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Capricornus
Aquarius
Pisces
A) i) u criO IN\CTxx
Late
3),aivicuian.
C unu
Assyrian.
Gfu- tlz a (n.)
The reports of the Mesopotamian astrologers
prove that their writers deduced omens from all the
celestial bodies known to them, but it is clear that the
Moon was the chief source from which omens were
derived.
The shape of the Moon's horns was examined
with great care, and it was noted whether they were
pointed, "equal," or "unequal." Thus we are told
that " If the horns are pointed, the king will overcome
whatever he goreth "; the action of the king is here
likened to the use to which horns are put by animals.
And again we read, " When the Moon rider in a
chariot, 5 the yoke of the king of Akkad will prosper.
And again, " When the Moon is low at its appearance,
the submission [of the people] of a far country will
come to the king."
Halos, both of the Moon and of the Sun, were
fruitful sources from which omens were derived. Two
halos were known:-One of 22°, called tarbasu, and
the other of 46°, called supuru. Each of these words
mean "sheepfold," and it is understood that the
Moon is the shepherd of the stars or the celestial
I See Epping and Strassmaier, Astronomiches aus Babylon,
p. 149; Tensen, Kossmologie, p. 497.
Kosm,. i p. 3. 3 Kosm., p, 497. i See p. Iv.
5 Colpare the idea of the Greek goddess Selene.
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INTRODUCTION. XXV
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sheep " which are within the halo. The influence of
the Moon on sheep and cattle upon earth is thus
described: "Thy word, 0 Moongod, maketh sheepfold
and cattle-pen to flourish." When a tarbasu, i.e.,
smaller halo, was seen to surround the Sun with the
gate, i.e., interruption, opposite the south, it was
thought that a south wind would blow; but this has
been the experience of all observers of the weather,
for the direction of the interruption indicates that wind
and rain will come from that quarter. 1 It is well known
that Sun-halos are usually seen in the west or south-west
when the Sun is low on the horizon, and the lower
portion of the halo is cut off by the gloom of the horizon.
In European countries 2 storms usually come from
those quarters of the sky, and this is also true for
Mesopotamia. It is interesting to note that a tablet
(K. 200) is inscribed with omens which are derived
from the interruptions of a halo which correspond to
the four cardinal points. From the presence of
planets or constellations within the halo of the Moon,
numerous omens are derived. The words, "When
the Sun stands within the halo of the Moon." would at
first sight appear to prove that: the word larba.ts does
not mean "halo," but we learn from the notes written
by the astrologers (see No. I76) that by the word
"Sun" we must understand the " Star of the Sun,"
i.e., Saturn, and we now know that the omen for the
Sun in such a case would be given just as if the
1 Cf Theophrastus, ed. Wood, p. 64.
2 Abercromby, Weather, p. 36.