Lunar eclipse from 16./17. July 523 BC Chr.

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In Babylonian quoted sources lunar eclipse of 16/17. July 523 BC Chr. Belongs to the genus of ACT texts .

This record acquired special significance through reference to the Achaemenid ruler and Babylonian king Cambyses II and because of the later mention in the Almagest of Claudius Ptolemy . Today the cuneiform tablet BM 33066 is in the British Museum in London .

background

The astronomical event mentioned was a partial lunar eclipse , which had to be dated precisely based on the information in the cuneiform text. It occurred on the night of July 16-17, 523 BC. At 9:04 p.m. ( UT ); the first visual perception around 8:00 p.m. (UT).

In conversion to the Mesopotamia region , the Babylonian astronomers were able to observe the lunar eclipse from around 10:30 p.m. local time ; in Alexandria from around 10:00 p.m. local time. The 16./17. July corresponds to 11/12 in the Gregorian calendar . June.

Babylonian mention

On July 16, sunset in the Mesopotamia region occurred around 7:00 p.m. local time. The scribe of the Babylonian cuneiform text noted the exact time of the lunar eclipse:

“On the night of the 14th Du'zu , in the seventh year of Cambyses II, the covering of the moon began at 1.67 BERU (200 minutes) after sunset . A light north wind was blowing. "

- BM 33066, lines 19 to 20 on the reverse side

Recording in the Almagest

Claudius Ptolemy also reported on the event in his Almagest:

“In the seventh year of Cambyses II, that is the 225th year in the Nabonassar era and the 17th / 18th. Phamenoth in the Egyptian calendar , one hour before midnight in Babylonia and 1.85 equinox hours (110 minutes) before midnight in Alexandria, the lunar eclipse occurred. "

- Almagest, entry on 14th back

Dating Cambyses took office

Due to the fact that the seventh year of the reign of Cambyses II was mentioned twice, the 225th year of the Nabonassar era, the first year of reign of Cambyses II following the year of the accession was possible in connection with the Akitu festival for 529 BC Be determined. Cambyses II followed after the death of Cyrus II in 529 BC. On the throne . The year 747 BC results for Nabonassar. BC as the official beginning of government.

See also

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Date in the proleptic Julian calendar .
  2. ^ A b Jean Meeus : Astronomical Algorithms - Applications for Ephemeris Tool 4.5 . Barth Leipzig 2nd edition 2000, ISBN 3-335-00400-0 .
  3. ↑ a b John-M. Steele: Observations and predictions of eclipse times by early Astronomers . Kluwer Academic Publications, Dordrecht 2000, p. 98.
  4. ↑ The 17th / 18th Phamenoth corresponds to the 17th / 18th centuries. Peret III (July 16-17); Date conversion according to the Julian calendar .
  5. ^ Konrat Ziegler , Walther Sontheimer : The little Pauly . Vol. 3: Iuppiter to Nasidienus. Druckermüller, Stuttgart 1969, column 418.