The Babylonian Dodecatemoria and Calendar Texts: Inverse Schemes for Determining Position and Times for the Schematic Sun and Moon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33137/aestimatio.v2i1.37701Keywords:
Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy, Lunar and Solar Theory, Dodecatemoria, Calendar TextsAbstract
The Dodecatemoria may be understood as a very simple reproduction of the Moon’s movement: for each day in the schematic year, the Dodecatemoria-scheme gives the position of the schematic Moon in the zodiacal circle. The Moon’s angular velocity was calculated as 13°/day and the Sun’s, as 1°/day. The scheme of the Calendar Texts may also be interpreted astronomically: for each position in the zodiacal circle, it gives the date at which the schematic Moon was in that position. We know that the schemes are inverse. A closer analysis of the texts accompanying the Calendar Text (LBAT 1586+1587) shows that the Babylonians also knew and utilized that fact as well.
Published Online (2021-08-31)
Copyright © 2021 by Lis Brack-Bernsen
Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/aestimatio/article/view/37701/28699
Corresponding Author: Lis Brack-Bernsen,
University of Regensburg
E-Mail: lis.brackbernsen@ur.de
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