The Heavenly Writing: Divination, Horoscopy, and Astronomy in Mesopotamian CultureIn antiquity, the expertise of the Babylonians in matters of the heavens was legendary and the roots of both western astronomy and astrology are traceable in cuneiform tablets going back to the second and first millennia BC. The Heavenly Writing, first publsiehd in 2004, discusses the place of Babylonian celestial divination, horoscopy, and astronomy in Mesopotamian intellectual culture. Focusing chiefly on celestial divination and horoscopes, it traces the emergence of personal astrology from the tradition of celestial divination and the use of astronomical methods in horoscopes. It further takes up the historiographical and philosophical issue of the nature of these Mesopotamian 'celestial sciences' by examining elements traditionally of concern to the philosophy of science, without sacrificing the ancient methods, goals, and interests to a modern image of science. This book will be of particular interest to those concerned with the early history of science. |
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The Heavenly Writing: Divination, Horoscopy, and Astronomy in Mesopotamian ... Francesca Rochberg No preview available - 2007 |
The Heavenly Writing: Divination, Horoscopy, and Astronomy in Mesopotamian ... Francesca Rochberg No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
Achaemenid Akkadian Almagest almanacs ancient Mesopotamia Ancient Near East Anu Enlil Tablet apodosis appearance Assyrian Astrological Reports astrology astronomical texts attested Babylon Babylonian astronomy Babylonian celestial Babylonian Horoscopes Babylonian mathematical birth celestial divination celestial omens celestial phenomena celestial science century B.C. colophons conception context culture cuneiform cuneiform texts dates deities empirical Enuma Enūma Anu Enlil ephemerides evidence example extispicy goal-year gods Greek heavenly heavens Hellenistic history of science Hunger-Pingree Ibid interpretation Ištar Jupiter king knowledge Late Babylonian latitude longitude lunar eclipse magic mathematical astronomy means Mesopotamian Mesopotamian divination metaphor methods month moon MUL.APIN nature Neo-Assyrian Neugebauer Normal Star observed occur Old Babylonian omen protases omen series omen texts Parpola philosophy planetary planets positions prediction reference relation ritual SA.GIG Sachs Šamaš scholarly scientific scribal scribes Sumerian Šumma ālu Šumma izbu synodic month synodic phenomena temple theory tradition University Press Uruk Venus zodiacal zodiacal sign