Position in chronology
SAA 08 255. Venus in Front of Orion (RMA 086) [planetary]
Translation · reference
High confidence(1) If the moon does not become visible but two crescents become visible: hostility will be set up in all lands. — The moon is seen with the sun in the horizon. (4) A single one lay across in front of the sun: let the king wait for the (report) of Assur. (6) In Ab (V) on the 30th day the moon will become visible. [If the moon] becomes visible in Ab (V) on the 30th day: dispersal of Akkad. (r 1) In Ab (V) on the 16th day the moon will be seen together with the sun. (r 2) If Venus stands opposite Orion: land will become hostile to land, brother to brother; there will be fall of man and cattle. (r 6) If the stars of Orion keep gaining radiance: an important person will become too mighty and commit evil. (r 9) — Venus stands in front of Orion. (r 10) From Nergal-eṭir.
Source: Hunger, H. 1992. Astrological Reports to Assyrian Kings. SAA 8. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa08/P240141/
Why it matters
Transliteration
1 30 NU IGI.LAL-ma 02 UD.SAR-MEŠ IGI-MEŠ / nu-kúr-ti ina KUR.KUR iš-šak-kan / 30 ina ni-ib-ṭe-e it-ti dUTU IGI.LAL-ma / e-du-ú ina pa-an dUTU pa-ri-ik / pa-an šá BAL.TIL.KI LUGAL lid-gul / ina ITI.NE UD 30-KÁM d30 in-na-mar / [1 30] ina ITI.NE UD 30-KÁM IGI.LAL BIR-aḫ KUR—URI.KI / o* ina ITI.NE UD 16-KÁM 30 KI 20 in-na-mar / 1 MUL.dil-bat ana mi-iḫ-ri-ti [o] / MUL.SIPA.ZI.AN.NA GUB KUR ana KUR /…
Scholarly note
Astrological report from a court scholar to an Assyrian king, edited by Hermann Hunger (SAA 8, 1992). Celestial and meteorological observation correlated with omens. ORACC text P240141.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P240141). source
Translation excerpted from Hunger, H. 1992. Astrological Reports to Assyrian Kings. SAA 8. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa08/P240141/.
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