volume 2

INTRODUCTION. xix
is probable that they indicate the existence of a kind
of clock. It must not be forgotten too, that Sextus
Empiricus [Adv. Math, 21) states that the clepsydra
was known to the Chaldeans. Herodotus too,
(ii, 109), says that the Greeks borrowed certain
measures of time from the Babylonians, 'and from the
tablet 83-1-18,247, ^/A,jwe learn that the Babylonians
actually had a time measure by which they divided the
day and the night. This measure was called Kasbu,
and contained two hours ;
two kasbn formed a watch,
and three watches made up the night. These facts
are proved by the report quoted above, in which we
are told that in such and such a clay in Nisan the day
and night were balanced, there being six kasbu of the
day and six kasbu of the night, the allusion being, of
course, to the vernal equinox.
We know from several sources that the Assyrian
year consisted of twelve months, each containing
usually thirty days, and an intercalary month called
the "second Adar" (the Ve'Adar of the Hebrews):
the Babylonian year consisted of the same number of
months, but two intercalary months, Elul and Adar,
were added.
The examination of the texts edited in this volume
indicates that the Assyrians, like the Babylonians, had
a year composed of lunar months,^ and it seems that
the object of the astrological reports which relate to
1 On this subject see Oppert, Zeitschrift filr Assyriologie ;
Bd. XI, p. 310, Bd. XII, p. 973 and Lehmann, ibid. Bd. XI,
P- 432-
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