The Venus Tablets




During the first dynasty of Babylon, Mesopotamian scholars made and recorded detailed observations of
the planet Venus, to include eclipses, with the intention of gleaning this of that telling detail to assist their in
omen interpretation. "Depending on the identifications of these events, scholars and scientists agree that
there are only four possible chronologies, where are usually called "high," "middle," "low," and "ultra-low."" (1)




W.F. Albright (2):


"In 1912 Kugler published a convincing demonstration that certain Babylonian tablets containing omens
based on exact calendric data with reference to the risings and settings of the planet Venus, went back
to systematic observations during the reign of Ammi-saduqa, tenth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon.
The evidence is so explicit and so complete that no competent Assyriologist has doubted its cogency
since the initial demonstration. In 1928 a distinguished Assyriologist, S. H. Langdon, and two eminent
astronomers, J.K. Fotheringham and Carl Schoch, collaborated on a systematic treatment of the chronological
bearing of the Venus Tablets [see "The Venus Tablets of Ammizaduga.] However, they restricted themselves
to exploring all chronological possibilities between 2000 and 1750 B.C. It was not until 1940 that Sidney
Smith and J.W.S. Sewell collaborated in searching for a still later date suiting the requirements of the new synchronism's
[see Sidney Smith, Alalakh and Chronology, pp. 266f]. To find such a date they went down 154 years
before the lowest date considered by Fotheringham and Langdon, and dated Hammurabi's reign 1792-1750" (3)

Hermann Hunger's wonderful SAA 8 is also available for FREE
at this website. Many translations some observing Venus are present.

1. With thanks to the Mesopotamian section at livius.org http://www.livius.org/cg- cm/chronology/mesopotamia.html
2. See "A Third Revision of the Chronology of West Asia", W. F. Albright, BASOR 1942.
3. Note: What is described here is the a) Langdon/Fortheringham/Schochs proposing
of the "high" chronology; and b) Smith/Sewell's proposing of the "middle" chronology. (Hammurabi = 1792- 1750).