Magic Crafters in Tug-of-War with Astrological Powers to Overcome Drought 840 BCE

Assyrian Sun tablet now at the British Museum.  Magic Crafters in Tug-of-War with Astrological Powers to Overcome Drought 840 BCE

(March 3, 2023) This text seems to have been written during the 5 year long Elijah drought of 840 BCE. The text implies the existence civil strife with its mention of emotional arousal. 

In the center is an image of the sun representing the dual powers of the sun in both is light providing orderly form and its rain-bringing hidden sun form (storm form). This duality is why the text calls it the "eye of fate." It is emanating both heat/light (triangles) and water (wavy lines). The scene takes place above the sky shell with its embedded stars and wavy lines representing the waters which fall as rain. 

Seated on the far right is the personified form of the god Hu representing the life powers as indicated by his watery robe and the symbols he is holding. These symbols are the masculine rod and feminine ring. He is a deity as indicated by his snake hat. He is seated on a box containing the rain bringing chaotic storm bulls which are trying to escape. Above him are 3 celestial signs (left to right): crescent moon, sun,  and star. Above those on the roof are two spirits representing the astrological powers of the night sky which are trying to pull the sun up to them.

Holding down the full moon's table in a tug-of-war with the astrological powers are two people which the text above them identify as magic crafters. The goddess Ayu (Ishtar), with both hands raised and wearing a  snake cap and robe representing the watery sky-shell is supporting them from behind.  

The tablet is now at the British Museum having number 91000. It is carved from limestone and is 29 x 18 cm. It was found at Sippar in an archaeological dig and dated to about 860BC. The British Museum provides a translation which is, as usual, completely wrong. The following is the University of Oxford description:


This stone tablet (BM 91000), with a bas-relief and cuneiform captions was discovered inside an inscribed terracotta chest (BM 91004), also containing two or more clay impressions of the tablet’s relief, one with a cultic text on the back (BM 91002). The chest and impressions are probably dateable to the reign of Nabonidus (Nabu-apla-iddina ca. 888 – 855 BC), three centuries after the stone tablet. The assemblage was excavated by Hormuzd Rassam in 1881 at Abū Habbah, and proved that site’s identification with ancient Sippar. (from http://cdli.ox.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=shamash_tablet

Online at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1881-0428-34-a

Top Text 

(March 3, 2023). The first line states that the motion powers as focused conscious emotions are confused. Motions on earth originate from both the astrological night sky with its moving heavenly bodies and human/animal conscious feelings. The corrective action is to use human emotional magic to overcome the astrological powers.

Akkadian Text 

(Read left to right. Verbs are italic bold)
  1. ANu  EŠu.  ANu  PI.  ANu  DIŠu  YA  AŠu  BU.  PI  GIŠ.BANu  ŠIMu
  2. AŠu  BI  TABu  GA  ANu.  ADu  IGI.  DABDA  U  LeMa  ŠAŠALu  MEŠu  IRu

English Translation

  1. Considerations are confused. Considerations are being opened. Considerations are not manifesting the spewing-forth of the nourishments.  Opening-powers (Life powers) obligate the bursting-forth of goodness.
  2. The spewing-forth of nourishing-powers can be aroused by the energizer's (magic crafter's) considerations. Notice the eye-of-fate (sun). Defeat and defy the night's astrological-powers.
Sun tablet top text Akkadian sign assignments
In this scene the dual powered sun is trapped between the crescent moon goddess Ishtar (Ayu) and the full moon god Su or Sin (meaning "powers of Su").

Label Below the 3 Heavenly Bodies

(Feb 27, 2023)

Akkadian Text 

(Read left to right. Verb is italic bold)
  1. AŠ  EŠu  PU  TABu.  MINu  ANu  UDu
  2. ADu  IGI  U  MAŠu  MINu

English Translation

  1. The confused spewing-forth (of fertility-fluids) is opening arousal.  Support considerations (focused emotions) with magic-crafting.
  2. Notice the eye-of-fate (middle sun) and the night's support

References


Cuneiform Sign List from Kateřina Šašková (2021). Online at: http://home.zcu.cz/~ksaskova/CuneiformSignList.pdf
Olmsted, D.D. Upcoming 4th edition of European/Mediterranean Akkadian

 Label Beside Sun

(March 1, 2023)

Akkadian Text 

(Read left to right. Verb is italic bold)
  1. ZA  ŠE  MINu  ANu.  UDu  ENu  AŠ.EŠu  ME 
  2. A  ME  GA  UDu  SU.SA
  3. EŠ  KI  SI  LIMu.  UDu  [?].  LIMu  NUNu  KI          

English Translation

  1. The Emanator's (sun god) coherency is being supported by considerations.  Magic-crafters are re-assigning the confused spewing of the fertility-fluid-powers.
  2. Those fertility-fluid-powers are being energized by the magic-crafter's motion-sourcer Su.
  3. Confusion is involved with Su's defiance. Magic-crafters [missing verb].  Defiance involves anarchy.

References


Cuneiform Sign List from Kateřina Šašková (2021). Online at: http://home.zcu.cz/~ksaskova/CuneiformSignList.pdf
Olmsted, D.D. Upcoming 4th edition of European/Mediterranean Akkadian