The Moon and the Scorpion: An Overlooked Astral Configuration in Old Babylonian Incantations and Its Astronomical Significance

Susanne M. Hoffmann; Nathan Wasserman

doi:10.1484/J.CNT.5.137415

The Moon and the Scorpion: An Overlooked Astral Configuration in Old Babylonian Incantations and Its Astronomical Significance

Susanne M. Hoffmann, Nathan Wasserman

Institute of Archaeology

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper discusses a hitherto unnoticed asterism embedded as a historiola in a group of Old Babylonian incantations against scorpions (dated ca. 1900–1500 BCE). This group of Akkadian magical texts contains references to a unique astral configuration, that of the crescent Moon in the tail of Scorpius in the autumn sky. Our discussion suggests that this rare asterism was used to determine the autumn equinox, and as such was crucial to the ancient Mesopotamian calendar and intercalation system.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	19-38
Number of pages	20
Journal	Centaurus
Volume	66
Issue number	1-2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1484/J.CNT.5.137415
State	Published - 2024

Keywords

Akkadian Incantations
Intercalation
Mesopotamian Astronomy
Moon
Scorpius

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

History and Philosophy of Science

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10.1484/J.CNT.5.137415

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title = "The Moon and the Scorpion: An Overlooked Astral Configuration in Old Babylonian Incantations and Its Astronomical Significance",

abstract = "This paper discusses a hitherto unnoticed asterism embedded as a historiola in a group of Old Babylonian incantations against scorpions (dated ca. 1900–1500 BCE). This group of Akkadian magical texts contains references to a unique astral configuration, that of the crescent Moon in the tail of Scorpius in the autumn sky. Our discussion suggests that this rare asterism was used to determine the autumn equinox, and as such was crucial to the ancient Mesopotamian calendar and intercalation system.",

keywords = "Akkadian Incantations, Intercalation, Mesopotamian Astronomy, Moon, Scorpius",

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AB - This paper discusses a hitherto unnoticed asterism embedded as a historiola in a group of Old Babylonian incantations against scorpions (dated ca. 1900–1500 BCE). This group of Akkadian magical texts contains references to a unique astral configuration, that of the crescent Moon in the tail of Scorpius in the autumn sky. Our discussion suggests that this rare asterism was used to determine the autumn equinox, and as such was crucial to the ancient Mesopotamian calendar and intercalation system.

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KW - Intercalation

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The Moon and the Scorpion: An Overlooked Astral Configuration in Old Babylonian Incantations and Its Astronomical Significance

Abstract

Keywords

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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