Ancient Babylonian Tablets Reveal Lunar Eclipse Prophecies
The four clay tablets discovered in Mesopotamia are believed to be the oldest known records of lunar eclipse prophecies. Written by Babylonian scholars, these tablets offer valuable insights into the ancient belief in celestial omens and their connection to earthly events.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Moon passes into the Earth’s shadow. The Babylonian astronomers who created these tablets relied on the time of night, shadow movements, and eclipse duration to make their predictions.
One prophecy states that if the eclipse starts from the center and spreads immediately, the king will die and the region of Elam will be destroyed. Another predicts that if the eclipse begins in the south and then dissipates, the downfall of the regions of Subartu and Akkad will occur.
While some of the prophecies may have been based on real-life experiences, most were likely derived from a theoretical framework that linked eclipse characteristics to various signs.
The tablets were likely written in Sippar, a prominent city in present-day Iraq, during the flourishing era of the Babylonian Empire. They were only recently translated and published by researchers after entering the collection of the British Museum in 1892.
The Babylonians strongly believed in the predictive power of celestial phenomena. They interpreted celestial events as coded signs from the gods, offering warnings about the future of humanity. These prophecies were often used by kings to make decisions and take appropriate actions to avert potential disasters.