Text
The Mandean Book of the Zodiac preserves some Mesopotamian lunar omens by means of a direct transmission.
Iqqur īpuš 77.1-6:
1. If in Nisan the moon is surrounded by a halo (lit. a “drawing” uṣurtu): There will be an eclipse; (one) king will conquer (another) king.
2. If in Ajaru: (Floodwaters (?)) will carry away the barley ready for shipment.
3. If in Simānu: Fungus will affect the fruit.
4. If in Du’uzu: Fungus will affect the sesame.
5. If in Abu: The produce of the date palm will diminish.
6. If in Ulūlu: The produce of the sea will diminish.
Sfar Malwašia (Drower) 210 (Drower):
If in Nisan the moon sits within an enclosing line (ṣurta): war, or else a king will kill the king of kings.
If in Ayar the moon sits within an enclosing line: they will lose all the crops and produce of the summer, and there will be marauders and tumult.
If … in Siwan: rain and water will come down, a fine dust will fall, and the date palm will shed its burden and be lacking, (but) there will be peace in the world.
If … in Tammuz: Nothing will happen, (but) there will be raiding in the world, or else the sesame crop will fail completely and the date palm will shed its fruit (untimely). If … Ab: the date palm will shed and shake off its fruit (untimely).
If … Ellul: Fish will be reduced and extirpated (for) there will be little water.
Sources (list of abbreviations)
Iqqur īpuš 77.1-6
Sfar Malwašia 210 (Drower)
Bibliography
| Drower 1949, 210 | Drower, E. S. Sfar Malwašia. The Book of the Zodiac. Oriental Translation Fund 35. London: Royal Asiatic Society 1949. |
| Rochberg 1999, 243 | Rochberg, Francesca. “The Babylonian Origins of the Mandaean Book of the Zodiac.” ARAM 11 (1999) 237-247. [Peeters Online Journals (requires subscription)] |
Amar Annus
URL for this entry: http://www.aakkl.helsinki.fi/melammu/database/gen_html/a0000886.php
|
