Babylonian Star-lore

More about the book

Our most direct connection to ancient Babylonia lies in the twelve zodiac constellations, yet this is just a fragment of a broader star-lore system that sheds light on early human beliefs. Understanding this lore can offer profound insights into how ancient civilizations perceived the gods, the universe, and humanity's destiny. This book is uniquely crafted for the layman, delving into the constellations and star-lore of ancient Babylonia. It proposes that the constellation figures collectively form a 'pictorial calendar' that intertwines seasonal festivals related to the sun's mythic life-cycle, agriculture, kingship, and rites for the deceased, ultimately portraying an archaic concept of time. The introductory sections outline the structure of the ancient cosmos and provide an overview of the star-map. The main content features an A-Z gazette detailing the names, appearances, and lore of each star and constellation. Appendices offer further context on reconstructing the Babylonian star-map, the history of Mesopotamian star-lore, the calendar, cuneiform writing, and the stars' role in divination. While the zodiac is well-known, the Babylonian constellations have remained largely hidden for two millennia. This work reconstructs the complete star-map and reveals its secrets, restoring the celestial symbolism to its former significance.