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The scientific journal “Journal of Cuneiform Studies” published an article discussing the content of ancient Babylonian tablets written in cuneiform. They were found 100 years ago, but until now no one has been able to decipher the 4,000-year-old notes. Years of cuneiform writing. The tablets date back to around 1200 BC and come from the wealthy Babylonian city of Sippar, part of modern-day Iraq.
What was written on the tablets? It turns out that these are notes on lunar eclipses, which in Babylon were not only perceived as astronomical phenomena, but were interpreted as the influence of evil forces. According to the prevailing beliefs of that time, a lunar eclipse was supposed to be a harbinger of tragedy.
Cuneiform tablet describing a lunar eclipseSource: British Museum
In one of the paintings we can read:
An eclipse during morning observation means the end of a dynasty.
If the eclipse suddenly completely obscures its center and suddenly becomes completely clear: the king will die and Elam will be destroyed.
Another pessimistic prediction from the next tablet says:
An eclipse in the evening means plague. If the eclipse is in the wrong direction, nothing will be saved, and there will be flooding everywhere.
It is worth noting that many current researchers tend to believe that divination and astrology were used in Mesopotamia and Babylon as a tool to control power. When the king made decisions that were unfavorable to the people, the soothsayers could use phenomena such as eclipses to influence their opinions and the way they ruled, and predict good or bad outcomes.
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