After decades of acquisition, the British Museum deciphered ancient tablets, and the results were not exactly good news for kings.
The deciphered texts, which have been published in the Journal of Cuneiform Studies, show that the Babylonians saw lunar eclipses as prophetic signs of impending death and destruction in addition to being astronomical phenomena.
Recent advances in the deciphering of ancient Babylonian tablets have uncovered a wealth of concerning prophecies dating back 4,000 years. These clay tablets, once thought to be mere records, have been revealed to be detailed omens of doom crafted for Babylonian rulers.
Discovered at the British Museum, the tablets date back to the 18th and 17th centuries BCE and provide insights into how the Babylonians interpreted celestial events, particularly lunar eclipses. Andrew George from the University of London and independent researcher Junko Taniguchi have translated these ancient texts, shedding light on their ominous messages.
The tablets, part of a larger collection of celestial omen texts, were used by Babylonian scholars to advise kings on matters of state based on observed cosmic phenomena. The texts include up to 61 detailed omens, each linked to the characteristics of lunar eclipses—such as timing, shadow movement, and duration.
Despite their sophisticated astrological methods, the omens recorded in these tablets mostly foretold dire outcomes. They warned of catastrophic weather events, famine, and societal collapse. For instance, one ominous prediction read, "The deluge will occur everywhere," while another foretold, "People will trade their children for silver; there will be a reduction in population."
Interestingly, these predictions were not seen as absolute doom but as signals that could be mitigated through rituals and consultations with oracles. This reflects the Babylonians' belief in the possibility of altering their fate through appropriate actions.
The tablets were first identified in the 1970s and have since been crucial in understanding the evolution of Babylonian celestial omen texts. They were acquired by the British Museum from various antique traders in the late 19th century and have now been thoroughly studied, revealing a blend of theoretical astrology and practical advice aimed at safeguarding the realm.
Who were the Babylonians?
An Akkadian-speaking ancient civilisation known as the Babylonians thrived in Mesopotamia, which is today's Iraq, along with portions of Syria and Iran, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
They made significant contributions to law, science, agriculture, literature, and other fields, leaving a lasting impression on human history. For example, their base-60 number system is still used in measuring time and angles today, and they produced some of the earliest literature, including the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Beginning as a small city-state in the latter part of the third millennium BCE, Babylon gained notoriety under King Hammurabi's (1792–1750 BCE) harsh justice system and one of the oldest and most comprehensive legal codes in history.
