Teije de Jong, "On the Origin of the Lunar and Solar Periods in Babylonian Lunar Theory", in: John Steele and Mathieu Ossendrijver (Eds.), Studies on the Ancient Exact Sciences in Honour of Lis Brack-Bernsen, Berlin: Edition Topoi, 2017, 105–126

Abstract

In this investigation, I sketch the way in which Babylonian astronomers may have derived
the basic parameters of their lunar theory. I propose that the lunar velocity period of 6247
synodic months which underlies the construction of functions Φ and F of system A is derived
by fitting a multiple of the Saros period of 223 synodic months within an integer
number of solar years using the 27-year Sirius period relation. I further suggest that the
lunar velocity period of 251 synodic months used to construct function F of system B is a
direct derivative of the 6247-month period. I also briefly discuss the origin of the periods
of the solar velocity function B (of system A) and of the solar longitude function A (of system
B) suggesting that the periods of these functions may have been derived from a refined
version of the 27-year Sirius period. I finally discuss the timeframe of the possible stepwise
development of these early lunar and solar functions.

Published In

John Steele and Mathieu Ossendrijver (Eds.), Studies on the Ancient Exact Sciences in Honour of Lis Brack-Bernsen, Berlin: Edition Topoi, 2017