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Document Details : Title: The Iconography of Ancient Astronomy on Five Ancient Near Eastern Artefacts Author(s): HALEEM, Asia Journal: ARAM Periodical Volume: 24 Date: 2012 Pages: 219-274 DOI: 10.2143/ARAM.24.0.3009276 Abstract : In the first half of the paper the two Seleucid tablets in the Berlin Museum first analysed by Weidner depicting Virgo/Leo and Taurus are discussed, along with the tables of correspondences underneath them, especially the almost complete one from the Louvre forming a join with Leo/Virgo. These then help to throw light on aspects of Astrolabe K and the Mul Apin Star List – both on clay tablets in the British Museum. In the second half, starting with analysis of a typical Roman Mithraic Bull-slaying scene and identification of its astronomical content according to current theories, three further artefacts are discussed from earlier centuries that show variations of the content of Mithraic iconography in more rudimentary form: the Faroughi Bowl c. 1400 BC (first published by R.D. Barnett), a steatite bowl fragment from Ur in the BM from the reign of Shulgi (published by Leonard Woolley in his excavation reports), and a unique Etruscan mirror back design of the 6 c. BC. All these artefacts establish accurate links between star groups and the Canon of Ancient Near Eastern Art. |
