Dr. M.G. Nickiforov (Moscow), Dr. J.B. Tabov (Sofia) ,
Forum - IV Internationale geschichtsanalytische Tagung
von Eino  am 07 Jul. 2008 17:23
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Dr. M.G. Nickiforov (Moscow), Dr. J.B. Tabov (Sofia)
Problems of dating of Babylon "Astrolabes"
Among of traditional history supporters is considered that the ancient Babylon chronology can be confirmed as a result of dating of cuneiform tablets of the astronomical content. To present the basic results of researches of Babylon "Astrolabes", obtained in work [1] and to call into question adequacy this historical documents for acknowledgement of traditional chronology is the purpose of this report.
Origin and content of "Astrolabes". An astrolabe is one of the oldest goniometric tool for measuring the positions of stars. It is considered, that in Ancient Babylonia this device was not known. The Babylon astrolabe (unsuccessful term applied by experts) is means as the not named device. They are related to number of the most ancient astronomical cuneiform documents of the Babylon origin. Instead of the Babylon astrolabe we mention simply "astrolabe".
Earliest of the kept texts is considered "astrolabe B" or "Berlin astrolabe". It occurs from Ashur and is dated approximately 1100 B.C. Round "astrolabes" in the form of a disk are divided by three enclosed circles and twelve "monthly" sectors on 36 fragments. They are considered as the most old kind. Later type of the texts (for example, so-called "astrolabe Р") are considered rectangular "astrolabes" in the form of the tables containing three columns on twelve lines, corresponding to areas of sky Eа (southern stars), Anu (stars of the middle of the sky) and Enlil (northern stars).
Elam, Akkad and Amurru star lists have only one column of stars. However the content of these lists coincide with stars of "astrolabes" and the order of their enumeration precisely corresponds to the order of twelve months in "astrolabes". Therefore, the lists of stars specified above and "astrolabes" represent related categories of texts which we further shall consider as one. Researchers of "astrolabes" consider, that these are approximately dated 11 century B.C. [2].
They suggest "astrolabes" are results of real astronomical observations and contain the information about heliacal risings of the specified stars and constellations for corresponding month. Under heliacal rising the first appearance of a star or constellation in a morning sky is understood.
Astronomical verification of traditional views about "astrolabes". If "astrolabes" really originated from observations:
1) the stars and constellations in each column of "astrolabe" should be ordered on a longitudes to correspond the order of the heliacal risings appropriated to fixed months of a year
2) stars and constellations in each column of "astrolabe" should be ordered on declinations or areas of the sky (northern stars, southern stars, stars of the middle of the sky).
As declinations of stars are changed affected by lunar-solar precession, the belonging of heavenly bodies or constellations to the certain sky areas can be the tool for astronomical dating.
For the present research we have taken advantage of "astrolabe P” from work [2]. Work [3] was used for an identification of the Babylon astronomical terms. The verification has shown:
1. From 36 objects of "astrolabe" one of names is not identified, identification of two constellations does not allow to carry them to northern stars during any historical epoch. Besides, the stars α, β Gem and the planet Jupiter are contained in "astrolabe" twice. Furthermore, “both of the Jupiters” are divided from each other by several constellations which the planet cannot overcome within one year.
2. „Astrolabes Р” contain the planets Venus, Mars and Jupiter (twice), but all this identifications are considered very reliable. Presence of moving planets contradicts conception about heliacal risings in star "astrolabe" and conformity of each astronomical object named in “astrolabe” to the certain month.
3. Constellations of "astrolabe" columns are ordered on a longitude only for southern stars (Ea). In set of stars of the middle of the sky (Anu) for preservation of the order of following on a longitude it is necessary to refuse identification of five constellations. The most part of northern stars of "astrolabe" (Enlil) is not ordered on a longitude. Thus, the hypothesis about conformity of constellations to the order heliacal risings does not find acknowledgement.
4. The calculated positions of constellations for 11-th century B.C. mismatch their specified positions to areas Ea, Anu and Enlil. It is shown, that there is no historical epoch (or turn of heavenly sphere on a longitude) for which declared conformity it would be carried out.
The conclusion. As a result of an identification of separate stars and the constellations specified in "astrolabes" on the basis of decoding of other Babylon texts was established, that the card (scheme) of the star sky of "astrolabe" received as a result of substitution mismatches a real arrangement of constellations in the sky and to the order of following heliacal risings. From this conclusion a number of alternatives follows.
1. The Babylon cuneiform tablets is called by tradition "astrolabes", actually have no attitude to astronomy and real observations of the star sky. Possibly, they are related to some ritual, religious or astrological texts with not clear applicability.
2. There is an opportunity, that "astrolabes" really was originated from real astronomical observations. However, the basic part of the Babylon texts is deciphered so unreliably, that it is impossible to establish uniform and unequivocal identification of constellations, stars and planets for all texts. As a result, numerous errors in identifications of constellations lead to discrepancy of configurations of constellations in "astrolabes" to the real star sky. The question of a problematic of translations of the Babylon texts and very liberal interpretation of their content by some authors, has been mentioned in work [4].
Thus, even we assume, that texts is named by "astrolabes" is a result of astronomical observations it is impossible to confirm or to deny this thesis on the basis of an information available on today. The analysis shows unsteadiness of astronomical dating of age of "astrolabes" on the basis of the information concluded in these documents. Most possibly, dates of drawing up of "astrolabes" offered by researchers are postulated by any other reasons.
References
1. Nickiforov, М.G.: Drevnie Vavilonskie "astrolyabii" i problemi ih datirovki. // It is presented to the Collection of articles on New Chronology №7 ” (http://astrobase.ru/astronomy/babylon02.html>).
2. Van der Waerden, B.L: Ontwakende wetenschap Ecyptiche, babylonysche, en criekse wiskunde Groningen, 1954.
3. Kurtik, G.E.: Zvezdnoe nebo drevney Mesopotamii. Spb, Aleteinya, 2007.
4. Nickiforov, М.G.: K voprosu datirovki drevnevavilonskih tablichek LBAT 1456, 1452, 1413. // The collection of articles on New Chronology №6. (http://new.chronologia.org/volume6/nik_babilon.html), and http://astrobase.ru/astronomy/babylon.html .
Geändert von Eino am 10.Sep.2008 15:43
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- Dr. M.G. Nickiforov (Moscow), Dr. J.B. Tabov (Sofia) , (Eino
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