Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa |
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| Material | Clay |
| Size | Length: 17.14 cm (6.75 in) Width: 9.2 cm (3.6 in) Thickness: 2.22 cm (0.87 in) |
| Writing | Cuneiform |
| Period/culture | Neo-Assyrian |
| Place | Kouyunjik (Nineveh) |
| Present location | Room 55, British Museum, London |
| Registration | K.160 |
The Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa is an ancient clay tablet. It holds important records about the planet Venus. These records were written using cuneiform, an old writing system. Many copies of this tablet exist, some dating back to around 1000 BC.
Experts believe the original information was first put together during the time of King Ammisaduqa. He was a ruler who lived long ago, about four kings after the famous Hammurabi. This means the first version of these Venus records might be from around 1650 BC. That's over 3,600 years ago!
Contents
Tracking Venus: An Ancient Space Record
This special tablet tells us about Venus's movements. It records when Venus appeared and disappeared from the sky. This includes its first and last sightings near the horizon, either before sunrise or after sunset. These events are called heliacal risings and settings.
How Ancient Babylonians Tracked Venus
The tablet lists these sightings using dates based on the Moon. It covers a period of 21 years. Imagine keeping track of a planet for over two decades! This shows how skilled ancient astronomers were. They used these observations to understand the sky.
Why Was This Tablet Important?
The Venus tablet is part of a larger collection of texts. These texts are known as Enuma Anu Enlil. This collection contains many observations about the sky. Ancient people used these records for different reasons. They helped them understand seasons and even predict events.
Who Was King Ammisaduqa?
King Ammisaduqa ruled Babylon a very long time ago. He was part of the First Babylonian Empire. His reign was important for keeping detailed records. These records help us learn about their knowledge of the stars and planets.
See Also
