The Heavenly Writing: Divination, Horoscopy, and Astronomy in Mesopotamian Culture - Hardcover

Rochberg, Francesca

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521830109 ISBN 13: 9780521830102

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2004

Synopsis

Celestial phenomena in ancient Mesopotamia was observed and interpreted as signs from the gods as well as physical phenomena. Relating the various ways the heavens were contemplated and understood, this study traces the emergence of personal astrology from the tradition of celestial divination and how astronomical methodology developed for horoscopes. Its importance lies in its treatment of Babylonian celestial sciences (celestial divination, horoscopy, and astronomy) as subjects relevant to the history of science and culture.

About this title

Book Description:

The subject matter of this book consists of the various ways the heaven were studied and understood in ancient Mesopotamia, namely, celestial phenomena observed and interpreted as signs from the gods as well as observed and studies as physical phenomena in their own right. It discusses the emergence of personal astrology from the tradition of celestial divination and the way astronomical methods were employed for horoscopes. Its importance lies in its treatment of Babylonian celestial sciences as a whole (celestial divination, horoscopy, and astronomy) as a su bject for the history of science and culture.

About the Author:

Francesca Rochberg is Catherine and William L. Magistretti Distinguished Professor of Near Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a recipient of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship and the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship. She is the author of Babylonian Horoscopes (1998) and Aspects of Babylonian Celestial Divination: The Lunar Eclipse Tablets of Enuma Anu Enlil (1988).

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0521830109
• ISBN 13: 9780521830102
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 360