Position in chronology
SAA 08 543. Cancer in Lunar Halo, Planets (RMA 105) [planetary]
Translation · reference
High confidence(1) If in Kislev (IX) [Scorpius'] breast is bright, [its tail is dark], its horns are opposing each other: rain and flood [will be early] for the la[nd; locusts] will attack and devour the land; fall of cattle [and shepherds' huts]; weapons will be raised and [the enemy land will ...], variant: will be conquered [......]. (8) Mercury and [......]. (r 1) If the moon is surrounded by a halo, and [......]: loss of cattle [......]. (r 3) If ditto and a star stands in it: [the king and the troops] will be shut up [...]. (r 5) If ditto, and Cancer [stands in it]: the king of Akkad [will extend] the life. Cancer [...]. (r 8) If ditto, and its gate [is open] towards [...]: for the land ... [......].
Source: Hunger, H. 1992. Astrological Reports to Assyrian Kings. SAA 8. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa08/P336430/
Why it matters
Transliteration
1 ina ITI.GAN MUL.[GÍR.TAB x x] / GABA-su nam-⸢rat*⸣ [KUN-su e-ṭa-at] / SI-ME-šú ni-in-⸢mu⸣-[ra] / A.AN u A.KAL ana ⸢KUR⸣ [i-ḫar-ru-pu BURU₅] / ZI-ma KUR KÚ ŠUB-tim GUD-⸢MEŠ⸣ [u gu-ub-ri] / GIŠ.TUKUL in-na-áš-ši-ma ⸢KUR⸣ [KÚR x x x] / : ik-kaš-šá-ad [x x x x x] / dGUD.UD u d[x x x x x x x] / 1 30 TÙR NÍGIN-ma ⸢x⸣+[x x x x] / ZÁḪ bu-lim [x x x x x x] / 1 KI.MIN-ma MUL ina ŠÀ-šú GUB-⸢iz⸣ [LUGAL u…
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 P336430.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P336430). 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/P336430/.
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