it

:

the

Moon

the

Sun on the fourteenth of

completes the day in Sebat.

appears without the Sun

;

the

Moon

On

the fourteenth

completes the day in Adar.

On

the fourteenth it appears without the Sun ; complete the day in Nisan. From Nabu-ahi-iriba.

the

Moon

No. 63. When the Moon appears on the thirtieth of Aharru Subartu will slay with the sword. From Munnabitu. No. 64.

When

the

the abundance of Aharrii

of Borsippa.

Moon

will

lyyar,

appears on the thirtieth of lyyar,

Ahlamu

will

devour.

From

Nabia-ikisa,

OMENS FROM THE THIRTIETH DAY, No. 64B contains of Mugallu (Obv.

mention of the

a

xlv

(Obv.

Itu' tribe

4),

and

Expeditions were undertaken against the

5).

Itu' in the years 791, 783, 782, 777,

and 769 b.c, but they were

evidently loyal and faithful vassals in the seventh century (see

Harper, Assyrian Letters, No. 388).

Mugallu was king of

Tabal and, according to Assurbanipal, was a source of trouble to Esarhaddon and Sennacherib. From the mention of this king in a

letter

about omens,

it is

obvious that he was regarded

dangerous enemy by the Assyrians.

a

as

5-10, and

rev.

cf.

Knudtzon, Gebete

a?i

(See

deti

K.

1263,

Sonnetigoit, sub

voce.)

When

No. 66.

the

Moon

appears on the thirtieth of Sivvan,

Ahlamu

will

appears on the thirtieth day, there

will

the abundance of Aharru

the clamour of the

enemy

appearance appears low, the enemy the

Moon

country

at its

Moon

the

Moon

on the land.

to the king, (or) a messenger will come.

be

at its

When far

From

the king's servant.

Irassi-ilu,

Obv. rev.

When

will seize

the

(or) there will

appearance appears low, the submission of a

come

will

be cold,

the land.

in

When

devour.

I

ff.,

6.

It

will

be observed that the omen of No. 60,

does not correspond to

this

line,

but with usappil of

rev. 2-4.

When

No. 67.

the

the abundance of Aharru

= Aharru Venus

;

it

it

:

is

{Obv. sff.).

zenith

inundate.

From

has no omen.

No. 68

a

that

When month

parhelion

Mars advanced

stood away from Scorpio. lord.

From Rev.

appears on the thirtieth of Siwan, will

(?)

(The Month Siwan

Sum-idina.

Moon's appearance a north

at the

When at Ramman

a flood will come.

stands

{i.e.,

devour.

Saturn has not once approached

evil for Aljarru).

wind blows, during Sun's

Moon

Ahlamu

on

its

proceeded

To-morrow

to

I will

right, its

own

front)

inform the king,

the will

and

my

Balasi. 2.

Ana panatiiUu

unusual word uttamis.

a synonym oi alaku.

illak

is

the explanation

Delitzsch, 92 b, explains

See No.

70, rev. 3.

inf.

of the

ittmmi as

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

xlviii

via ""

Samsu

isakan

ma

.

took place at surface, but

iff.,

NAM BUL NAM BUL

,

When

No. 83. the land.

.

BI

the

ma

lipuhc

,

SI

.

its

.

BI HUL .

.

of

81-2-4, 49 IL LA-i-ni

kalami

Moon

lu-itik.

... in

its

has not been explained.)

(It

SU

SU

Ina VII umi .

atali

83-1-18, 37 (Harper, No. 355), rev. i2_^, BI itapas met ar (J)-ni-su ana Hi lultima

'

.

.

.

was made,

NAM B UL

it

Su SI

an eclipse of the Sun

i.e.,

to avert the evil

(Harper, No. 370), rev. •'" musiti

Aki II

ibassi

lassu,

extending over two

zenith

its

no prayer

i/mipas.

BI

.

sa ina pan Hani issinis

ma

ina napahi-su

NAM BUL

From

was seen with the Sun.

Bil-li',

course, Bel will speak to

On

the thirteenth day

it

son of Igibi, the magician.

When the Moon disappears, evil will befall the land. Moon disappears out of its reckoning, an eclipse will take (The Moon disappeared on the twenty-fourth day.) When

No. 85.

When

the

place.

a halo surrounds the Sun on the day of the Moon's disappearance,

an

Moon

eclipse of the left side of the

will take place.

In Kislew a watch was kept for the eclipse, the halo surrounding the Sun and the disappearance of the

watch king,

my

Moon

(being the causes of the

May

the

Irassi-ilu,

the

an eclipse in Kislew) having been observed.

for

lord,

know, and may he

rest

From

happy.

king's servant (the greater).

Obv.

Moon,

6.

On

an eclipse of Elam

=

the

left

side

of the

see Introduction.

No. 86 {Obv.

1-5).

When

Moon

the

invisible,

is

but two

(The Moon Alone before the Sun it has appeared in brightness with the Sun. was brilliant.) The face of the town of Assur the king .... {rev. When Venus goes to the front of Sibzianna, country to 2-10).

•crescents are seen, there will

country,

brother (to)

slaughter of brilliant,

Nirgal

men and

be

hostility in the land.

brother will be hostile cattle.

heaviness will weigh

When

;

the stars

down and

there

will

be a

of Sibzianna are

evil will

be done.

From

itir.

Obv.

Rev.

4. 3.

parig.

Cf. Syr.

Sibzianna.

It

aphreg splenduit. has been

Arcturus, Bootes, or Regulus.

suggested that this

From No.

is

86, written for the

VARIOUS OMENS FROM THE MOOX. month Ab, we and,

'

are told that

'

xlix

Venus stands before Sibzianna,' brilliant,' which show that it is

the stars of Sibzianna are

a constellation (not a single

star),

near the Ecliptic, and, con-

sequently, cannot be Arcturus or Regulus.

we

Further,

are

told in No. 203 that Sibzianna stands within the halo of 22'.

Moon cannot is 30° from the Ecliptic, and the more than 5° 8' from the Ecliptic, Sibzianna cannot be Arcturus and since out of the large constellation of Bootes, only two small stars at most could stand within the halo, it As Arcturus vary

;

would be assuming too much to say that these stood for the whole of Bootes. From No. 86, as no planet known to the Assyrians could diverge more than 8'' from the Ecliptic, if we give a logical meaning to the words ina pan, we may fairly consider that Further, from No. 244 b, Sibzianna is within 8' of the Ecliptic, we learn that (i) Libra, and (2) Sibzianna went before {ana pan) consequently that which holds good for Libra, the Moon which is an Ecliptic constellation, will also hold good for :

No.

Again,

Sibzianna.

Sibzianna stood within

then approximately

in

written

203,

Moon's

the Libra,

for

halo.

we may

Nisan, Full

says

that

Moon

being

assume that

fairly

this

took place at some point near the Ecliptic between Leo and

From No. 244

Sagittarius.

that Sibzianna

is

b,

quoted above,

in or near Libra,

and the only

within 8° of the Ecliptic at this point

seem,

therefore,

and

is

it

that

Sibzianna

is

Libra

another

obvious

is

constellation It

itself.

name

for

would Libra,

meaning of Sibzianna, Just connected in some way with the

quite possible that the

shepherd of Heaven,' '

is

it

is

'

Balance.' It

is

true that in the

list

of 'Pair-stars' (W.A.I. Ill, 57,

6),

mentioned among them as well as the Twins/«d!-«^-Sibzina,' but it may be either because the scribe, in his

we

find Libra

make

'

of seven twins, just as he has made lists of has repeated the same stars under a different name, or more probably 'the pair' of Sibzianna refer to some

wish to

seven masu,

a

list

etc.,

pair outside Libra altogether

Rev. iii,

16

:

7.

— such as Arcturus and Spica.

Kabtu ukdappaSavima.

Cf. Ileb.

but the meaning of the phrase

is

kaphas

in

doubtful.

4

Lam.

;

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS. No. 87 the

Moon

will

the

Moon

on a cloudy day,

full

is

smite the foe.

When

No. 88. is

When

{Obv. 3-5).

Moon

the

out of

its

calculated time tarries and

not seen, there will be an invasion of a mighty

(It

city.

was

on the fifteenth on the sixteenth it was seen with the Sun.) When Mars stands opposite a planet, corn will be valuable. When a comet reaches the path of the Sun, Gan-ba will be diminished an uproar will happen twice. These words concern Akkad. (Mars left an interval of four degrees (?) away from Saturn, it did not approach to ... it reached. (So) I determine. Without fail (?) When the Moon let him make a nam-bul-bi ceremony for it.) appears on the sixteenth, the king of Subarti will grow powerful and invisible

;

:

will

have no

rival.

Obv.

pati

9.

the perm, of patti, the root of upatti in

is

No. 112, obv. 6, where an elaborate explanation of patil, tihu and karabu is given, upatti is explained by itti ikrib or Cf. Syr. p'tha se dilatavit.

la itahhi.

attasha.

See vocabulary and

K. 1049,

cf.

obv. 12 (Harper, Nos. 38 and 357).

minu

10.

3^,

rev. etc. :

ina

See vocabulary and

and is

rev.

"]

ff..,

ultu

S, 1368,

doubtful.

Harper, No, 356,

cf.

ina ^apsi ikalli ina pan sarri irrab minu hittu

No. 390,

pan

htttu.

rev. 9,

The meaning

Summa

riH sa sarru isbatannini minu

sarri sd sarru beli ispurajini-may

etc.

hita'i

Cf. the use of

the Heb. hata to miss.

Rev. to this

4.

The

omen.

latter part of this line

It

appears to read

is

an unusual addition

IDIN NA gur-ru usahkar, .

Gurru is the measure for corn, etc., and the but is uncertain. whole phrase would seem to imply the diminution of the crops.

Cf No.

185, II,

Rev. 10.

etc.

These three

lines are evidently a later addition

and show the phenomena which occurred after Balasi had signed his name. L. 12 indicates that the tablet was written at the

end of a

No. 89,

= la-mu-u.

year.

rev. 7, contains the

The mention

approximate date of the

important explanation

of Samas-sum-ukin

tablet.

MCxr

satti,

(/. '

NIGIN

11) will fix the

son of a

year,'

is

OMENS FROM HALOS.

\i

perhaps to be compared to the Hebrew idiom.

honey and

seems to

spices,'

refer to

some

To the king of countries, my lord, May Bel, Nebo and Samas bless the

will

the

Sun stands within the halo of the Moon,

speak the

son

truth, the

his

Moon and Allul stands within it, When a river surrounds life. '

When

in

my

lo-Jiev

presence I heard

'

Rev

.

.

this

.

and the

before the general in

thy servant Bil-

my

king,

lord.

in all lands they

the

Moon,

.

will

prolong

there will be great

Moon's

Arad-Gula

(iff.).

.

.

.

halo.)

Bi'l-ikisa (?)

which Mardia heard .... the

.

.

a halo surrounds

Akkad

(Allul has stood within the

mutilated,

.5

chief: Yadi', the chief,

manu

the king of

'

inundations and rains. (Ol>v.

oil,

speak the truth with his father.

will

(Saturn has stood within the Moon's halo.) the

'

offerings.

No. 90.

When

3,

Omens from Halos.

VI.

usi'zib (?)

Edge

chieftainess of all the land of Yaki-

Van

now

they appointed, and

the murderer of our lord shall not

grow great before

they say

Let the

us.'

may hear the health of the me: and Mardia, who is chief of the servants

lord of kings ask the general (that he king),

how

it

tronbles

(?)

when I had left, entered and the chief officers he

of the household of the general, his lord,

under Nergal-as." rid

the interpreter

:

They entered

brought before Nirgal-asarid. carried

away Obv.

tarbasu

homes a

to their 3.

On

= halo,

Obv.

8.

Rev. 13.

(?)

and

into agreements

talent of silver with

the Sun in the Moon's halo

them

= Saturn,

and on

see Introduction, p. xxiv.

naru

is

probably the corona.

igganni,

from

possibly

igi},

'be

but

weary,'

doubtful.

No.

91.

When

a halo surrounds the

pauddii) stands within

Aharru king of

it,

(or) there will

Akkad

Moon and

be corn and there

When

will see siege.

and vegetables (A halo surrounded the star .)

there will be verdure

.

.

a

'

(?)

.

its

fourteenth ....

From

position

and has

Balasi.

will

river

'

{Umun-

be no blasting

;

the

surrounds the Moon,

in the land.

When

very bright, that land will eat abundance.

taken Mercury to

Jupiter

there will be an invasion of the forces of

Jupiter

(The

risen high.)

Rain will fall. {Marduk) grows

star

Marduk

After

it

has

on the

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

lii

When

No. 92. From

surrounds

halo

a

{Sagmigar) stands within

Moon and

the

the king of

it,

Akkad

Jupiter

be besieged.

will

Nirgal-itir.

Last night a halo surrounded, the Moon, and Jupiter

No. 94.

{Sagmigar) and Scorpio stood within it. When a halo surrounds the Moon and Jupiter {Sagmigar) stands within it, the king of

Akkad

When

be besieged.

will

Jupiter {Nibiru) stands within

it,

Moon and

a halo surrounds the

there will be a slaughter of cattle

field. (Marduk is Umunpauddu at its appearwhen it has risen for two (or four ?) hours it becomes Sagmigar when it stands in the meridian it becomes Nibiru.)

and beasts of the ance

;

;

When

a halo surrounds the

cause

men

Moon

marry princesses

to

Moon and

Aharru

This

Jupiter stands within

It is

ustahhct III",

use of the word

this

on the

"'"

Samsi

the

'

.

my

Receive

I,

No. 95.

K. 1994, obv.

93,

not joined {Rev. luck.

I

{i.e.

^.).

When

5.

;

3.

NA

Afta

let

.

it

on him draw near

Boissier,

Ana SAL

a halo surrounds the

it

does not point to

adverse but

will

will

come.

to

be a

Sar-ur and Sar-gaz are

upsilon of the Scorpion.

DocuT/.

halo was

evil.)

for

good

sting, are brilliant,

From Nabu-suma-iskun.

IdIN. W.A.I. V, 46 would appear

:

Moon and

(Its

be in heaven

and Sargaz, of the Scorpion's

Akkad

A

is

:

Tt-hi

Moon and Sun

the king will be besieged.

The omen

From No. 153 Rev.

it,

was interrupted)

Sar-ur

the weapons of

Obv.

When

{Obv. 1-4).

Jupiter stands within

16,

'"^'"

umu{mu)

prayer," he shall say

him approach the Sun by day

2, p.

For

XV

.

his wife, his wife shall conceive a man-child.'

ments

meant.

is

tihu.

SAL BI

i-kar-rab a-na

SAL BI US ir-ri, When

fifteenth day, "

that day let

nsmalU) from

(like

i

un-ni-ni-ia li-ka-a \j\kab-bi ina

su-a-tu timu{mu) a-na

itahhi)

a

K. 848, obv. 1-5, Aiia mnu

cf.

Sin u Samsu

(i.e.

of

When

the king of

uncertain whether one or two kasbu

Obv. 8.

Rev.

I.

it,

'

will

traffic

From Nabu-musisi.

unpropitious.)

is

series

it

it,

might and accomplish the defeat of the land of

will exercise

his foe.'

in

and the

(These are from the

the land will be hindered.

halo surrounds the

and Scorpio stands

(or) lions will die

I,

46

= banai

rihtitum.

star of Virgo.

therefore

lambda and

See also Brown, P.S.B.A, 1890,

p.

201.

OMENS FROM HALOS. The

No. 96.

night of the

The

.

.

.

day Jupiter {Sagmigar) stood make a natnbulbi ceremony.

Let them

Moon.

within the halo of the

Uli

From Nabu-ahi-'nba.

halo was open on one side.

Further examination of the text showed that what read " I " was an unintentional mark on the been had first There are two deep scratches or indentations at this tablet. point in the line, which have obliterated the original character. Obv.

"

I "

I.

would, of course, be an impossibility.

No. 97. When a halo surrounds the Moon and Regulus From Nirgal-itir. it, women will bear male children.

stands

within

the

No. 98 month

When

{Obv. 1-8). will

When

within the Moon's halo.)

Mars stands within

No. 99

(It is evil for

{Obv. ID

Mars stands within lands

;

When

ff.). it,

.

.

.

When

a halo surrounds the

all

I.

Variants

Elam

{e.g.^

will die.

No. loi, obv.

1-4). it,

No. 101

I.

give 'planting

i)

When

a halo surrounds the

Moon and :

the

Welfare of multitudes,

See No. 90 on Saturn.

When a halo surrounds the Moon {Obv. sff')' it, the king his troops will be besieged.

planet stands within

halo surrounds the it,

(?),

they will speak the truth in the land

speak the truth with his father. Obv.

From Bamai

^

No. 100 {Obv. will

Moon and two stars stand When Mars and a planet stand When Mars invasion of Elam.

dates.'

Saturn stands within

within

Moon and

a halo surrounds the

goes forth, the king of

Rev.

A

Aharru

there will be a destruction of cattle in

there will be a long reign.

it,

and

son

;

Aharru.)

facing one another, there will be an .

Moon and

the planting of dates will not prosper (or) Aharrii will be

diminished. within

(Saturn stood

a halo surrounds the

there will be a destruction of cattle

it,

be diminished.

will

a dark halo suiTounds the Moon,

bring rain (or) will gather clouds.

Moon and

and a

When

Dilgan-after-which-is-Mulmul stands

the herds of the land will prosper.

(Mars

is

the star of

:

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

liv

Aharru, Dilgan-after-which-is-Mulmul

From

of A^iarru).

Rev.

On

2.

No. 103

:

Kumal

the star

is

No. 44.

this see

{Obv, d

When

ff.).

a planet stands within

it,

Moon.)

the halo of the

Kumal

is

Irassi-ilu.

When

Moon and

a halo surrounds the

(Saturn stood within

robbers will rage.

Jupiter {Sagmigar) draws near to

Taurus, the good fortune of the land passes away (or) the generation of cattle and sheep

my

the king,

let

(Jupiter has entered Taurus

not prosperous.

is

lord,

When

keep himself from the storm-wind.)

Mars {Apin) reaches the path of the Sun, there will be a famine of cattle, there will be want. When a (Mars reached Saturn.) planet and Mars stand facing one another, there will be an invasion of the enemy. When Mars {Lul-a), its rising is dark ... its light like

.

.

.

Rev. to

Mustabarnc-7niitanu (No. 239, I,

I,

6

i,

APIN =

""'

""

:

No. 272, r i, 3). Cf. = Mars (Epping and

and the list K 4195, Mars Apin occurs.

No. 106. stands within

When it,

for

...

within the halo of the

Moon

for

:

stood within the halo of the Moon.)

No. 107

{Rev.

i

_f.).

When

Mars (Sudun) stands within diminished

;

the king of

the star of Aharru

Akkad

fourteenth the

happy.

No. 108

(?)

;

;

Moon

From

Elam

it

is evil

it

is

two days, an omen of

From

evil, it

has

Nabu-ahi-iriba.

a halo surrounds the a king will die and

Moon and

land be {Sudun = Mars ; Mars is Aharru and Elam Saturn is the his

will die.

for

was seen with the Sun

ff.).

Anu-agii

(Taurus stood

the land.

;

lucky for the king,

Irassi-ilu,

{Obv. 6

it,

in

Col. Ill, IV,

Moon and

a halo surrounds the

there will be

it

=

Anu

Strassmaier, Astron., p. 173),

where among the names

rest

said

followed by an explanatory note which shows that Api'n

W.A.I., V, 46,

star of

is

draws near

it

In the three cases in these texts where Aj>in occurs,

Saturn. is

Saturn being the star of the Sun, Mercury

4.

have reached the path of the Sun when

:

my

let

lord.)

the king,

On the my lord,

the king's servant.

The omen changes not. Now my lord. From Zakir.

the royal observation to the king,

I

send

OMENS FROM No.

When

110.

May

Akkad

life

Assur, Samas, Nebo, and Merodach,

life

it,

my

long days to the king,

No.

Moon and Cancer

a halo surrounds the

the king of

prolong

stands within fall.

IIALOS.

From

lord, give.

Moon and

it is

.

will

to life (?) for

NabCl-ikbi.

Moon and a When a halo

bring (?)...

.

.

(Allul)

showers

:

^^'ben a halo surrounds the

Ill {Obv. sff')'

north wind blows, the exalted gods

surrounds the

will

thin, there will

be a giving of years

to

the king.

Obv.

8.

Heb. da hi I,

id/ii/,

dal.

No. 112

Moon

:

it

Last night a halo surrounded the {Obv. i-Rev. ii). was interrupted. When a nsurtu surrounds the Moon,

there will be an eclipse.

(An

a usurtu surrounded the

Moon

When Venus draws land '

it

;

Ramman

draws near

determined)

The

it

eclipse ;

it

near Scorpio,

will give his rains,

to the

(t.ihfi)

'

does not

is

'

'

a disturbance.)

Ea

winds

evil

will

'

.come to the

his channels to Guti.

Breast of Scorpio

approach

Last night

was interrupted.

{karabu).

'

(so

ipatti

planets are those whose stars pass on their

it

When

has been

= itti ikrib. own road

over

themselves.

When

A-idin reaches Mars,

drawn near

to Nun-sayni.

(?)

No. 114 {Obv.

No. land

When

117.

will

will

the

halo surrounds the

greater

be enlarged, destructions

prolong

Moon

will

Moon,

surround men. it,

that

When

the king of

it

Akkad

When Regulus stands within it, women will bear When the greater halo surrounds the Moon and is

life.

male children. thin, there will

be a giving of years to the king.

surrounded

and has remained

rupted.)

(?).

it.

surrounds and Cancer {Alhit) stands within will

Mars has

inundate.

Last night a halo surrounded the

1-3).

and Gemini stood within

Ramman

Rain has not come yet

it

From Obv.

I.

for

many

Sapiku, of Borsippa.

On

(A great halo has and is uninter-

nights

supuru see Introduction.

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ivi

When the Moon and Sun

VII.

On

(a)

No. 119 {Obv. on the

When

twelfth.)

Day.

the Twelfth

When

1-7).

expected tune, the market

are seen with one another,

Moon

the

be low.

will

appears out of

Mcon and Sun

the

are

seen with one

another out of their expected time, a strong enemy the land

:

the king of

Akkad

On

(b)

When

No. 120.

:

are seen with

not be silence

enemy

the

overcome foe.

Day.

the Thirtee7ith

will

will

accomplish the defeat of his

Moon and Sun

the

on the thirteenth day, there cessful traffic in the land

will

its

was seen with the Sun

(It

one another

there will be unsuc-

:

From

on the land.

will seize

Apia.

No. 123

When

{Obv. ^ff.).

come

prosperity will

peace with the land

:

garden

kinds.)

fruit

of

all

a north wind prevails and blows,

to all fruit trees.

This

Moon

and the sky

strong.

Obv.

From

is

grapes

(?) :

will

from

on the thirteenth day the Sun reaches

dark, years of prosperity, the king will

Nirgal-itir,

son of Gasuzu (?)-Tutu.

This word

sadrat.

4.

at

=

will

When

has not been seen with the Sun.

the zenith

grow

be

{Isi rikipti

gods

the thirtieth of Tisri

to-day as far back as Elul, which has passed, the

Igigi

year dates and

The Moon appeared on

prosper.

The

the land will see abundance.

several times of storms {imbaric)

is

used twice of the wind,

and

also in connection with

earthquakes.

Rev.

2.

balat.

Rev.

4.

ishnu.

Heb.

bala.

Probably the verb from which sat7iu

'

dark

comes.

(c)

No. 124.

On

the Fourteenth

Day.

When

the Moon reaches the Sun and with it fades horns being dim, there will be truth in the land^

out of sight,

its

and the son

will

speak the truth with his

father.

(On the

four-

OMENS FROM THE FOURTEENTH DAY. Moon was

teenth the the

Sun are

When

seen with the Sun.)

invisible, the king

Moon and

the

wisdom

will increase

Ivii

the king of

;

(On the

the land, the foundation of his throne will be secure.

Moon

fourteenth day the

When

was seen with the Sun.)

and Sun are seen with one another on the fourteenth, there silence, the land will

be

satisfied

be

will

Akkad for happiof Akkad will lie

the gods intend

;

Moon

the

ness. Joy in the heart of the people. The cattle down securely in the pasture-places. When a dark halo surrounds When its the Moon, it gathers clouds, that month will bring rain.

horns are dim, a flood will come. (On the fourteenth the Moon was seen with the Sun.) About the people concerning whom I sent to the king, my lord, the king does not say

Now

hither.'

my lor

Why ? knows

but has said

'

I

'

them bring them

let

hold no land in Assyria

I,

:

what

is

my life ? Who is my god, who is my whom and how are my eyes turned ? Now let my lord king,

family to them, or what

lord, to

and

'

the king

whose

I

life

cause him to

On

iitintu,

Rev. '

unto Ahisa, by royal authority,

it

life

the governor of Babylon

me

he may

visit (?)

my

son, the

king's

the king.

of sidatu, see Introduction,

p. xxvi,

see No. 30.

Cf. I

5.

let

:

Nabu-itir-napsati,

the explanation

and on

Sam.

xviii, 18,

see

Peiser,

'

who am

I,

or

who my

clan'

').

Rev. cf.

Let

leave.

come, that with

servant,

(or

pray Samas, send

messenger bring the people

let his

alia

7.

:

ailu, Bezold, Oriental

Bab.

Diplomacy,

Nos. 125-129 are very similar.

an unusual addition to the omen

Moon and Sun, No. 136B is dated

'

Vertrdge,

230,

p.

and

p. 72.

No. 130, obv. for the

3,

contains

invisibility

of the

king.' Mercy and eponymy of Labasi, the fourteenth of

peace

will

befall

the

in the

Tisri (B.C. 655).

No. 137

{Rev. 1-4).

wind blows, there stands on the Aharrii to

.

.

.

will

left

will

When

at the

Moon's appearance a south

be a slaughter of Aharru.

of the

Sun and ....

(?),

When a parhelion

(?)

anarchy the king of

take him.

No. 139 {Obv. 5 ff.). The rest of the matter is lucky for the my lord. The Moon went into clouds so that we could not

king,

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Iviii

see

When

it.

will

Moon

the

come {Nikilpu

=

heaven pours down, rain

From

appearance goes into clouds, a flood

at its

alakii).

will

When

at

rain.

In rain-clouds

the

Moon's appearance appeared.

it

Nabu-ahi-iriba.

Obv.

rihti

5.

See Delitzsch,

dibbi.

61 8b,

p.

and

cf.

Harper, Nos. 342, edge 21, and 57, obv. 10.

When

No. 140.

Moon

the

does not wait

disappears, there will be a raging of lions

When

with the Sun on the (fifteenth). its it

time, there will

From

plete the day.

No. 141 wind blows,

No. 144

When

month

{Obv.

On

1-3).

Moon, Saturn stood within Obv,

3.

Cf. the

at the iMoon's

a south

were seen with one anothet.

within the

(cities ?).

afterwards in Tisri the

:

It

Sun and was seen

appears out of

On the fifteenth Moon will com-

Balasi.

{Rev. 5-6). in that

Moon

the

be an overwhelming of

was seen with the Sun

the

for

and wolves.

it

wind

appearance a south

will prevail.

the fourteenth the

Moon and Sun

Last night a halo surrounded the

near the Moon.

omen

in rev. 1-2,

Moon's halo/ and

for

'

When

the Sun stands

an explanation see

Intro-

duction.

No. 145 {Rev. iff.). When Jupiter becomes bright, the weapons of the king of Akkad will prevail over those of his foe. Regulus stands either on the right or left of Jupiter. Now it has stood three .... on the

No. 146 will rain as is

it

left

{Rev. 1-6). disappears.

(?)

:

Lubad-dir

is

From Rimutu.

When Mercury disappears at sunset it Mars has assumed a brilliance Lubad-dir

for prosperity of people

angry

of Jupiter.

:

;

Lubad-dir (means) that corpses are

Mars.

From

Nirgal-itir.

No. 147 {Rev. Aff-), and No. 148 {Rev. iff.). When (the omen) portends a reign of long days for the well-being of the allpowerful king and his people, the Moon at its proper time is invisible with the Sun, rivalling

its

position.

'

OMENS FROM THE FOURTEENTH DAY. Compare

the

omens

lix

Moon's appearance on the

for the

first

day together with the day in its proper length, which are so frequently found on the same tablet. Ustata is the pres. Ill, 2

whence

of atu,

No. 151 {Ohv. has appeared

lord) they

in the centre,

man should hand

months

(for

will

Marcheswan, and

Tisri,

happiness and long

have been seen. then

some months, god

the fourteenth for

god, namely

^

{Rev. 2ff.) (This

be obedience.

Moon and

reaches the

in his

On

3-6).

with

three consecutive

my

also sutatu.

life

When

Scorpio

when

is

a

'

is

dark

covering

(?)

In Kislew, the fifteenth day a

Mercury.)

consecrate to Nfrgal, he should raise a willow (?)-branch

he

;

be safe

will

in his

journeys or travels

the sixteenth

:

day, the seventeenth day he should sacrifice an ox before

ox should be smitten in the presence of the god(?) should be apparelled, the

Nebo

of the

night

Nebo, an

the eighteenth day

;

nineteenth a

From Nabu-suma-iยงkun.

censer.

Rev. 4. I

Kislevv,

to the king,

The

two characters u-da should be

last

did not find a variant to correct

my

text

by

lis-kin:

until too late.

No. 152 {Rev. iff.). They shall bring in that tablet of the Day of Bel which we have written, for the king, my lord, to see, and They shall they shall give us the Akkadian tablet of the king. on the front, and shall whoever opens the document shall close

enclose three officer

that

*'

direct the

therein

stars "

it

in

his

presence.

Rev.

Bel: ""'

2.

cf.

A

A BA um

''"

.

Rev.

4.

was appointed for the day of and 81-2-4, 98> obv. 11^, t^ltu 5, LIL gabbu wtahharu usirrubu. Akkadian tablet,' cf. King, First Steps in

particular scribe

No. 160,

On

rev.

IN the

.

'

Assyrian., p. xxv, note.

No. 153 {Obv. market

will

be

T ff.).

low.

On

When

the

Moon

the fifteenth

it.

and Spica (Pan) stands within there will be

much robbery

stops in

it,

brigands

in the land.

its

course, the

was seen with the Sun. and Virgo {Absin) and

Moon When a halo

Last night a halo surrounded the

Spica {A-idin) stood within

it

surrounds the

When

Moon

be rampant and a river surrounds

will

'

'

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ix

Moon,

the

and showers.

there will be great rains

Rev.

stood

A-i'din

Nabu-ikisa, of Borsippa.

from the above would appear to be a It is therefore probably Spica, which is

A-idin,

2.

From

Moon.

within the halo of the

single star of Virgo.

Pan here evidently is no other star probably another name for Spica.

the most conspicuous star of the group. explains A-i'din, as also in No. for

it

and

to refer to,

it is

1

18,

where there

No. 154 {Obv. 1-2). On the first day I sent to the On the fourteenth the Moon will be seen with the Sun.' On the fourteenth the Moon was seen with the Sun.

king thus

No. 155

{Rev.

The

'iff.).

did the clouds appear?'

during the day the middle.

— half came forth

There

is

my

king,

Last night ;

it

its

'How

going forth which

went as

an omen from the

has not asked

lord,

far as the

sight for the

.

'

.

:

i^Rev. 6.)

*

I

ground .

saw '

in

when the

king sees a clear day, for two-thirds of a kashi (80 minutes) of the

day

it

will

From

stand with the Sun.

Rev.

tsu.

4.

Cf.

isi irihi

Nabia-ikisa, of Borsippa. '

half the diameter

'

(Oppert,

Rev.

7.

quoted Muss. Arnolt, Did., 86, a), and isu The characters destroyed may be iim k\.

Rev.

8.

Probably read sarru im-ru sinip kasbu

J A. xvi, 513,

(d)

On

the Fifteenth

'small.'

t'lmu.

Day.

No. 156 {Obv. 1-3). When the Moon and Sun are seen with one another on the fifteenth day, a powerful enemy will raise his weapons against the land. The enemy will destroy the gate of my city.

Obv. 163,

/a.

3.

Ali-ia

'my

No. 158, MU.)

the precise formula, for

city' occurs elsewhere.

{Cf. Nos, 162,

The magicians are at variance as to we find 'the enemy will destroy the

shrines of the great gods' (No. 157), or

'

the city gates' (No.

159)-

No. 158. but

it

The

reverse

is

seems that the writer

too mutilated to is

make connected

sense,

apologising for not having sent the

OMENS FROM THE SIXTEENTH DAY. usual despatch,

'

He

king leave me, and

No. 162

concludes with the conventional

I shall

{Rev.

not

inter-

not the

let

die.'

When

2ff.).

'

goes

Jupiter

Venus, the

with

Merodach and hear the prayer of thy people and will have mercy

prayer of the land

Sarpanitum

he has been sick and there was no

for that

preter of omens.'

will

will

on thy people. Let them send

reach the heart of the gods.

me

an ass that

may

it

my

ease

From

feet.

Ni'rgal-i'tir.

Rev.

The

7.

in the text.

If

character which

LAM

(=

isfpu)

I

read sipa^^

be translated

'

written

is

sorcery'

it

lam

gives

no sense.

No. 163

When Mercury (or When Cancer {Allid)

{ObiK 4^).

there will be corpses.

demon

will seize

on the land and there

a planet) is

will

.

.

.

appears,

dark, a destructive

be corpses.

From

Nabu-ahi-iddina.

No. 164

When

{Rev. 1-8).

the brilliance of a star shines from

overcome the foe, .... will seize upon the these five months on the lyyar, Siwan, Tammuz, Ab, Elul land. May the fourteenth day the Moon has not been seen with the Sun. king, my lord, know and give heed. want

east to west,

(?) will

—

No. 165 make havoc.

When Anna becomes

{Obv. 5-6).

Obv.

5.

Brunnow's

List,

No.

Sin,

i.e.,

the

AN NA = = Anu, and there-

145, gives

Moon. But AN NA also see No. 103. fore probably Mars nami-A ihammiS, lit. 'dash (to) Obv. 6.

""

bright, the foe will

.

"""'

.

:

(e)

No. 166.

When

Oti the Sixteenth

the

on the sixteenth day, king be besieged

Moon and Sun to king will

in his palace for the

ruins.'

Day. are seen with one another

send

hostility.

space of a month.

The king will The feet of the

—

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ixii

enemy in

his

will

be against the land

land.

Tammuz

is

When

No. 167

Akkad and

{Rev.

When

iff.).

and assumes a

brilliance,

Mars, (the star of

for

Aharru

is

it

for

Subartu grows

?)

And when

lucky for Subartu.

dim and

brilliance

its

there will be a hostile attack

:

his

From Akkullanu.

Aliarru.

Saturn, the star of Aharru, grows is evil

march triumphantly

will be besieged in on the sixteenth day, it is lucky

seen

is

it

Subartu, evil for

bright

will

the fourteenth or fifteenth of

not seen with the Sun, the king

When

palace.

enemy

the

;

Moon on

the

smitten,

is

it

From

on Aharru.

Sapiku, of Borsippa.

No. 168 fifteenth of

{Obv.

Nisan

of the foe

be a revolt

it

No. 170

the fourteenth or

be plundered and the land

will

{Obv.

Rev.

I

.

.

.

.

:

there will

When

6).

the

O

stopped

'

King

thou

!

art angry, to thy servants

shall see his

peace

Obv.

4.

Abkallu

=

'

art the

:

sikla 'Bil-ru

morning

in the

it

shall

image of Marduk, when thou

When we draw

near the king, our lord,

Sikla means

it

is

difficult to say.

mighty one,' while sikla might be referred

to weigh,

instrument called '

night

!

ruler,

the root s-k-l

Babylon

!

last

What Abkallu '

the fourteenth

The Abkallu

the crops will be diminished.

be explained.

Moon on

not seen with the Sun, a copious flood will

is

viinti-ukarrad-Marduk

we

Moon on

the

in the land.

or fifteenth of Sebat

come and

When

1-5).

not seen with the Sun, the troops the expedition

is

'

balance.'

It

Bil-riminu-ukarrad-Marduk

Imgur-Bil

'),

which stopped

to

appears to be some '

in the

{ef.

the wall of

night.

It

may

have been some kind of clock.

No. 171 of Adar

is

{Obz'.

4-5).

When

the

Moon on

the

fourteenth

not seen with the Sun, there will be a devastation of Ur.

No. 172

{Rev. 3-6).

When

heaven, the king of countries

will

a planet changes the stars

make an

grown bright and (thereby) changed the

stars.)

end.

of

(Mercury has

— OMENS FROM THE SUN.

Omens from the Sun,

VIII.

When

No. 173. Suns are days.) Obv.

No. 174 Sun

in the

When

and the

the

Sun

Welfare of

traffic

obv.

No.

When

1 76.

all

lands a

Moon,

enters the

From

the

Sun stands

be secure on

will

A§§ur-sarani.

Moon. in the

place of the

his throne.

When

the

When

the

Moon, the Sun stands

Saturn drew near to the Moon, interpretation

;

it

is

Saturn

is

will

(Last night

This

the star of the Sun.

lucky for the king.

be

Sun and Moon

are invisible, the king of the land will increase wisdom.

is its

(?)

lions will

colour probably refers to the ap-

the king will stand in his justice.

;

will

(?)

planet

above or below the Moon, the foundation of the throne secure

the

of the land (will be hindered) (or) cattle will be

parent dimming of a star near the

king of the land

Moon and

When

the world.

Moon and

The changing

Obv. 4.

Moon,

enters the all

(Saturn has entered the Moon.)

slain,

4.

the troops will fight a strange land.

it,

changes colour opposite the die

i,

\V^hen a halo surrounds the

(JDbv. 5-6).

East stands in

truth.

(The

fall.

Ira§si-ilu.

See note on No.

No. 175. speak the

a halo surrounds the Sun, rain will

From

2.

Ixiii

The Sun

is

the king's

star.)

No. 177. When the Sun stands above the Moon (or) below Moon, the foundation of the king's throne will be secure. When Sun stands in the place of the Moon, there will be justice in From Nabu-ikbi. land.

When

No. 178.

the

Sun reaches

the reign of the All-powerful

its

king will

zenith

the the the

and goes forward,

be long.

When

a

halo

surrounds the Sun in the morning in Adar, in that month a flood will

come,

Jupiter

:

(or)

heaven

will rain.

the rest of the matter

Obv.

I.

On

is

(It

that

is

connected with the omen for

its

omen

is

napcihu, see Oppert, Zeits.,

for rain

I,

1886,

and p.

flood.)

218.

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ixiv

No. 179

When

{Obv. 1-5).

a halo surrounds the Sun, and

its

opening points to the south, a south wind will blow. When a south wind blows on the day of the Moon's disappearance, heaven will rain

(?).

No. 180

This

of *

'

Moon was

the

the

is

omen

for the thirteenth

seen on the thirteenth day.'

surrounds the Moon, the month

When

When

Regulus

is

When

181.

the

war

its

and

is

Sun reaches come

the

lyyar, wheat and vegetables

told the king,

I

constant

(?), it

does not clear.)

is

atinnu doubtful.

Sun

lands.

all

an eclipse

When it

thunders in

it

(The

star of

does not remain

Zakir. '

calamity.'

Perhaps we may compare the

ethan.

the gods will (?)

U7}iassi ; masii, II, i

6.

When

a parhelion

(?)

=

'

purify.'

stands in the path of the Sun,

When

take counsel for the good of the land.

stand, there will

a parhelion

When

(?)

be destruction of oxen and wild

four

beasts.

goes forth at the Sun's zenith, rain and flood

the Sun reaches

its

zenith, in

its

path a parhelion

stands, the willow trees of the land will be thrown

down

(?).

(?)

From

the king's servant, the greater.

No. 183. will

the

(During the morning watch

perhaps Heb. ed

5.

Irassi-ilu,

his

(Saturn

dark, the

is

zenith,

light at its

very dim;

From

J?ev.

No. 182.

will

lord,

uddixti

come.

.

When

to nought.

not be prosperous.

3.

Rev.

parhelia

my

will

Obv.

Heb.

When

and

zenith

its

at the Sun's zenith this happened.)

Elam

which

.

dark, prosperity of people (or) there will be

Sun is dark with a dark happens and Ramman will inundate. for

.

and

.

.

.

have

will

collect

will

the land, (or) revolt (or) disasters to the king of

in

When

zenith

he

slay,

unrighteousness of that land will reaches

a dark halo

(or)

dark, the king will grow angry

rule .... he will turn and will not From Nabu before Regulus ....).

No.

bring rain

will

day instead

(Put) instead of this

Saturn stood within the halo of the Moon.'

clouds.

Moon,

Saturn stood within the halo of the

{Obv. sff).

and was opposite.

When

a bright star appears in the ecliptic

be a slaughter of Elam with the sword.

When

the

(?),

there

Sun reaches

— OMENS FROM its

zenith in a parhelion

sword.

over

its

(?),

{Explanation of reckoned time.

STARS.

Ixv

the king will grow angry and raise the

When

month

Jupiter has stood for a

ideo}:;raph.)

Jupiter passes to sunset, the land

Jupiter has stood for a month over its Marcheswan is the month of the king, my lord. {Rev. sff.). The handmaiden of the king, my lord, has gone(?) let the king, my to Akkad I cannot tarry, [for] she has run away lord, [send and] fetch her and give her to me. From Bil-li', son of will

dwell

peacefully.

reckoned time.

;

;

Igibi, the magician.

Rev.

There are

6.

slight traces of characters at the

end of

this line.

Omens from

IX.

No. 184

I— Rev.

{0/f7'.

AVhen Jupiter

3).

beginning of the year, in that year

(Mercury has appeared

Nisan.)

in

approaches Li, the king of Elam approaches Aries, the people

will

its

corn

When die.

appears at

the

be prosperous.

will

a planet (or Mercury)

When Mars {Sanumwa)

be widespreading, the land will be Taurus it had come down (?) as far

will

Mercury appeared

satisfied.

Stars.

in

;

as the Pleiades {Siigi).

Obv.

On IN

6.

MI

.

.

SAR RA = .

see

Aries,

Jensen.

Kosvi., p. 61.

When

No. 185.

Jupiter stands fast in the

morning, hostile

kings will be fortunate ... in Siwan, brought near, where the Sun shone, its

it

stood

;

in the brightening of its brilliance

zenith was complete as the zenith of the

Sun

;

it

was darkened

angry gods

will

;

be

favourable with Akkad, there will be copious rains, plentiful floods in

Akkad

;

corn and sesame

measure of corn

will

will

be

plentiful

be given

for

one gur.

and the price of one

The gods

stand in their places, their shrines will be overflowing.

assumes a

When

When

heaven

Jui)iter

brilliance, the king of

appears

and the crops of the land

in

^7?-

will

(\\'hen) Ga)ii

the foundation of the throne will be

Regulus assumes a

completion. flood

brilliance,

in

Akkad

secure.

will effect

the ecliptic, there will be a

will prosper.

From Bamai. 5

; !

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ixvi

Obv.

II.

GUR=30o KA.

I

under srdru.

Cf. Delitzsch, p. 635, b.,

Sirti.

I.

Obv.

Meissner, Altbabylojiische

Frivatrecht, p. 101.

Hev.

GAM

= kakku -""'GAM. W.A.L Y,^6, i,z,""" There is an interesting astrological letter

I. ''"

sa kata

Afardiik.

(K. 7655) which mentions this

omen

(obv. 13).

No. 186 {Obv. sff-)- When Jupiter grows bright, the king of Akkad will go to pre-eminence. When Jupiter {Ingisgalanna) grows bright, there will

When

be floods and

Jupiter appears

in

{Nibiru) culminates, the gods

all

the

;

amount of

proportions to the

prayers

unravelled.

amount of cold on the

From

Rains and floods

will

The

crcps.

lands will

the

;

omens of the magician

shall

be

Nirgal-itir.

isatum

3.

—dalhdium, Delitzsch,

See Delitzsch, apdlu, 113,

Rev. 9-10.

No. 187

Jupiter

peace, troubles will be cleared

crops, with regard to the cold, will be out of

and hear supplications

apparent.

Rev.

Sagmigar.)

Hostile kings will be at peace, the gods will receive

dwell securely.

made

=

When

land ....

the

will give

up, and complications will be

:ome

{tngisgalanna

rains,

lyyar,

When

{Obv. 1-6).

p. 143, b. a.

Jupiter {Sagmigar) passes to the

place of sunset, there will be a dwelling securely, kindly peace will

descend on the land.

(It

appeared

in

of AUul.)

front

When

Jupiter {Sagmigar) assumes a brilliance in the tropic of Cancer

(becomes?) Nibiru, Akkad

Akkad rises

will

grow powerful.

will

{Rev. ^ff.)

from sunrise and disappears

in battle (or) the troops of the

When

a great star like

enemy

in slaughter will

my

its

right position

make thee happy and lengthen son of Damka,

of gods the

fire

enemy be slain. At

at sunset, the troops of the

the beginning of thy reign Jupiter was seen in

may the lord From Asaridu,

and

overflow with plenty, the king of

thy days

No. 188 {Obv. <)ff.). Now what I have seen I send to the king, lord. The omens such as A second to Allul it drew near. .

report

I

.

.

have determined, to the king

No. 189

{Obv. 1-2).

the land will eat

good

When

food.

my

lord, I

have

sent.

Jupiter {Sagmigar) appears in Elul

OMENS FROM When

No. 190. king to king the

*

When

hostility.

Brilliance of Pabilsag,' there will

When

Ixvii

Marcheswan,

Jupiter (Saj^mls^ar) appears in

send

will

STARS.

Jupiter {Sag?nigar) stands in

be destructions

in the land.

the same star approaches I?idt{l)anna, the market will go up.

{Indiebanna

is

the

'

From Nabu-Suma-

of Pabilsag.')

Brilliance

iSkun.

Obv.

On

3.

236 G, and

When

No. 192.

Pabilsag

'

= the

'

Sagittarius, Jensen,

the

Moon

sting

Kosm.,

occults

year a king will die (or) an ecHpse of the

A

place.

Moon,

in

:

Moon,

enters the midst of the

When

Jui)iter

Subarti

.

.

of Scorpio,

No.

see

496.

Jupiter {Sagmigar), that

Moon and Sun

will

take

Jupiter enters the midst of the

The king

there will be want in Aharrft.

with the sword

slain

When

great king will die.

p.

Elam

will

When

Jupiter

of

(?) will revolt.

be

the market of the land will be low.

goes out from behind the Moon, there

will

be

hostility

in the land.

Obv.

7.

HI

GAR

.

.

,

No. 193, gives the variant

i-ba-ru

(obv. 3).

No. 193

{Obv. 4-5).

king of kings, his hand

No. 194

{Obv.

1-3).

Venus, a strong one

will

No. 195. When men will be

upon the

Mars

land.

.

.

(

When

the

overpower

When

Moon

darkens Jupiter, the

his enemies.

Jupiter

passes

to

the right

of

conquer Guti with the sword.

Jupiter stands in front of Mars, there will be

corn and

Jupiter and

will

slain, (or) .

a great army will be

slain.

When

the god will devour (or) rains will be given

Ustaddanu siitadunu resolved ?) will be a great devastation

approaches Jupiter, there

When Mars in the land.

When Jupiter and a planet, their stars face, evil will befall the land. When Mars {Lubad-dir) and Jupiter {Rabil) approach, there will be a slaughter of cattle.

has

approached

{Lubad-dir

Jupiter.

Jupiter, in that year the king of

land

will

is

Mars, Rabii

is

Jupiter.)

When Mars {Sanamma) Akkad

will die

Mars

approaches

and the crops of

be prosperous. r-*

that

.

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ixviii

This omen

is

for the lands

evil

Nambieldi-cexQraony to avert the Obv.

3.

On

Obv.

5.

mitluk, perm.

let

;

the king,

From

evil.

my

lord,

make a

Nabu-ikisa of Borsippa.

Sarri, see III R. 57, 62a. I,

The

2 of nialaku.

Ethpe'el of the

corresponding Syriac root has the meaning of deliberavit ; the Assyrian word

is

perhaps used as a grammatical term.

When

No. 197.

Regulus approaches

many days

stands, the king will live

From

Moon and

;

Apia.

No. 199 good

is

in front of the

the land will not be prosperous.

(Obv. 1-2).

for the land

the

:

The omen which is unlucky for the king omen which is good for the land is un-

lucky for the king.

When

No. 200.

the light of day, in

a star shines and

shining

its

brilliance

its

takes a

it

tail

is

as bright as

like a scorpion,

it

is

a fortunate omen, not for the master of the house, but for the whole

When

land.

there

binim in

is

for the master of that

There .

.

its

.

.)

will

house

(or) that

be plentifully produced king

will

takes a

[it

When Mercury

tail like

appears in

intifia-massig mulluh at

will in the land.

a scorpion

(This

?]

is

its rising,

From

bintm, see Delitzsch, 180, b.

For

KT.

Ritti-Marduk

this

Ill

i,

ruin

from

and

according to ruin.

When

prosperity of crops, the market

Obv. 4.

B.C., see

is

there will be corpses.

Rev.

5.

This

Nebuchadnezzar brought Elam

Tammuz,

This concerns Mercury.

be steady.

7.

;

stand in his justice.

a great star (Jupiter?) shines from north to south,

to the tablet (that tells) that

Nabu-musisi.

campaign of Nebuchadnezzar I, c. 1140 164, and cf. obv. 3 with col. I, I. 25,

bil biti sa Blt-Karziyabkii

jtnt'mamaUig^ see Jensen, Kosm., p. 54.

No. 201.

After two hours of the night had passed, a great star

shone from north to south. desire.

lands, violence will pass away,

will

be obedience and good

When

brilliance

will

all

abundance

there will be justice,

The

king of

Akkad

Its

omens

will

are propitious for the king's

accomplish

Asaridu (the greater), the king's servant.

his mission.

From

OMENS FROM When

No. 202.

disappears and dulls

a great star shines from east to west and

army of the enemy

brilliance, the

(?) its

When

destroyed in battle.

Ixix

STARS.

will

be

a star like a light (or) like a torch shine,

from east to west and disappears, the army of the enemy will be Two great stars were observed one after the slain in its onslaught.

From Asaridu

other in the middle watch.

When Venus

No. 203. first

to the

thirtieth

disappears at sunrise in Nisan from the

day, there will be desolation.

Moon and

surrounds the

(the greater).

stands within

Sibzianna

When

a halo

the

king of

it,

Subarti will work mightily, his land will have abundance.

stood within the Moon's halo Obv. also

cf.

4166.

No. 204

{Obv.

Obv.

3, u-nc-ba-tu

6.

kasrdti,

full

r i

=

(Sibzianna

of Erech. (J-Z/^^?//

weepings.'

'

bi-ka-tu.

changes

....

(There

insurrection (or) treason.

:

Heb.

No. 205 {Obv. 1-4). When Venus is brilliant, it the

\

When Venus

4-6).

will be) a hostile expedition

Obv.

From Ahisa

.)

.

according to 205,

nriibati,

3.

K

.

is

keser.

Venus is now disappearing at sunrise. not good for those days which are no

length and which are too long.

Obv.

On

3.

No. 205a

7imi sa la usallimic, see Introduction.

{Obv.

3).

When Spica {A-idin) reaches Mars {Midmul\

it will rain.

No. 206 of the prince in the

the will

When Venus

{Obv. 5-8). will

be long, there

Tropic of Capricorn

Moon and

No. 207. :

this

.

.

is

Venus its

is

:

sheep

When

will

appearing

reached Allul.

iUza) approaches

it,

days

Venus

a halo surrounds

in that year there

not approach oxen.

at

sunset

in

the

Tropic of

When Venus appears in Siwan, enemy. When Venus appears in the

interpretation.

there will be a slaughter of the

it

fixes its position, the

justice in the land.

{Rev. 4-6.)

Tropic of Cancer, the king of Akkad days ago

be

the Pleiades (Sugi) stand within

be a slaughter of men

Cancer

.

will

This

will

is its

Allul, there will

have no

rival.

interpretation.

Five or six

When Venus

be obedience and welfare

in the

— ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ixx

Empty the gods will have mercy on the land. (?) will be and the crops of the land will prosper the sick in the land will

land full

.

:

.

;

Pregnant

recover.

women

The

will perfect their offspring.

great

show favour to the sanctuaries of the land, the houses Uza = Venus.) From Sumai. of the great gods will be renewed. (

gods

will

See Muss-Arnolt, Diet., sub

J^ev. 3. issikkti.

No. 208.

Venus

now

is

grows dim and disappears

When Venus will

be

appears in

middle of

from the

be a slaughter of Elam.

will

first

to the thirtieth day, there

of the land will be prosperous.

month Venus appeared

this

When Venus

disappearing at sunset.

Ab, there

in

Ab

rains, the crops

voce.

in

Leo

at

(In the

sunrise.)

From

Nirgal-itir.

Obv.

363

=

ustaktit perhaps

3.

No. 209 Scorpio are

{Obv. 1-5).

When

frightened.

See Del.,

Sarur and Sargaz of the

the weapons of

brilliant,

(Venus has appeared in Pabilsag.)

diadem of the Moon divided, there Obv.

on)

become

b.

will

muniksisa ^kasasu.

4.

dark crown

a

'

tail

of

Akkad will make an onslaught. When Venus (Istar) puts on the be desolations. Rev.

i

(when) Venus (puts

'

perhaps indicates that the

New Moon

occults her.

When Venus

No. 210. day disappears the land.

The

Kislew from the

in

at sunrise, there will

first

to the thirtieth

be famine of corn and straw

lord of kings has spoken thus,

Why

'

in

hast thou not

and sent the lucky and unlucky?' The kingdom has been neglected, has not been obeyed. May the lord of kings when his face is favourable lift up my head that I may make my decisions and tell the king, my lord. From [observed?]

the month,

prince of the

Asaridu.

Obv.

No. 211

7.

inatis perhaps

{Obv.

I

Rev.

When Venus

:

fiafas,

but by no means certain.

When Venus

2).

crops of the land will prosper welfare will be in the land.

Heb.

.

.

.

will

Venus stood

appears in Sebat, the

be prosperous in the

:

mercy and

midst of Anunitum.

appears in Virgo, rains in heaven, floods on (earth),

the crops of Aliarrli will prosper

;

fallen ruins will

be inhabited.

OMENS FROM No. 213

{Obv.

When

1-5).

STARS.

Ixxi

Scorpio approaches the front of

the

Moon and

stands, the reign of the king will

will

come, but

his defeat will

No. 215

{Obv.

When

changes.

and

Moon

floods.

.

.

.

and

jackals

.

omen

3.

;

'

No. 232, Obv.

;

it

nothing it

will rain.)

for

is

When

evening watch he

in the

,

.

The bed

and

.

When From

the bed of warriors will be wide.

will

When Leo

kill

is

The

men.

obscured, of

traffic

a planet culminates in Ab,

Asaridu.

of warriors wide

See

refers to plague.

'

3.

Mercury has appeared. When Mercury appears rain. Mars {Lubad-dir) for prosperity of

No. 216c. for a

its

Saturn has appeared in Leo.

the land (Aharru) will be hindered.

Rev.

(?)

From NabiVsuma-iskun,

turn his peace into glory.

No. 216.

Sun

Scorpio stands within the Moon's halo,

for three years lions

enemy

the

;

Breast of Scorpio which stood on

has not approached the

(The king shall see lyyar the fifteenth day to la

rains in

The

4, ff).

the right horn of the

be long

be accomplished.

month, floods and

people.

No.

From

Nirgal-itir.

217.

Mercury

visible

is

at

When Mercury When Mercury appears

sunrise.

appears for a month, rain and floods. either in lyyar or Siwan, a flood will

meadow

When Mercury

lands.

come and

benefit the fields

and

stands in the east, there will be an

invasion of Subarti and Kassi against the land.

This

is

the fact

(?)

of the matter

I

:

have not come to Nineveh

the palace (? began ?) Whatever ... on the front of it Nineveh I will make unless they have begun I shall not come in let them give me a sealed

(because)

magicians

the

write

to

in

.

'

'

.

:

\

letter.

From Nabu-musisi. The

latter part

apparently refers to the writing of some

inscriptions, but the text

No. 218.

is

When Mercury

and benefit the Mars {Mulmul),

fields it

too mutilated to

is

will rain.

On :

certain.

seen in lyyar, a flood

and meadow

were not seen with one another

make

lands.

When

fifteenth

come

Moon and Sun god was seen with

the fourteenth the

on the

will

Jupiter reaches

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ixxii

The

god.

my

king of Subarti

From

father.)

Long

When Leo

live the lord

Tammuz,

in

of kings

From

!

Asaridu.

culminates in Elul, there

From Asaridu

!

No. 221. This

Virgo.

Mercury

is

live the

(the less).

visible

at

sunrise

of

the precincts

in

When Mercury {Nunu)

interpretation.

is its

be a

will

Long

heightening of the market, an increase of cereals. lord of kings

there will be

dark, the heart of the land will not be happy.

is

When Mercury

No. 220.

have heard from

(I

rival.

"When Mercury culminates

No. 219. corpses.

have no

will

Bil-ahi-iriba.

approaches

Spica {Fan), the crops of the land will prosper, the cattle will be

numerous

come

the fields, the king will grow strong and will over-

in

(?)

Sesame and dates

enemies.

his

Mercury culminates in market), an increase of

When Dah

cereals.

= Mercury.)

{Dah

will prosper.

will

When

prosper.

be a heightening (of the

Elul, there will

visible in Elul

is

From Asaridu,

the son of

.

.

.

Damka,

the king's servant.

Obv.

AB SIN =

2.

.

sirii

Virgo (Epping and Strassmaier,

When Mercury

No. 222. heightening

{Ur-mah) makes

its

will

rage and the

The

0/>v. 2. i.e.

and

traffic

ina napas

No. 223. of the land

{Urgula)

fourth sign

7iissalui ;

will

be a

When Leo

is

dark, lions

AS may

and

From

jackals

Tabia.

perhaps be read ina here,

but Brunnow, List, No. 23 =^7nitharu,

may be intended

here.

When Mercury culminates in Marcheswan, the crops prosper. When Scorpio is dim in the centre,

will

there will be obedience in the land.

When

there

cereals.

of Aharru will be hindered.

possible that 77iahiru

it is

Elul,

of

increase

shine, let the king wherever he goes

stars to

When Leo

(guard himself?).

=

VII, 220).

appears in

market, an

of the

(Brunnow, List No. 3832) Zeits.,

in the flam.ing light of

its tail is

dark,

the land

:

its

horns are

locusts will

(Mercury stands within Scorpio.)

Scorpio {-Lshard)

brilliant, rains

come and devour

and

its

breast

is

bright,

floods will be dry in

the land

;

devastation of

;

OMENS FROM men

oxen and captured.

.

Obv.

horns

:

i''

and the land of the

raised

is

foe)

is

.

7-8,

(or) ninhiita.'

'

Rev. 5-6,

and

Its tail itnti^ rains

'its

floods

isakku 'will be high').

-ni (i.e.,

No. 224.

.

.

Ixxiil

No. 223A gives several variants

5.

ni/ti:;ii/a

NIM

weapon

(the

Scorpio

.

STARS.

[Mercury]

When Mercury

visible.

is

Frona

Kislew, there will be robbers in the land.

visible

is

in

Nirgal-itir.

No. 225 (Oh: Zi ff^ Mercury stands within Simmah. When Mercury approaches the Star of the Tigris there will be rains and (Mercury is visible at Sunrise.) floods. '

'

Obv.

MAS TIG GAR = Anunitu

""'

4.

.

.

(Brunnow,

List,

No. 187S).

No. 226. it

is

Mercury

Mars {Mulmid)

visible with

is

There

ascending to Sugi.

be rains and

will

Jupiter appears at the beginning of the year, in that year

No. 228.

Mercury stands

When Leo When Regulus

Leo.

in

heart of the land will not be happy.

From

director of the palace will die.

Obv.

I.

No. 230

Cf.

{Obv.

It will ;

is

it

\—Rev.

will

dim, the

is _^dim,

the

Nabu-musisi.

When

i).

men

will

not change to

1-6).

be wide.

will

is

Spica {Pan) stands within

rage and there will be robbery in

evil.

The

halo of Virgo

for rain

is

turning cold.

No. 231 {Obv. of warriors

crops

No. 199A, Obv. 1-2.

the Moon's halo, lawless

and flood

When

its

From Nadinu.

will prosper.

the land.

sunset

at

floods.

be corpses, there

against a foreign land.

When Mars is visible in Tammuz, the bed When Mercury stands in the north, there

will

be an invasion of the king of Akkad

When Mars

approaches Gemini, a king

will

die and there will be hostility.

Obv. warriors

2. '

No.

232,

Obv.

3,

as referring to plague.

explains

the

omen

'

bed of

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ixxiv

No. 232. Mars

is

Mars

it

:

When

die.

of heaven forces

of

(?)

Nirgal in

is

my

(it

:

stands in the east, there will be an

invasion of Subarti and Kassi against the land.

minates indistinctly

When

dim.

is

the bed of warriors will be wide

When Mars

refers to plague.)

Tammuz

in

visible

is

Tammuz,

visible in

and becomes

When Mars

cul-

Elam

will

the king of

brilliant,

disappearing grows smaller, like the stars

its

The

very indistinct, he will have mercy on Akkad.

troops will go and slay the army of the enemy, an

audacious land they

The troops of the foe will not The cattle of Akkad will lie

overcome.

will

be able to stand against

my

troops.

securely in the fields sesame and dates will prosper. When Mercury approaches Mars (Nabu), horses will die. {La isnik When Mars is dim, it is lucky when bright, unlucky. la kurbu.) When Mars follows Jupiter, that year will be lucky. From Bullutu.

down

:

=

;

Obv.

umtnulis and

6.

sarramu,

Obv. 12,

For nin

jRev. 4.

ia7imul, see Delitzsch, p. 83, b,

Syr. s'rama audacia.

in the text, read

When Mars

No. 233.

cf.

cf.

dam.

visible in Elul, the crops of the land

is

Mars {Lubad-dir)

prosper, the land will ^be satisfied.

will

abundance of people.

From

at its

is

for

disappearance became brilhant.

Nabu-ikbi.

When Mars

No. 234.

Moon

Mars

will

at the left

approaches the

cause evil to inhabit the land.

horn of the Moon, the king

will

Moon and stands, the When a planet stands When a act mightily.

Moon, the king will act mightily. rear of the Moon, the king of Akkad

star stands at the left front of the

When will

that

a star stands at the

stands above

When see

left

When Virgo (Di/gan) stands at its left horn, in year the vegetables of Akkad will prosper. When Virgo {Dilgaii)

work mightily.

it,

in that year the crops of the land will

a star stands at the

evil.

When

left

a star stands at

eclipse of the king of Aharru.

diminished

;

it

will rain.

eclipse of the king of

a star (stands) will

When

Aharru

Rammanu

will

will

its

left

The Gan-ba

of that land will be

a star stands at

take place.

devour

in

From

Zakir.

will

horn, there will be an

left

its

When

horn, an

at its left

horn

a hostile land (or) an eclipse

take place, (or) an eclipse of the king of AharrCi

be diminished.

prosper.

horn of the Moon, a hostile land

:

his land will

;:

OMENS FROM No. 235. I

A

thus

it

did not stay,

...

stands and waits

my

lord, thus

it

not the king lay

lightens,

.

Rev.

.

No. 236.

Last

night

be darkness

'

4,

We

?)

one sends in a

to

blast of

When

thundered.

it

did not rest

be famine

ikasi^

6.

No. 236g {Obv.

went

it

cf.

the king of Assyria, from

For ana

6.

on Pabilsag

No. 237.

=

Syriac kds

.

.

When

Urbarra

=

[Mars],

a star shines

and

From

forth.

kabi

Zikit Akrabi,

Urbarra

did not stay,

It

it

{Allul).

did not wait,

it

Bil-nasir.

destitit, quievit.

Mars stands in Pabilsag (the sting of Mars stands and waits in Pabilsag.

4).

Scorpio means Pabilsag). Obv.

=

of Subarti

Mars has entered the precincts of Cancer speedily

;

ObiK

.

(or) there will

are Subarti.'

not counted as an omen.

When

If ever

(This word implies 'weakness'

.'

.

will

The king

I.

No. 62, Obv.

.

Akkad.

a planet (appears

From Akkullanu.

in the land.

.

when

in

on a cloudless day, there

land

lord,

?),'

Ab, the day is dark, the heaven rains, lightning floods will be poured in the channels. When it thunders

thunders

It is

my

to heart.)

it

interpretation to the

its

Allul, the prince (will die

When

*

it

came out below

(one) sends to the king,

evil for

is

it :

wind, the king of Subarti let

went forth

;

has entered

it

it

breeze (sprang up) as

the king,

{Allul),

did not remain but

'

:

Ixxv

it

my lord I send. If ever When Mars approaches

king

it

Mars had reached Cancer

kept watch,

it.

STARS.

enters

=

'

Urmah Urmah .

.

means,'

cf.

No. 272, obv.

cf.

.

.

.

No. 232,

distant days

.

= [Leo],

3,

and

9.

.

.

Mars stood

there will be a revolt.

to the in

.

.

.

From

NabCi-ahi-iriba.

Obv.

Urbarra.

I.

According

to

K

4195, Col. III-IV,

it

= Mars. No. 239

{Obv. 1-5).

When Mars

{Apin) approaches Scorpio,

the prince will die by a scorpion's sting,

take the throne lord

.

.

;

and

the dwelling of the land

his .

.

son after him

will

the land another

the boundary line of the land will not be secure.

ASTROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Ixxvi

No. 240. When Mars {Mulmul) is darkened over the Moon and stands, the king will act mightily, his land will be enlarged. From Nabu-ikisa of Borsippa. May Bel and Nebo give long days and happiness to the king of countries, my lord. With the king we have acted innocently. Now among my brothers in the palace an attack on the treasury was made and they slew the scribe whom the king had caused me to take with them, and my magician and ;

me

to

they said

'

It

was an edict with

be made and

and peace

shall

my

Why .... may

lord.

judge thou

.

No. 241

{Obv. 4,

{Muh?iul) stands at .

When Mars

When

ff.).

its

and

king,

No. 3482).

See

(?)

;

asdrii besiege.

at the

have no

:

Moon's appearance Mars

will

Moon and

enters the

will

from

king

side, the

heart of the land will be happy

powerful

O

gracious

7.

masartti, perhaps

Obv. 9.

.

Nebo be

DAR = baramu (Brunnow, List^

I.

Jensen, Kosm., p.

.

brothers

keep the watch of the king,

will

Bel and

my

.

.

Obv.

I

went with

I

us.'

the king of

From

rival.

his land

act mightily,

goes forth northward, the

Akkad

will

Bil-ahi-iriba,

grow

son

of

Labasi-ili.

Obv.

On

4.

No. 243

{Obv.

this plural verb,

3).

On

Istar

cf.

No. 243 a, obv. 1-2.

(Venus) wearing a crown, see

No. 209.

No. 243a {Obv.

1-2).

No. 243b

i, ff.).

Mars stands the crops.

{Rev.

in the

From

Rev. fracture,

3.

Mulmul

When

used with a plural verb.

at the

beginning of the year

nasu of Venus, the enemy or a flood

will spoil

Nirgal-itir.

The

vertical stroke in the last sign

and the whole word

No. 244.

is

When

the

will therefore

Pleiades

(Sugi)

may be

a

read umarrum. over the

Moon

are

darkened and stand, (and) enter the Moon, the king will stand in his might, will dwell, and will enlarge his land, and to his land will be good there will be justice and truth in the land. From Istar:

:ยงuma-iris.

THE moon's disappearance No. 244a bright

.

.

.

{Obv.

When

1-2).

the house (against)

Obv.

No. 244n

the

master

Heb. kardr

kurkiirru^

T.

its

When

{Obv. 2-3).

Ixxvii

Pleiades,

their

circle

is

will revolt.

See No. 49.

x^voXsq.

Libra

.

.

.

Moon,

before the

the reign of the king will be long.

When the Moon occults When Spica {Pafi) is

No. 245.

eclipse of Subarti.

Kilba, there will be an

Moon

darkened over the

and enters the Moon, the days of the prince will be long. The Moon for one year is long. Let the king give heed, let him not pass it by, let him guard himself, let not the king go into the street on an evil day until the time of the omen has passed. (The omen of a star lasts

for

a

From

month.)

full

Irassi-ilu,

the

king's

servant.

No. 246b

{Obv.

army

vasion of an

When

No. 246f.

Moon

stands on the

From

in-

When Mars

Moon the Moon and land. When a star

cause

of the

evil to

.

.

.

approaches the

dwell in the

Moon, the land of the

foe will see evil.

Nabii-i'riba.

No. 247. king,

will

left

grows bright, an

a star stands in front of the

king will act mightily. waits, the

When Simmah

1-3).

....

my

lord?

What

....

is

this favour

{Rev.

2,ff-)

appears, the king will prolong

X.

life.

which

Istar

has granted the

When

a star (?) turns back and

From

Istar-suma-iris.

Omens from Clouds.