E: Late Mesopotamian Constellations

8: Assyrian Mul.Apin series

 

Copyright © Gary D. Thompson

WA 86378 [now BM 86378]. Mul.Apin tablet 1 (obverse side and reverse side) in the
British Museum, London. (The tablet is 8.4 cms high and is considered to be a
masterpiece of miniature cuneiform writing.) The broad astronomical content and
significance of the (two-tablet) Mul.Apin series had been identified by the English
assyriologists Archibald Sayce and Robert Bosanquet in a journal article published in
1880. The first part of the Mul.Apin series to be published was BM 86378 in Cuneiform
Texts from Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum: Part XXXIII (Plates 1-8) by
Leonard King (1912). This tablet is almost complete copy of tablet 1. See also "A Neo-
Babylonian Astronomical Treatise in the British Museum and its Bearing on the Age of
Babylonian Astronomy." by Leonard King (Proceedings of the Society for Biblical
Archaeology, Volume 35, 1913). This article by the English assyriologist Leonard King
drew attention to the importance of this text for identifying the Babylonian
constellations. In the next two years numerous articles and books appeared that utilised
its star list information in the attempt to identify the Babylonian constellations and the
stars that comprised such.

This principal copy of tablet 1 (WA 86378 [now BM 86378]) probably dates to circa
500 BCE and is a late Babylonian copy of tablet 1 of the astronomical compendium
Mul.Apin. The earliest copies were recovered from the royal archives of the Assyrian
King Assurbanipal (667-626 BCE) in Nineveh (and also from Assur). The Mul.Apin
series contains the most comprehensive surviving star/constellation catalogue. It is
largely devoted to describing the risings and settings of constellations/stars in relation to
the schematic calendar of twelve 30-day months.

The text of tablet 1 was able to be completely restored with the aid of five copies - one
dated to the Neo-Babylonian Period, two from Assurbanipal's library (hence written
before 612 BCE), and two from Assur.

The principal copy of the second tablet is VAT 9412 from Assur, dated 687 BCE. (This
is the oldest of the texts.) Multiple copies of tablet 2 are known: principally three from
Assur, three from Assurbanipal's library, and one dated to the Neo-Babylonian period.

Each tablet contains 4 columns with about 50 lines of text per column.

There are also texts of Mul.Apin in which the two tablets are combined in one large
tablet. The connection of a third tablet to the Mul.Apin series, by some modern
commentators, was probably only an occasionally added appendix to Mul.Apin.

Many copies of Mul.Apin texts exist from across the entire Neo-Assyrian Period, and it
was still being recopied as late as the Seleucid Era.

The Mul.Apin series (the name being derived from its opening words) is obviously a
compilation of nearly all astronomical knowledge of the period before 700 BCE.
(Because the Mul.Apin series is a compilation from various sources no single date is
assignable.) It is difficult to identify the history of the text or the sources for its parts.
However, it is reasonably certain the origin of the Mul.Apin series dates to the Assyrian
Period circa 1000 BCE. (Component parts of Mul.Apin date at least to the early first
millennium BCE.) The Mul.Apin series contain improvements to the older astrolabe
lists of the stars of Anu, Enlil, and Ea. Various facts make a Babylonian origin of the
series probable. Everything that is known about the astronomy of this period is in some
way related to the series Mul.Apin. The Mul.Apin series follows the "astrolabe" system
(i.e., "three stars each" calendrical system) very closely, but at the same time, it also
makes some substantial improvements.

Mul.Apin is essentially a series of structured lists grouped into 18 sections. (It is a

compilation of short texts on a variety of astronomical matters.) Tablet 1 basically
contains eight sections (including five star lists): (1) a list of 33 stars in the Path of Anu,
23 stars in the Path of Enlil, and 15 stars in the Path of Ea; (2) a sequential list of
(Morning Rising) dates in the ideal calendar (i.e., based on a year comprised of 12
months of 30 days each) on which 36 fixed stars and constellations rose heliacally; (3) a
list of simultaneously rising and setting constellations; (4) time intervals (periodicity)
between the Morning Rising dates of some selected stars; (5) the visibility of the fixed
stars in the East and the West; (6) a list of 14 ziqpu-stars (i.e., stars which culminate
overhead as more fundamental stars helically rise) [May be deemed secondary stars.];
(7) the relation between the culmination of zipqu-stars and their Morning Rising; and
(8) a list of stars and planets in the path of the moon. (The beginning of the second
tablet continues the listing of (8) in tablet 1.) Tablet 2 basically has ten sections dealing
with: (9) the path of the sun and the planets and the path of the moon; (10) Sirius data
(rising dates) relating to the equinoxes and solstices; (11) the heliacal risings of some
further fixed stars, wind directions; (12) data relating to the five planets (i.e., the
planetary periods); (13) the four corners of the sky; (14) the astronomical seasons (i.e.,
the sun's risings on the eastern horizon on the days of the solstices and equinoxes); (15)
Babylonian intercalary practice (i.e., a scheme (actually two schemes) of intercalary
months); (16) gnomon tables detailing shadow lengths and water clock data (i.e.,
weights of water for their clocks) [A list showing, by mathematical calculations, when
the shadow of a gnomon (vertical rod) one cubit high is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10,
cubits long at various seasons.]; (17) the length of a night watch on the 1st and 15th day
of the month, tables of the period of the moon's visibility (Rules for calculating the
rising and setting of the moon.); and (18) astral omens connected with fixed stars and
comets.

A list of 17/18 stars/asterisms in the path of the moon is given.  A statement that the
Sun, Moon, and five planets were considered to move on the same path also appears.
Reports of lunar eclipses dating from the 7th-century BCE are also recorded.

The Mul.Apin series contains the earliest (surviving) full description of the
Mesopotamian constellations. Its detailed constellation material dates to the late 2nd-
millennium BCE possibly relates to the Mesopotamian constellations being largely
formalised around the time of the completion of the omen series Enuma Anu Enlil. 

The data contained in the Mul.Apin series is not quantifiable (i.e., precisely defined)
and appropriate assumptions are required to be made (i.e., of the stars forming each
constellation and which of these stars were listed to rise heliacally). In a Hastro-L
posting (June 5, 2007) the assyriologist Hermann Hunger explained: "The tablets
contain no observations. They state on which calendar date certain phenomena (mostly
risings and settings) are supposed to occur. Since that calendar used real lunar months,
and years consisting of either 12 or 13 such months, the date of a stellar rising, e.g.,
cannot occur on the same date each year. Assuming that the dates given in the text are
the result of averaging, one can use them as if they were observations."

Analysing all of the star list data in the Mul.Apin series the American astronomer Brad
Schaefer has concluded (2007) that the epoch for the data comprising Mul.Apin star
lists is 1370 ± 100 BCE with a latitude of 35° ± 1.2°. The actual observations to
establish the data through averaging were obviously a little earlier. This corresponds
with the cuneiform evidence (the omen series Enuma Anu Enlil, the Astrolabes (i.e.,
star calendars), the creation epic Enuma Elish) indicating that most of the
Mesopotamian constellation set was established during the late 2nd millennium BCE.

The Mul.Apin series is usually considered to be "astronomical" (an "astronomical

compendium") with the primary aim of regulating the luni-solar year. However, many
of the stars/constellations listed appear to be out of order. David Brown (Mesopotamian
Planetary Astronomy-Astrology (2000, Page 116)) suggests this "may be because the
star lists were never intended accurately to reflect reality."  The star-lists reflect
divinatory purposes. Tradition and divinatory purpose often determines content rather
than a strict observance to observed fact. The dates given in Mul.Apin for heliacal
risings of stars - though ultimately observation-based - were produced artificially.

The inclusion of an anthology of 47 celestial omens (drawn from a variety of

Mesopotamian celestial divination texts) at the end of the Mul.Apin series suggests its
goal was to serve as an introduction to celestial omen literature and the practice of
celestial divination. The data contained in the Mul.Apin series was functionally
important in the practice of celestial divination in Mesopotamia. The intended audience
for the text would have been scribes receiving practical training in celestial divination.
(See: "Teaching the Stars in Mesopotamia and the Hellenistic Worlds." by Jeffrey
Cooley (Humanitas, Volume 28, Issue 3, Spring, 2005, Pages 9-15).

Note: Ziqpu-stars were stars "so chosen that one crosses the meridian before dawn, in
the middle of each month, as another constellation is rising heliacally." (See: Mul.Apin
by Hermann Hunger and David Pingree (1989) Page 142.) The ziqpu-stars were useful
if, for whatever reason, the eastern horizon was obscured and the heliacal rising of
important stars was unable to be directly observed. The most common version of the
ziqpu-star list contained 25 stars.

Appendix 1: Franz Kugler's Identification of most of the Stars in the Path of Anu, in the
Path of Enlil, and in the Path of Ea (SSB. Ergän. II. Teil 1914).

1. Path of Enlil (Northern Stars/Constellations)

1) ĸ. APIN -- Triangulum (at least)

2) ĸ. Šú-gi, šēbu (senex) -- Perseus (a) (kàkkabu níbū ša ĸ. Šúgi -- α or β Persei) (b)
(kakkabāni ummulūtum ša Šugi (the dim stars of Perseus -- group of small stars in East
Perseus) (c) (ĸ. Nasrapu - most probably ε Persei, (or group composed of μ, λ etc.)

3) ĸ. GÁM, Gamlu (ritual vessel, "weapon of Marduk") -- Auriga

4) ĸ. Maš-tab-ba gal-gal, Tu'āme rabūti -- most of Gemini, or simply α and β

Geminorum

5) ĸ. Maš-tab-ba tur-tur, Tu'āmē sihrūti -- λ and ζ (?) Geminorum

6) ĸ. AL-LUL Šittu (?) -- Cancer, exclusive of β which belongs to ĸ. Siru, the serpent
constellation

7) ĸ. Ur-gu-la (the great dog) -- Nēšu (lion) -- Leo (a) (kakkabē ša kakkad ĸ. Ur-gu-la --
(the two stars of the lion's head) -- ε and μ Leonis) (b) (kakkabu IV ša irti-šu -- the 4th
star of his breast -- γ Leonis) (c) (ĸ. Lugal (ĸ. šarru) -- king -- Regulus) (d) (kakkabu II
ša rapašti-šu -- the 2nd star of his hips -- δ Leonis) (e) (kakkabu edu ša zibbati-šu -- the
single star of his tail -- β Leonis)

8) ĸ. A-EDIN, Eru -- Virgo West (Coma Berenices ?)

9) ĸ. HEN-GAL-A-A, Hegalai, nuhšu -- abundance -- Coma Berenices

10.(a)) ĸ. ŠU-PA, kakkabu namru -- the shining star - Arcturus (α Boötes), at times
probably the entire southern part of Boötes
10.(b)) ĸ. Šudun -- yoke -- also Arcturus (a) (ĸ. Šudun-anšu -- the (forward) yoke of the
ass -- η Bootis (+ neighbouring stars) (b) (ĸ. Šudun-anšu arkitu -- the rear yoke of the
ass - ε Bootis (very probably also ξ, π and ζ Bootis)

11 (a)) ĸ. BAL-UR-A kakkab baltum -- Corona Borealis

11 (b)) (also) ĸ. GAM-tu -- kippatu -- Corona Borealis

12) ĸ. Mar-gid-da, sumbu -- wain -- Ursa Major (a) (ĸ. LUL-A, ĸ. Ka-a, ĸ. Šelibu, -- fox
star -- ġ (Alkor) above ζ Ursae Majoris) (b) ĸ. γ, kakkabu ša ina pani (put) Margidda
izzazu -- the star which stands before η (?) Ursae Majoris

13) ĸ. MU-GID-SAR-DA, niru ša šamē -- yoke of heaven -- Draco

14) ĸ. Mar-gid-da-an-na - wain of heaven - Ursa Minor

15) ĸ. AN-DU-BA-MEŠ (an-gub-ba-meš) šú-ut E-kur -- Serpens

16) ĸ. AN-KU-A-MEŠ (an-dur-a-meš) šú-ut E-kur -- Ophiuchus - Southern portion of

Ophiuchus is named ĸ. il Za-mà-mà

17) ĸ. Ur-ku (Lik-ku ?) -- kalbu -- dog -- Hercules (a) (MAŠ-a-ti (ĸ. Aha-a-ti) -- star of
the side -- (γ +) β Herculis) (b) (ĸ. Ur-ka-a-ti -- ζ Herculis) (c) (kakkabu edu -- the
single star -- μ Herculis)

18) ĸ. Uza -- she-goat -- Lyra (also ĸ. Gašan-din, ĸ. Bēlit balāti) (a) (kakkabu nibū ša ĸ.
Uza -- α Lyrae (b) (the two stars behind him (sukal il Ba-u, i.e., α Lyrae) -- probably η
and θ Lyrae)

19) ĸ. UD-KA-GAB-A (Ud-da-dŭ-a) -- Panther -- Cygnus + Pegasus + α Andromedae

(a) (Kumaru ša ĸ. Ud-ka-dŭ-a -- δ Cygni) (b) (Kakkabu nibū ša irti-šu -- α Cygni) (c)
(Kinsu ša ĸ. Ud-ka-dŭ-a -- η Pegasi) (d) (Asidu ša Ud-ka-dŭ-a -- α Andromedae)

20) ĸ. ŠAH (šahu) il Da-mu -- very probably Delphinus

21) ĸ. Sisū -- horse -- very probably Equuleus

22) ĸ. Lulim -- at least Andromeda

2. Path of Anu (Middle of "Equatorial" Stars/Constellations)

1) ĸ. Šim-mah (Šinunutum -- kakkab imbari) -- the swallow and storm constellation --

West Aquarius (α, β, χ, ε and ν)

2) ĸ. DIL-GAN, ĸ. Iku -- constellation which in various periods had different extent -

four forms to be distinguished: 1) Aries (= Hired Labourer) + Cetus + East Aquarius, 2)
Aries (= Hired Labourer) + Cetus -> East Aquarius - GU-LA, 3) Cetus + East Aquarius
-> Aries KU-MAL, 4) Cetus -> Aries KU-MAL / East Aquarius GU-LA
3) ĸ. Anūnitū, ĸ. nār Dillat (Tigris constellation), ĸ. Tultum (worm constellation) the
SW portion of Pisces plus the "band" ω-ζ Piscium

4) ĸ. avēl KU-MAL -- Agru, the hired labourer - Aries

5) ĸ. MUL-MUL, ĸ. Sappa -- Pleiades + ζ or ο Persei

6) giš ĸ. Li-e -- tablet (of fate), ĸ. Gú-an-na, tiara of Anu -- Aldebaran plus Hyades

7) ĸ. Sib-zi-an-na -- faithful shepherd of heaven - Orion

8) ĸ. Maš-tab-ba ša ina mihrit ĸ. Sibzianna -- the twins who stand opposite Orion -- γ
and ξ Geminorum

9) ĸ. Dar-lugal -- canis minor or Procyon (α) alone

10) ĸ. Kak-si-di, kakkab mišrē -- bow star -- Sirius plus a star in Southern Canis Major
(ε or η)

11) ĸ. Ban, ĸ. Kaštu -- Bow-star -- ε, δ, τ Canis Majoris plus χ, l, Puppis

12) ĸ. Muš, ĸ. Siru -- snake -- Hydra + β Cancri

13) ĸ. U-NAG-GA hu, BÁD-GA, Ú-ga, Aribu -- raven -- Corvus - and part of Crater

14) ĸ. AB-SIM -- East Virgo (also Spica (α Virginis) alone)

15) ĸ. Zi-ba-an-na, Zibānitu, scale: karān ĸ. Akrabi -- horn (claw) of the scorpion --
Libra

16) ĸ  il Za-mà-mà -- Southern portion of AN-KU-A-MEŠ -- Ophiuchus

17) ĸ. ID hu, ĸ. Našru -- eagle -- Aquila

18) ĸ. avel BAD (mitu, pagru) death-constellation -- very probably Antinoos

3. Path of Ea (Southern Stars/Constellations)

1) ĸ. HA (ĸ. Nūnu) ĸ. HA (Nūnu) il E-a -- fish, fish of Ea -- Piscis Austrinus, more

exactly its Southern portion plus Formalhaut

2 (a)) ĸ. NUN ĸı (Eridu) il E-a -- Eridu, city of Ea -- Vela plus Southern Puppis

2 (b)) (with this (see 2a above) are wholly or partially identified (α) ĸ. MU-GID-a-ab-ba
-- ĸ. Šudun a-ab-ba -- yoke of the ocean (of Ea)) (β) ĸ. BIR, il Ni-ru il E-a, yoke of Ea

3) ĸ. Nin-mah -- Very probably Carina East

4) ĸ. En-te-na -- maš-šig, -- Centaurus exclusive of NE section (cf. UR-BE)

5) ĸ.giš GAN-UR (GUŠUR), maškakatu, -- Crux

6) il PA and il Lugal -- the two stars behind Maškakatu - β and α Centauri

7) ĸ. NU-MUŠ-DA -- Namaššu -- group of stars between -- β Sagittarii - α Phoenicis

(ref. Indus + Grus)

Appendix 2: The Identification of the Mul.Apin Series Star Catalogue by

Hunger/Pingree

The primary focus of Mul.Apin is calendric. The fixed-star catalog of Mul.Apin

contains 60 rising and setting stars/constellations, 6 circumpolar stars/constellations,
and 5 planets. The stars/constellations are arranged into 3 groups according to the 3
"Paths" on which they supposedly rise and set. The Path of Enlil is to the north, the Path
of Anu is in the centre, and the Path of Ea is to the south. These Paths are only roughly
demarcated bands. The Enlil stars are listed first, the Anu stars are listed next, and the
Ea stars are listed last (see: CT XXXIII Plate 9). There are 33 stars in the Path of Enlil
(tablet 1, column 1, lines 1-39), 23 stars in the Path of Anu (tablet 1, column 1, lines 39-
44 & column 2, lines 1-18), and 15 stars in the Path of Ea (tablet 1, column 2, lines 19-
35). Hunger/Pingree (Astral Sciences in Mesopotamia) date the Mul.Apin series to circa
1000 BCE but also allow that some parts comprising the compendium may be earlier
(i.e., circa 1200/1100 BCE). Mul.Apin does not completely abandon the "Astrolabe"
tradition of 36 month-stars (see: Mul.Apin tablet 1, Section 2, which lists 36 stars that
heliacally rise consecutively over the course of the year. The following table relies
heavily on Mul.Apin (1989) by Hunger/Pingree.

33 Stars/Constellations in the Path of Enlil (Northern Region of the Sky)

Description Modern
Name (Transliteration: Sumerian Name
Given by Identification by
[Akkadian]) (Translation)
Mul.Apin Hunger/Pingree
The Plough,
d
Enlil, who α and β
mul gis
APIN [Epinnu] The Plough goes at the Trianguli with γ
front of the Andromedae
stars of dEnlil
The Wolf, the
mul
UR.BAR.RA [Barbaru] The Wolf seeder of the α Trianguli
Plough
Perseus [When
GIGIR
The Old Man,
d Enmesarra is
mul Enmesarra
SU.GI [Sibu] The Old Man included it
[An ancestor
extends to the
of Enlil]
northern part of
Taurus]
mul The Crook,
GAM [Gamlu] The Crook d Auriga
Gamlum
 α and β
The Great
Geminorum
mul Twins,
MAS.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL.LA The Great d [Castor and
Lugalgirra
[Tu'amu rabutu] Twins Pollux] and the
and
d stars north and
Meslamtaea
south of them
The Little
Twins, ζ and λ
d
mul Alammus Geminorum and
MAS.TAB.BA.TUR.TUR [Tu'amu The Little
and dNin- the stars north,
sehrutu] Twins x
EZEN GUD south, and west
[dNin-ezen- of them
gu4]
mul The Crab, the
AL.LUL [Alluttu] The Crab Cancer
seat of dAnu
The Lion,
d
mul Latarak [A
UR.GU.LA [Urgulu] The Lion Leo
lion-headed
protector god]
The star
which stands
α Leonis [=
[mulUR.GU.LA] mulLugal [Urguli [Sarru]] The King in the breast
Regulus]
of the Lion:
the King
The dusky
stars which
stand in the
The Dusky tail of the 5 Leonis? 21
MULmes um-mu-lu-tum [mulUR.GU.LA]
Stars [Lion] Lion [Star Leonis?
descriptor is
continued
below]
The Frond
[Sis-si-
The Frond nu/Sissinu] γ Comae
? [mulUR.GU.LA] ? [Urguli]
[Lion] (of the date Berenices?
palm) of dEru,
d
Zarpanitu
SU.PA, dEnlil,
mul who decrees
SU.PA [SU.PA] [SU.PA] Boötes
the fate of the
land
mul
He-gal-a-a-u [Hegalaju] The The star β Comae
Abundant which stands Berenices?
One in front of it:
the Abundant
One, the
messenger of
 d
Ninlil [Wife
of Enlil]
The star
which stands
behind it: the
The Star of Star of Corona
MUL.BAL.TES.A [balti [BAL.TES.A]]
Dignity Dignity, the Borealis?
messenger of
d
Tispak [A
warrior god]
mul Ursa Maior
MAR.GID.DA [Ereqqu The Wagon,
The Wagon d Note:
[MAR.GID.DA]] Ninlil
Circumpolar
Ursa Maior
Note:
Circumpolar
The star
[Not one of the
which stands
mul 33 listed stars in
MAR.GID.DA [MAR.GID.DA] The Wagon in the cart-
the path of Enlil
pole of the
but a descriptor
Wagon
that is a prelude
to identifying the
Fox]
The Fox,
d 80-86 Ursae
Erra, the
mul Maioris? Note:
KA5.A [Selebu] The Fox strong one
Circumpolar [=
among the
Alkor?]
gods
The star
Northeastern
which stands
part of Boötes?
[mulMAR.GID.DA] mulU8 [Lahru] The Ewe in front of the
Note:
Wagon: the
Circumpolar
Ewe, dAya
The Hitched
α Draconis
mul The Hitched Yoke, the
MU.BU.KES.DA [MU.BU.KES.DA] [Thuban?] Note:
Yoke Great Anu of
Circumpolar
Heaven
mul The Wagon of Ursa Minor
MAR.GID.DA.AN.NA The Wagon
Heaven, Note:
[MAR.GID.DA.AN.NA] of Heaven d
Damkianna Circumpolar
The star
which stands
in its rope: the α Ursae
The Heir of
mul Heir of the Minoris?
IBILA.E.MAH [Ibila-Emah] the Sublime
Sublime [Polaris?] Note:
Temple
Temple (the Circumpolar
first ranking
son of dAnu)
 The Standing
The Standing
mul mes The Standing Gods of Ekur
DINGIR.GUB.BA   [dingirgubbu]   Gods of Ekur: ζ
Gods    (temple of
d and η Herculis?
Enlil)
The Sitting
The Sitting Gods
mul The Sitting Gods of Ekur
DINGIR.TUS.Ames [dingirtusu] of Ekur: ε, π, ο,
Gods [The temple
and θ Herculis?
of Enlil]
mul The She- The She-Goat,
UZ [Enzu] d Lyra
Goat Gula
The star
which stands
Southern part of
[mulUZ] mulUR.KU [Kalbu] The Dog in front of the
Hercules
She-Goat, the
d
Dog
The bright
star of the
She-Goat:
[mulUZ] dLAMMA [Lammassu] LAMMA d α Lyrae
Lamma, the
messenger of
d
Baba
The two stars
d which stand
Nin-SAR    dEr-ra-gal [Nin-SAR u Nin-SAR
beside it: ε and ζ Lyrae
Erragal] and Erragal d
Nin-SAR and
d
Erragal
Cygnus, Lacerta,
mul The Panther: and parts of
UD.KA.DUH.A [Nimru] The Panther d
Nergal Cassiopeia and
Cepheus
The star
which stands
The head and
mul at its right
SAH [Sahu] The Pig first coil of
side: the Pig,
d Draco?
Damu [God
of healing]
The star
mul which stands α, β, γ, and δ+
ANSE.KUR.RA [Sisu] The Horse
at its left side: Cassiopeia?
the Horse
The star
which stands
mul behind it: the Eastern part of
lu-lim [Lulimi] The Stag
Stag, the Andromeda
messenger of
the Stars
mul
lu-lim [Lulimi] The Stag The dusky Eastern part of
stars which Andromeda [Not
 one of the 33
listed stars in the
stand in the path of Enlil but
breast of the a descriptor that
Stag is a prelude to
identifying the
Rainbow]
d
Har-ri-ru [Harriru] [dTIR.AN.NA =  dHarriru, the 18, 31, and 32
The Rainbow
manzât = Rainbow] Rainbow Andromedae?
Eastern part of
Andromeda [Not
The bright red one of the 33
star which listed stars in the
MUL SA5 [mullu-lim] [Lulimi?] The Stag stands in the path of Enlil but
kidney of the a descriptor that
Stag is a prelude to
identifying the
Deleter]
The dDeleter
mul
KA.MUS.I.KU.E [Pasittu] The Deleter [= The β Andromedae
d
Destructor?]
[Line 37
which is a
prelude to the
listing of
Jupiter] One
big star -
(although) its
light is dim -
divides the
sky in half
The planet
and stands
mul Jupiter (on the
SAG.ME.GAR Jupiter there: (that is)
meridian at
the star of
d dawn)
Marduk, the
Ford [Line 38
which then
lists Jupiter]
Jupiter, (it)
keeps
changing its
position and
crosses the
sky
23 Stars/Constellations in the Path of Anu (Central Region of the Sky)
Modern
Name (Transliteration: Name Description Given by
Identification by
Sumerian [Akkadian]) (Translation) Mul.Apin
Hunger/Pingree
 The Field, the seat of dEa, α, β, and γ Pegasi,
mul
AS.IKU [Iku] The Field which goes at the front of and α
d
the stars of Anu Andromedae
Its wings are ζ, θ,
mul The star which stands and ε Pegasi, and
Si-nu-nu-tu4
The Swallow opposite the Field: the α Equulei; its tail
[Sinunutu]
Swallow the western fish
of Pisces
The star which stands
Eastern fish and
mul Anunitu [= behind the Field: dAnunitu
A-nu-ni-tu4 [Anunitu] part of the line of
Fish] [Fish goddess/Child-birth
Pisces
goddess]
The star which stands
mul lu
HUN.GA [Agru] The Hired Man behind it: the Hired Man, Aries
d
Dumuzi
MUL.MUL [d7.BI]
[Zappu (= MUL or The Stars, the seven gods,
The Stars The Pleiades
Bristle) Sebettu (= 7 the great gods
gods)]
mul The Bull of Heaven, the
GU4.AN.NA    dis le- The Bull of
Jaw of the Bull, the crown Taurus
e    dA-nim Heaven d
of Anu
Shares the descriptor
d d The Jaw of the α Tauri and the
 [ is le-e    A-nim] above with the Bull of
Bull Hyades
Heaven
The True Shepherd of
The True d
mul Anu, Papsukal, the
SIPA.ZI.AN.NA Shepherd of Orion
messenger of dAnu and
Anu/Heaven d
Istar
[Not one of the 33
listed stars in the
mul The twin stars which stand path of Enlil but a
MAS.TAB.BA
The Twin Stars opposite the True descriptor that is
[Tu'amu] d
Shepherd of Anu a prelude to
identifying the
Twin Stars]
Lulal and
Latarak [Both
d Shares the descriptor
LU.LAL [dLa-ta-ra-ak] lion-headed π3 and π4 Orionis?
above with the Twin Stars
protective
gods]
mul
DAR.LUGAL The star which stands
The Rooster Lepus
[Tarlugallu] behind it: the Rooster
The Arrow, the arrow of Canis Maior,
d
mul the great warrior Ninurta Canis Minor? and
KAK.SI.SA [Sukudu] The Arrow
[God of the city of parts of Puppis
Lagash] and Pyxis
 ε, σ, δ, and ω
The Bow, the Elamite
mul d Canis Maioris,
BAN [Qastu] The Bow Istar, the daughter of
d and perhaps, χ
Enlil
Puppis
mul d The Snake, dNingizzada,
MUS The Snake Hydra
lord of the Netherworld
mul The Raven, the star of
UGAmusen [Aribu] The Raven d Corvus and Crater
Adad [Storm god]
The Furrow, dSala
mul [Goddess of war; a symbol α+ Virginis
AB.SIN [Sir'u] The Furrow
of Sala was a barley stalk], [Spica+]
the ear of corn
mul
ZI.BAN.AN.NA The Scales, the horn of the Libra and part of
The Scales
[Zibanitu] Scorpion Virgo
The star of Zababa [God
of the city of Kis] [Line 56
Parts of
has:] The star of Zababa,
MUL dZa-ba4-ba4 Ophiuchus,
Zababa the Eagle, and the Dead
[Zababa] Serpens, and
Man [i.e., all these 3
Aquila
stars/constellations appear
in the one descriptor]
mul musen
TI8 [Eru] The Eagle The star of the Eagle Most of Aquila
mul
AD6 [Pagru] The Dead Man The star of the Dead Man Delphinus?
Venus keeps changing its
mul
Dili-bat [Dilibat] Venus position and crosses the Planet
sky
mul Mars keeps changing its
Sal-bat-a-nu
Mars position and crosses the Planet 
[Salbatanu]
sky
mul Saturn keeps changing its
UDU.IDIM.SAG.US
Saturn position and crosses the Planet 
[Kajamanu]
sky
[Line 60 lists Mercury and
the part descriptor is
mul continued in Line 61]
UDU.IDIM.GU4.UD
Mercury Mercury whose name is Planet 
[Sihtu [Ninurta]]
Ninurta, rises or sets in the
east [Line 61] or in the
west within a month
15 Stars/Constellations in the Path of Ea (Southern Region of the Sky)
Modern
Name Identification
Name (Transliteration:
(Translatio Description Given by Mul.Apin by
Sumerian [Akkadian])
n) Hunger/Pingr
ee
d
mul The Fish, Ea who goes at the front Piscis
KU6 [Nunu] The Fish
of the stars of Ea Austrinus
 The Great One, dEa [This and the
mul The Great star/constellation below appear in the
GU.LA [GU.LA] Aquarius
One one descriptor (line) as: mulGU.LA   
mul
NUNki    [GU.LA    Eridu]]
mul
NUNki [Eridu] Eridu  The star of Eridu [the city], dEa α+ Puppis
Ninmah The star which stands at its right:
mul d
Nin-mah [Ninmah] [Greatest Ninmah [A mother-goddess whose Most of Vela
Queen] name means 'greatest queen']
Most of
mul The d
EN.TE.NA.BAR.H EN.TE.NA.BAR.HUM, Ningirsu Centaurus
Centaur(s)
UM [Habasiranu] [War god] and, probably,
[Ningirsu]
Crux
The star which stands at its side: the
Harrow, the weapon of dMar-biti
mul gis
GAN.UR The [Descriptor continued in line below Eastern part
[Maskakatu] Harrow as: inside of which one sees the of Vela
subterranean waters] [God of destiny
and war]
The two stars which stand behind it:
d Sullat [Identified with Samas] and
Sullat u dHanis [Sullat Sullat and μ and ν
Hanis [Identified with Adad],
u Hanis] Hanis d Centauri?
Samas [Sun-god] and dAdad
[Storm-god]
mul The star which stands behind them
Nu-mus-da
Numusda rises like dEa and sets like dEa: η Centauri?
[Numusda]
Numusda, Adad
[mulGIR.TAB] The star which stands at the left side
mul The Mad Lupus and ζ+
UR.IDIM of the Scorpion: the Mad Dog, dKusu
Dog Scorpii
[Uridimmu] [Obscure grain goddess]
mul
GIR.TAB The The Scorpion, dIshara, goddess of all
Scorpius
[Zuqaqipu] Scorpion inhabited regions
The breast of the Scorpion: dLisi
[mulGABA GIR.TAB] α Scorpii
d Lisi [God/goddess of fires], dNabu [God
Li9-Si4 [Antares]
of wisdom and writing]
[Not one of
the 33 listed
stars in the
path of Ea but
mul
GIR.TAB The The two stars which stand in the a descriptor
[Zupaqipi] Scorpion sting of the Scorpion (line) that is a
prelude to
identifying
Sarur and
Sargaz]
d
Sar-ur4 u dSar-gaz Sarur and [The two stars which stand in the λ and ν
[Sarur u Sargaz] Sargaz sting of the Scorpion] [dSarur Scorpii
[Messenger of Ninurta] Sargaz
 [Mace-like weapon of the god of
war]]
Sagittarius
mul The star which stands behind them:
Pa-bil-sag [Pabilsag] Pabilsag d and, perhaps,
Pabilsag [Hunter god]
θ+ Ophiuchi
The bark [This and the
mul
MA.GUR8 star/constellation below appear in the
The Bark ε Sagittarii
[Makurru] one descriptor (line) as: The Bark
and the Goat-Fish]
mul ku6
SUHUR.MAS The Goat-
The goat-fish Capricorn
[Suhurmasu] Fish

Appendix 3: The Mul.Apin list of (17/18) constellations/stars that marked the path of
the Moon (See: Note 2 below)

The list begins with MUL.MUL (Pleiades) and concludes with mulLU.HUN.GA (Hired
Man = (Greek) Aries). The list draws from SA2 by Bartel van der Waerden.

MUL.MUL [mul.mul] (= "The stars/the hair brush" (Pleiades).)

mul
GUD.AN.NA [gu4.an.na] (The "Bull of Heaven [the bull of Anu];" later to be one of
the 12 ecliptic constellations. (Greek zodiac: Taurus (the Bull).)
mul
SIPA.ZI.AN.NA [sipa.zi.an.na] (= "The true shepherd of Anu" (Orion).)
mul
SHU.GI [su.gi] (= The old man (Perseus).)
mul
GAM [mulZUBI] [zubi] (= The sickle sword [The hooked staff] (Auriga).)
mul
MASH.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL [mash.tab.ba.gal.gal] (The "Great Twins;" later to be one
of the 12 ecliptic constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Gemini (the Twins).)
mul
AL.LUL al.lul] (The "Crab;" [or Prokyon], later to be one of the 12 ecliptic
constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Cancer (the Crab).)
mul
UR.GU.LA [ur.gu.la] (The "Lion;" [or Lioness], later to be one of the 12 ecliptic
constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Leo (the Lion).)
mul
AB.SIN [ab.sin] (The "Furrow [The barley-stalk];" [or Spica], later to be one of the
12 ecliptic constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Virgo (the Virgin).)
mul
ZIB.BA.AN.NA [zi-ba-ni-tum] (The "Scales of Heaven [The balance];" later to be
one of the 12 ecliptic constellations.) (Greek zodiac: originally "the Claws" (of the
Scorpion) but the Romans later (re)introduced Libra (the Scales).)
mul
GIR.TAB [gir.tab] (The "Scorpion;" later to be one of the 12 ecliptic constellations.)
(Greek zodiac: Scorpius (the Scorpion).)
mul
PA.BIL.SAG [pa.bil.sag] (The "Grandfather [Pabilsag (a god)];" [archer?], later to be
one of the 12 ecliptic constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Sagittaurius (the Archer).)
mul
SUHUR.MASH [suhur.mas.ku6] (The "Goat fish;" later to be one of the 12 ecliptic
constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Capricornus (the Goat).)
mul
GU.LA [gu.la] (The "Great One [The giant/the great star?];" later to be one of the 12
ecliptic constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Aquarius (the Water-Carrier).)
mul
ZIBBATI.MESH [mulKUN.MESH] [kun.mes] (= The tails (Pisces).)
mul
SIM.MAH [sim.mah] (The "Great Swallow (SW Pisces [+ epsilon Pegasi);" later to
be one of the 12 ecliptic constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Pisces (the Fish).)
mul
A.NU.TI.TUM [a-nu-ni-tum] (= Anunitum (a goddess) (NE Pisces (+ middle part of
Andromeda)).)
mul
LU.HUN.GA [lu.hung.ga] (The "Hired Man;" later to be one of the 12 ecliptic
constellations.) (Greek zodiac: Aries (the Ram).)

Note 1: On the uncertainty of 17/18 constellations Bartel van der Waerden (Science
Awakening II: The Birth of Astronomy, 1974, Page 80) states: "The number 18 is not
quite certain, because the 'tails' zibbati.mesh are probably to be taken together with both
the following names ('tails of SHIM.MAH and Anunitum').

Note 2: As the exact identification of Babylonian constellations is still under debate the
modern constellations listed as equivalents can, at best, only be considered as partly
identical to them. In writing the constellation/star names I have attempted to follow
modern convention and give the usual constellation transliterations which variously
appear in both capitals or normal (roman) script (conventionally used to indicate
Sumerian logographic spelling) and italics (conventionally used to indicate Akkadian)
and a mix of the two conventions indicating joint use of both scripts.

Appendix 4: Accuracy of Text Transmission

The recent doctoral thesis The Exact Transmission of Texts in the First Millennium
B.C.E. by Russell Hobson (2009) includes examination of Enuma Anu Enlil tablet 63
(the ‘Venus Tablet’) and the Mul.Apin series. Of interest is the concluding statement
(Page 494) regarding the lack of stabilisation in the transmission of astronomical/omen
cuneiform texts. The latter is interesting. Hobson's examination demonstrates persistent
error-making by the trained scribal elite in copying cuneiform astronomical/omen texts.
And this error-making occurred over a relatively short period of time.

A tradition of oral transmission existed in Mesopotamia. (The numerous variants of

popular myths is used as an argument for an oral tradition in Mesopotamia. A group of
‘experts’ and later, in the Neo-Assyrian period (circa 950-600 BCE), ‘chief singers’ is
identified with oral tradition. It is accepted by a number of scholars that these persons
would make slight changes. It appears that in Mesopotamia there was an early
reliance/preference for scribes trained to accurately copy texts. According to The
Cambridge History of the Bible (Volume 1, 1975, Page 40): “In Mesopotamia oral
tradition played only a limited part in the transmission of literary texts after 2,700 B.C.,
the scribe using an oral source only when all else failed.” It is quite evident that scribal
tradition = variation and copyist errors. Even the text of the omen series Enuma Anu
Enlil exhibits divergences and was not really fixed.