Mul-Mul

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Mul-Mul ( Sumerian MUL.MUL "the stars "; D IMIN.BI.DINGIR meš GAL meš "the seven deity, the great gods") is the Sumerian name of the Pleiades . In Akkadian they are called Zappu ( MUL za-ap-pu) "(star) cluster".

mythology

The Pleiades were of great importance in Sumerian mythology regarding the celestial omens . In the Mulapin texts , the Pleiades are described as the “ path of the Ea ” with the addition of the seven gods. This title automatically occupies the Pleiades in later Babylonia and Assyria as a group of seven stars. Regarding the cardinal points when rising and setting, the following applies: "You stand there, from which direction the east wind ( šadu ) is blowing".

In the astrolabe B from the twelfth century BC The Pleiades are explained with the same epithets as in the Mul-apin texts. In this context, the Pleiades also represented the second sign of the zodiac , the Taurus . In the further course of the constellation Taurus received in the second half of the first millennium BC. The abbreviated character MUL.

Pleiades switching rule

In the Mul-Apin texts, among other things, the Pleiades switching rule for the calendar is mentioned:

“If the Pleiades and the moon balance each other on Nisannu 1 , this year is normal (GI.NA-ta); if the moon and the Pleiades balance each other on the 3rd of Nisannu, this year is a leap year ( DIRI-at : oversized ) "

- Mul-Apin II Gap 8 Af.

In addition, there were other switching rules relating to the heliacal rise and the "scales with the moon". Johannes Koch rejected J. Schaumberger's interpretation of the switching rule because it did not correspond to a calendar of the seventh century BC. Chr. Fits. So far, however, it has not been proven whether the switching rule was used in the seventh century BC. Was used at all.

Representations and prayers

The image of the Pleiades served as a symbol for the seven deity (šebettu). It first appeared in the Glyptik of Mitanni -time and later v in the first millennium. Often seen on Assyrian monuments; on the other hand, only rarely documented on Babylonian inscriptions. Prayers to the Pleiades are well attested.

In the Hellenistic period , the Pleiades are represented as seven stars. In these drawings the moon is next to the Pleiades, as the Pleiades are the Hypsoma - constellation of the moon.

literature