A Neo-Assyrian copy of the Babylonian Astrolabe — the earliest known systematic star catalog. Three bands of stars (the paths of Ea, Anu, and Enlil) mapped to twelve months, with paired heliacal risings and settings that governed the Mesopotamian calendar. Copied by the scribe Nabu-zuqup-kena from old Babylonian originals for the education of his son. K.7931 from the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, 7th century BCE.
The Stars of Ea
The Field, which stands at the rising of the east wind and crosses to the south —
that star is the first star of the year, the leader of the stars of Ea.
The star which stands after it: the Pleiades.
The Seven, great gods.
For the market price of barley: favorable.
The star which stands after it: the Jaw.
The Crown of Anu.
The star which stands after it: the True Shepherd of Heaven.
Papsukkal, vizier of Anu and Ishtar.
For [...]: favorable.
The star which stands after it: the Arrow.
Ninurta.
For the seed of sesame: favorable.
The star which stands after it: the Bow.
Ishtar of Elam, daughter of Sin.
The stars which stand at the rising of the south wind, before the Yoke: the Kidney.
Ea. Prosperity.
The stars which stand to the right of Ea: Ninmah.
The star which stands to the left of Ea: the Mad Dog.
The red star which stands before Ea — all year its position changes: Mars.
10 stars of Ea.
The Stars of Anu
Venus, which stands at the rising of the east wind — its position changes:
half the year at sunrise, half the year at sunset it stands.
That star is the leader of the stars of Anu.
The star which stands after it: the Scorpion. Ishara.
The red star which stands at the rising of the south wind, before the Scorpion — its position changes. The Wild Sheep.
The star which stands before it: a tiara crowned, bearing wings and arms —
the Panther. Nergal.
The star which stands after it: the Old Man. Enmesharra, the Great Mountain.
The star which stands between the Old Man and Anu: the Swallow.
The star which [...] stands: Latarak.
The Great Twins, which stand before Anu: Lugalirra and Meslamtaea.
The red star [...]: Shulpaea.
10 stars of Anu.
The Stars of Enlil
[...] seizes.
[...] acquires.
The star which stands before the She-Goat: the Eagle. Zababa.
The red star [...]: Damu.
The great bright star which stands [...] and keeps wandering:
Shupa. The market will decrease.
The red star which stands in the midst of the east wind, before the Arrow, toward the Yoke: [...].
The red star which stands at the rising of the east wind, after the stars of the night have completed their course — [...] and stands:
Neberu. Marduk.
When heaven is divided, he stands. Uprising of Elam.
[...] stars of Enlil. 13 stars between the paths.
The Monthly Risings
In Nisannu: the Field rises and appears.
Water and fertile land the land seizes. The harvest of the land is straight.
In Ayyaru: the Pleiades. Great gods.
In Simanu: the True Shepherd of Heaven. Papsukkal.
In Duʿuzu: the Arrow. Ninurta.
In Abu: the Bow. Ishtar of Elam, daughter of Sin.
In Ululu: the Kidney. Of Ea and of Enlil.
In Tashritu: the Centaur. Ningirsu.
In Araḫsamna: the Scorpion. Ishara.
In Kislimu: the Panther. Nergal.
In Ṭebetu: the Eagle. Zababa.
In Shabatu: the Swallow. [...]
In Addaru: the Fish. Ea.
The Paired Settings and Risings
In Nisannu: the Centaur sets, the Field rises.
In Ayyaru: the Scorpion sets, the Pleiades rise.
In Simanu: the Panther sets, the True Shepherd of Heaven rises.
In Duʿuzu: the Eagle sets, the Arrow rises.
In Abu: the Swallow sets, the Bow rises.
In Ululu: the Fish sets, the Kidney rises.
In Tashritu: the Field sets, the Centaur rises.
In Araḫsamna: the Pleiades set, the Scorpion rises.
In Kislimu: the True Shepherd of Heaven sets, the Panther rises.
In Ṭebetu: the Arrow sets, the Eagle rises.
In Shabatu: the Bow sets, the Swallow rises.
In Addaru: the Kidney sets, the Fish rises.
The regular observations.
Colophon
Extract of Enlil, according to four or five old tablets — copies from Babylon.
Tablet of Nabu-zuqup-kena, son of Marduk-shuma-[...], scribe. For the learning of [...]-shuma-iddina, his son. He expanded and [...] it.
Translation Colophon
Good Works Translation from Akkadian cuneiform (transliterated ATF). Translated by Kizashi (NTAC Expeditionary Tulku Life 201), April 2026.
Source: K.7931 from the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus (eBL, LMU Munich). CC BY 4.0. Neo-Assyrian copy from the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh.
Blood Rule statement: This translation was independently derived from reading the cuneiform transliteration (ATF notation). No embedded English translations exist in the source data. Standard Assyrological identifications of star names with their English equivalents (e.g., MUL.MUL = the Pleiades, GIR₂.TAB = the Scorpion) are not translations but established astronomical identifications. The mathematical structure of the paired risings/settings table (month X rising = month X+6 setting) was used to verify but not to generate the translation.
Notes on the text: K.7931 is a fragment preserving the right half of a multi-column tablet. The left edge is broken throughout, meaning the beginnings of most lines in the star catalogs are restored from parallel tablets (principally BM.55502 and the Three Stars Each tradition). Restorations follow established patterns: each star entry begins "The star which stands after it:" followed by the star name and divine identification. The monthly heliacal rising table (reverse 10–15) and paired settings/risings table (reverse 16–21) are well-preserved and require minimal restoration. The mathematical regularity of the pairing (each star rises when its counterpart 6 months away sets) confirms the readings.
Stellar identifications:
- AŠ.GAN₂ (ikû) = the Field = Square of Pegasus
- MUL.MUL (zappu) = the Pleiades
- is-le-e = the Jaw = Hyades (Taurus)
- SIPA.ZI.AN.NA (šitaddaru) = True Shepherd of Heaven = Orion
- KAK.SI.SA₂ (šukūdu) = the Arrow = Sirius
- PAN (qaštu) = the Bow = part of Canis Major/Puppis
- ELLAG₂ (kalītu) = the Kidney = part of Centaurus
- UR.IDIM (kalbu rabiṣu) = the Mad Dog = unidentified southern star
- GIR₂.TAB (zuqaqīpu) = the Scorpion = Scorpius
- UDU.IDIM (bibbu) = the Wild Sheep = Saturn
- UD.KA.DUH.A (nimru) = the Panther = uncertain (possibly Cygnus area)
- ŠU.GI (šību) = the Old Man = Perseus
- SIM.MAH (sinuntu) = the Swallow = SW Pisces/Pegasus area
- MAŠ.TAB.BA (māšu) = the Great Twins = Gemini
- TI₈ (erû) = the Eagle = Aquila
- ŠU.PA (šūpā) = Arcturus/Boötes
- EN.TE.NA.BAR.HUM = the Centaur = Centaurus
- MUL.KU₆ (nūnu) = the Fish = southern Pisces area
- ne₂-be₂-ru (Neberu) = Jupiter (or the crossing-point star)
- DILI.BAD (Dilbat) = Venus
- ṣal-bat-a-nu (Ṣalbatānu) = Mars
- UZ₃ (enzu) = the She-Goat = Lyra/Vega area
The Three Paths: The Astrolabe divides the sky into three horizontal bands: the Path of Ea (southern horizon, below −17° declination), the Path of Anu (equatorial band), and the Path of Enlil (northern sky, above +17° declination). Each path contains stars whose heliacal risings mark successive months. The paired settings table demonstrates that a star rising in Month X sets in Month X+6 — the fundamental principle of Babylonian observational astronomy.
First freely available English translation. Thirtieth Mesopotamian genre (astronomy / star catalog) from expeditionary tulkus.
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Source Text: K.7931
Akkadian cuneiform transliteration (ATF notation) from the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus, LMU Munich. Neo-Assyrian period. Presented for reference and verification.
@obverse
- [DIŠ {mul}AŠ.GAN₂ ša₂ ina ZI {im}KUR.RA GUB-zu ana {im}U₁₈.LU GIB MUL B]I? MUL# SAG MU* a*#-lik*# [IGI MUL-MEŠ šu-ut {d}e₂-a (...)]
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ EGIR-šu₂ GUB-zu MUL.MUL {d}IMIN.BI DINGIR MEŠ GA]L-MEŠ [a-na KI?.LAM? ŠE? SIG₅?]
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ EGIR-šu₂ GUB-zu {mul}is-le-e] [AGA {d}a]-nim?#
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ EGIR-šu₂ GUB-zu {mul}SIPA.ZI.AN.NA {d}PAP.SUKKAL SUKKAL {d}a-nim] u# {d}+INNIN a[na? IM?.SAG?].GA₂# šu
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ EGIR-šu₂ GUB-zu {mul}KAK-SI.SA₂ {d}nin-urta ana NUMUN ŠE.GIŠ].I₃# SIG₅
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ EGIR-šu₂ GUB-zu {mul}PAN {d}15 e-la-ma-tu₄ DUMU.MUNUS {d}SUEN (...)] nu?# u an na ku/šu
- [DIŠ MUL-MEŠ ša₂ ina ZI {im}U₁₈.LU IGI-et {mul}ŠUDUN GUB-zu {mul}ELLAG₂] {d?#}e₂?#-a e-še-ri
- [DIŠ MUL-MEŠ ša₂ ina ZAG {d}e₂-a GUB-zu {mul}]nin#-mah
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ ina GUB₃ {d}e₂-a GUB-zu {mul}]UR?#.IDIM
- [DIŠ MUL SA₅ ša₂ IGI {d}e₂-a kal MU KI.GUB KUR₂.KUR₂ {d}ṣal-ba]t-a-nu
$ single ruling - [10 MUL-MEŠ šu-ut] {d#}e₂-a
$ single ruling - [DIŠ {mul}DILI.BAD ša₂ ina ZI {im}KUR.RA GUB-zu KI.GUB KUR₂.KUR₂ ½ MU ina {d}UTU.E₃.A ½ MU ina {d}UTU.ŠU₂.A] GUB-zu
- ($___$) [MUL šu-u₂ a-lik IGI-MEŠ MUL-MEŠ šu-ut {d}]a#-nim?#
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ EGIR-šu₂ GUB-zu {mul}GIR₂.TAB {d}iš-ha]-ra
- [DIŠ MUL (SA₅) ša₂ ina ZI {im}U₁₈.LU ana IGI {mul}GI₂.TAB GUB-zu KI.GUB-šu₂] KUR₂.KUR₂
- ($___$) [(...) {mul}UD]U?.IDIM
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ ana IGI-et GUB-zu a-ga-a ap-ru kap-pi u rit-ti GAR-nu {mul}UD.KA.DUH.A {d}U.GUR (...)] igi?#/me#/kur₂?#
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ EGIR-šu₂ GUB-zu {mul}ŠU.GI {d}en-me-šar₂-ra {d}KUR.G]AL!?
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ bi-rit {mul}ŠU.GI u {d}a-nim GUB-zu {mul}SIM.MAH ...] šeš
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ ... GUB-zu {d}la-ta-ra]-ak
- [DIŠ {mul}MAŠ.TAB.BA (GAL.GAL) ša₂ ina IGI-et {d}a-nim GUB-zu (...) {d}lugal-ir₉-ra u {d}mes-lam-ta]-e₃-a
- [DIŠ MUL SA₅ ša₂ ... šul]-pa-e₃-a
- ($___$) [...] a?#/e?# zi ga?#
$ single ruling - [10 MUL-MEŠ šu-ut {d}]a#-nim
$ single ruling - [... i]b?/l]u? ku/lu#
- [... r]i? i?/at?#
- [...] ku#
- [...] kam@v
- [...] an?/ak#
- [...]
$ end of obverse
@reverse
- [... DA]B.DAB-a
- [... TUKU].TUKU-a
- [DIŠ MUL ša₂ ina IGI-et {mul}UZ₃ GUB-zu {mul}TI₈ {d}za-ba₄-ba₄ : DIŠ MUL SA₅ ša₂ ina ZI {im}x.x GUB-zu (...)] {d}da#-mu
- [DIŠ MUL GAL nam-ru ša₂ ina ZI {im}x x GUB-ma? {mul}ŠU.PA] ir#-te#-ne₂#-[ed]-di?#
- [KI.GUB ... ra-pa-du ... {mul}EN.TE.NA.BAR.HUM (...)] KI#.LAM TUR#.[RA].ŠE₃
- [DIŠ? MUL SA₅ ša₂ ina DAL.BA.AN.NA {im}KUR.RA IGI-et {mul}KAK.SI.SA₂ GUB?-ma ana {mul}ŠUDU]N {im}U₁₈.LU {mul?#}x
- [DIŠ? MUL SA₅ ša₂ ina ZI {im}KUR.RA EGIR MUL-MEŠ mu-ši-ti₃ ug-dam-mi-ru-ni (...) n]i an?# lu?/ru?-u-ma GUB#-az#
- ($___$) [{mul}ne₂-be₂-ru {d}AMAR.UTU AN BAR-ma] GUB ZI-ut# N[IM.M]A{ki}
$ single ruling - [x MUL-MEŠ šu-ut {d}+en-lil₂] 13 MUL#-MEŠ bi-rit a#-he-e
$ single ruling - [DIŠ {iti}BARA₂ {mul}AŠ.GAN₂ (šu-ut {d}a-nu) NIM-ma E₃ A KI.DURU₅ KUR] DIB#-bat BURU₁₄ KUR# SI#.SA₂ : DIŠ {iti}GU₄ MUL.MUL# DINGIR# GAL#.GAL#.LA?#
- [DIŠ {iti}SIG₄ {mul}SIPA.ZI.AN.NA {d}pap]-sukkal? : DIŠ {iti}ŠU {mul}KAK.SI.SA₂ {d}nin-urta
- [DIŠ {iti}NE {mul}PAN {d}iš₈-tar₂ e-la-ma-ti DUMU.MUNUS x x x : ] DIŠ# {iti#}KIN# {mul}ELLAG₂ šu-ut {d}e₂-a u šu-ut {d#}+en#-lil₂
- [DIŠ {iti}DU₆ {mul}EN.TE.NA.BAR.HUM {d}nin-gir₂-su (...) : DIŠ {it]i}APIN# {mul}GIR₂.TAB {d}iš-ha-ra
- [DIŠ {iti}GAN {mul}UD.KA.DUH.A {d}U.GUR : DIŠ {iti}]AB# {mul}TI₈{mušen} {d}za-ba₄-ba₄
- [DIŠ {iti}ZIZ₂ {mul}SIM.MAH MUL ... : DIŠ {iti}]ŠE {mul}KU₆ {d}e₂-a
$ single ruling - [DIŠ {iti}BARA₂ {mul}EN.TE.NA.BAR.HUM KU₄-ma {mul}AŠ.GAN₂ KUR-ha : DIŠ {iti}GU₄] {mul#}GIR₂.TAB KU₄-ma MUL.MUL KUR-ha
- [DIŠ {iti}SIG₄ {mul}UD.KA.DUH.A KU₄-ma {mul}SIPA.ZI.AN.NA KUR-ha : DIŠ {iti}ŠU {mu]l}TI₈{mušen} KU₄-ma {mul}KAK.SI.SA₂ KUR-ha
- [DIŠ {iti}NE {mul}SIM.MAH KU₄-ma {mul}PAN KUR-ha : DIŠ {iti}KIN {m]ul}KU₆ KU₄-ma {mul}ELLAG₂ KUR-ha
- [DIŠ {iti}DU₆ {mul}AŠ.GAN₂ KU₄-ma {mul}EN.TE.NA.BAR.HUM KUR-ha : DIŠ {iti}APIN MUL.M]UL KU₄-ma {mul}GIR₂.TAB KUR-ha
- [DIŠ {iti}GAN MUL {mul}SIPA.ZI.AN.NA KU₄-ma {mul}UD.KA.DUH.A KUR-ha : DIŠ {iti}AB {mul}K]AK?.SI?#.SA₂ KU₄-ma {mul}TI₈{mušen} KUR-ha
- [DIŠ {iti}ZIZ₂ {mul}PAN KU₄-ma {mul}SIM.MAH KUR-ha : DIŠ {iti}ŠE {mu]l}ELLAG₂ KU₄-ma {mul}KU₆ KUR-ha
$ single ruling - [...] ka-ia-nu-tu₄
$ single ruling
@catchline - [...] SI?#/an?#.SA₂ <(...)>
@colophon - [(...) x x nis?-hu? ...] x pi/me/aš {d#}+en-lil₂ ki-i KA 4?#/5?# DUB-MEŠ LIBIR.RA-MEŠ GABA.RI KA₂.DINGIR.RA{ki}
- [tup?-pi? {m}{d}AG-zu-qu-up-GI.NA DUMU? {m?}{d?}AMAR?.UTU?-MU?-BA?-ša₂? DUB?.SA]R? a-na tam-ri-ir-ti {m}{d#}[15-MU-KA]M@v-eš# DUMU-šu₂
- [... u₂?-ra]p?-pi-šu₂ u₃ uš?#-[x-(x)]-x-šu₂
Source Colophon
K.7931. Fragment of a clay tablet, 24 + 25 lines of inscription. Neo-Assyrian. From the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik, Iraq). Excavated 19th century. Currently in the British Museum, London.
ATF transliteration from the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus (eBL), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10018951. License: CC BY 4.0.
The "Three Stars Each" (Astrolabe) tradition represents the oldest surviving systematic astronomy in the world. The earliest exemplars date to the Middle Babylonian period (c. 1200 BCE), though the observations may originate centuries earlier. K.7931 is a Neo-Assyrian copy (7th century BCE) made by the scribe Nabu-zuqup-kena from old Babylonian originals for the instruction of his son. The text organizes the fixed stars into three horizontal bands corresponding to the paths of the gods Ea (south), Anu (equator), and Enlil (north), then maps heliacal risings to the twelve months of the lunisolar calendar.
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