Astronomical Observatory of the City of Ashur
A Study in the Light of Cuneiform Texts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65074/p9fv4582Keywords:
City, Ashur, Observatory, Astronomy, Cuneiform TextsAbstract
Received: 2026 / 06 / 06
Revision: 2026 / 07 / 06
Accepted: 2026 / 08 / 20
Published: 2026 / 09 / 30
This research examines the topic of the astronomical observatory in the city of Ashur throughout the Neo-Assyrian Empire period (911–612 BC). In which aiming to focus on the observatory's cultural and architectural importance and emphasizing its role in the advancement of astronomical sciences and astrology in Mesopotamia. Although direct references in historical sources are really rare, and the research employs a descriptive-analytical methods to investigate translated cuneiform texts and letters, to illustrate the reality of this observatory's existence and its related roles. The study is divided into three main sections: The historical dimensions of astronomy, omen texts and observatories, the role of the city of Ashur in Astronomy. To reach the findings that confirm the importance of astronomical knowledge and its close relation to public sphere in the Assyrian state.
References
( )شيماء علي أحمد النعيمي، الفلك في العراق القديم من القرن السابع الى القرن ق.م، أطروحة دكتوراه غير منشورة، كلية الآداب، جامعة الموصل: 2006، ص7؛.قصي منصور التركي ،زيار صديق دوسكي ،المرصد الفلكي لمدينة اربيل دراسة قي ضوء النصوص المسمارية،مجلة الدراسات التاريخية،(عدن:2021)،العدد7،ص66
( ).التركي،ودوسكي،المصدر السابق،ص67؛
. Westenholz, Mesopotamian Astroloyy An introduction to Babylonian and Assyrian Celestial Divintion , (London : 1993) , p32
( (H, Hunger, D. Pinged, “Astral Sentences in Mesopotamian”, HDOR 1/99, (1999), p7.8.6 A, Falkenstein, “Wahrsagung”, In Der Sumerschen Uberlieferung, CRRA. Vol. 14, (1991
)4) . التركي،ودوسكي،المصدر السابق،ص67؛ RAL, VOL. 10 (2003) P. 51
)5) . تتم مراسيم الاستسقاء في العراق القديم بقيام اربعة من النساء بالوقوف متقابل ثم يبدان بتحريك اجسامهن وشعرهن الطويل على ان تبدا عملية التحريك باتجاه اليمين ومن ثم الى اليسار للمزيد ينظر: فوزي رشيد، "علم الفلك بدايته وانجازاته" مجلة المؤرخ العربي، (بغداد: 1997)، العدد 5، ص27
)6) . التركي،ودوسكي،المصدر السابق،ص68
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