Stars over Ancient Babylon

Prologue

[Speakers: The following exhibit alternates between narration and a monologue. Imagine that the narration is spoken by an archaeologist, or perhaps an archaeoastronomer, in a class on Near Eastern astronomy. All text is narration by the archaeologist unless some other speaker is identified. The monologue is attributed to someone named “Kidinnu.” Imagine that Kidinnu is a Babylonian astronomer, and that you are a Greek traveler in Babylon. During the monologue, Kidinnu will introduce you to Babylonian astronomy.]

The science of mathematical astronomy began four thousand years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, the land “between the rivers.”(1) The Tigris river winds southward from Ninevah, capital of the ancient Assyrian empire (modern Syria and northern Iraq). To the south lie the lands of the ancient Sumerian, Akkadian, and Babylonian empires (modern Iraq). The Euphrates River rolls past Babylon and onward to Ur. It joins with the Tigris river, then empties into the Persian Gulf. To the east lies the homeland of ancient Persia (modern Iran). In these ancient civilizations, pursuing the practice of their priestly arts, the Scribes of Enuma Anu Enlil created mathematical astronomy.

— Figure 1: Babylon. Drawn by Rachel Magruder. —

Kidinnu: Come join with me as a watcher of the night. Above the splendor of Babylon, as we look out from these heights, our vision rises to things beyond mortal human life. We fly to the stars, the home of the gods. With our secret mathematical arts, guided by the sacred writings of long ago scribes, we shall interpret the signs of the motions of the planets, for the good of the king and empire.

The Scribes of Enuma Anu Enlil were not merely astronomers and scholars; they offered counsel on affairs of state as powerful advisors to kings and emperors. Their specialty was divination, the art of interpreting omens, dreams, and the motions of the stars.

Seneca reported that Mesopotamian scribes visited Athens to offer sacrifices after Plato’s death.(2) In the century of Plato, a millenium after the birth of Mesopotamian astronomy, the mathematical techniques of Mesopotamians were far more advanced than those of their Greek contemporaries. Without the Scribes of Mesopotamia, the works of Greek astronomers like Hipparchos and Ptolemy would have been inconceivable.

In the first century BC, Strabo told of mathematical astronomers residing in Uruk, Ninevah, and Babylon. In Babylon, the Temple of Esagila, mentioned by Herodotos in the 5th century BC, was still a center of astronomical practice in the 1st century AD. According to Strabo, Kidenas was the leader of astronomers in Babylon. Confirming this report, several astronomical tablets from Babylon bear the name Kidinnu. One can only wonder, how did the ancient Greeks hear of Mesopotamian astronomy? What might a Greek traveler have learned if he had talked with Kidinnu in ancient Babylon?

Kidinnu: Welcome. I am Kidinnu, leader of the Scribes of Enuma Anu Enlil, watchers of the night. We are sworn to secrecy, and serve our king alone. Yet I have heard tales of you Greeks, and I would wish to hear more. Are you a musician or a soldier? Either way, I would have you send a message to your countrymen, but I much prefer music to swordplay. Music and astronomy share certain... harmonies. Come with me tonight: play your harp as the constellations rise, and I will show you some of the secrets of our arts. Listen carefully, remember what we do, and tell these things to your best astronomers. Perhaps someday one of them will return to Babylon to learn from us.

Notes and References

1. (Text) - 1. Gk. "mesos" = middle; "potamoi" = rivers; Mesopotamia = "between the rivers."
2. (Text) - 2. Seneca, Epistle 58.

Exhibit credit: Kerry Magruder.