AD -168A

(o 1) [Year] 143, king Antiochus. Month V, the 1st (of which followed the 30th of the preceding month), sunset to moonset: 12°; it was bright? [...] it was low to the sun; the moon was 2 cubits in front of α Virginis, the moon being 1 cubit 8 fingers [low] to the sou[th,]

(o 2) it stood 2 1/2 cubits [in front of Sat]urn to the west, the moon being 3 cubits 8 fingers low to the south. Night of the 2nd, the moon [stood] 2 1/2 cubits behind Mars t[o the east, the moon being ...] low to the south; the north wind blew. Night of the 3rd, the moon was 3 cubits below α Librae, the moon [having passed] a little to the east.

(o 3) [Night] of the 4th, beginning of the night, the moon was 2 cubits in front of π Scorpii. Night of the 5th, beginning of the night, the moon was 1/2 cubit behind α Scorpii. The 5th, [the north wind? blew?. Night of the 6th, be]ginning of the night, the moon was 2 cubits below ϑ Ophiuchi, the moon having passed 1/2 cubit to the east. The 6th, [the north wind? blew?.]

(o 4) [Night] of the 9th, beginning of the night, the moon was 3 cubits in front of β Capricorni, the moon being 3 cubits low to the south. The 9th, the north wind blew. Night of the 10th, beginning of the ni[ght, the moon was] 3 cubits [behind β Capricorni?.] The 10th, the north wind blew. Night of the 11th, beginning of the night, the moon was [...] above δ Capricorni.

(o 5) [The 1]1th, the north wind blew. The 12th, the north wind blew. The 13th, moonset to sunrise: 9° 30'; the north wind blew. Night of the 14th, the north wind blew. The 14th, sunrise to moonset: 4°, measured. Night [of the 15th,] moonrise to sunset: [x]+10', measured. The 15th, the north wind blew. Night of the 16th, sunset to moonrise: 8°; last part of the night, the moon was [...] behind η Piscium,

(o 6) [the moon] being 1/2 cubit low to the south; sunset to setting of Saturn: 14° 30'; the north wind blew. Night of the 17th, last part of the night, the moon was [nn] cubits behind α Arietis, the moon being 2 1/2 cubits low to the south. The 17th, the north wind blew. Night of the 18th, last part of the night, the moon was 1/2 cubit in front of η Tauri, [the ??? being ...]

(o 7) low to the south. The 18th, the north wind blew. Night of the 19th, last part of the night, the moon wsa 4 cubits above α Tauri; last part of the night, Jupiter was 2 fingers above α Leonis. Around the 19th, Saturn’s last appearance in the beginning of Libra. Night of the 20th, first part of the night, α meteor which was very bright, flashed from [...;]

(o 8) last part of the night, the moon was 2 cubits above ζ Tauri, the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west. The 20th, the north wind blew. Night of the 21st, last part of the night, the moon was 4 cubits above γ Geminorum. The 21st, the north wind blew. Night of the 22nd, last part of the night, the moon was 2 cubits below β Geminorum [...]

(o 9) The 22nd, clouds were in the sky, ZI IR. Night of the 23rd, clouds were in the sky, ZI IR; last part of the night, the moon was 2/3 cubit above δ Cancri. The 23rd, clouds were in the sky. Night of the 24th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits behind ε Leonis, the moon being 4 [cubits low to the south.]

(o 10) The 24th, Venus’ first appearance in the west in the end of Virgo; sunset to setting of Venus: 8° 30'; (ideal) first appearance on the 22nd. Night of the 25th, last part of the night, the moon was 2/3 cubit below ρ Leonis, the moon having passed a little to the east, it stood 3 cubits behind Jupiter to the east, the moon [being ... low to the south.]

(o 11) The 25th, the north wind blew. Night of the 26th, last part of the night, the moon was 2 1/2 cubits behind ϑ Leonis, the moon being 6 cubits low to the south. Night of the 27th, first part of the night, Mars was 4 fingers below α Librae, Mars having passed 2 fingers to the east. The 27th, moonrise to sunrise: 12° 20'; overcast?. Ni[ght ...]

(o 12) The 27th, Mercury’s first appearance in the westsic in Virgo; it was bright (and) high, rising of Mercury to sunrise: 16°; (ideal) first appearance on the 25th. The 28th (and) the 29th, the north wind bl[ew.] That [mon]th, the equivalent was: very good barley, 1 kurru 1 pānu 5 sūtu; dates, 1 kurru 4 pānu 1 sūtu, at the end [of the month,]

(o 13) 2 kurru; mustard, 3 kurru; cress, 2 pānu 4 sūtu; sesame, 1 pānu 1 sūtu 3 qa; wool, [nn minas] were sold for 1 shekel of silver. At that time, Jupiter was in Leo; around the 22nd, Venus’ first appearance in the west in Virgo; at the end of the month, it was in [Libra;]

(o 14) around the 25th, Mercury’s first appearance in the east in Virgo; Saturn, in the beginning of the month, was in Virgo; around the 19th, Saturn’s last appearance in the beginning of Libra; Mars was in Libra. That month, the river level receded 1 cubit, total: 31 was the na (gauge). That month, I heard as follows:

(o 15) Antiochus marched victoriously through the cities of Meluhha and [...] the citizens [...] ... and ... which were like a drawing of the Greeks [...]

(o 16) Month VI, (the 1st of which was identical with) the 30th (of the preceding month), sunset to moonset?: 9° 20'; mist?, when I watched I did not see it. The 1st, the north wind blew. Night of the 2nd, [the moon was] 2 cubits behind β Librae, the moon being 5 1/2 cubits low to the south, it stood 3 cubits behind Mars to the east, the moon being 3 cubits low to the south. The 2nd, the north wind blew. Night of the 3rd, [the moon was ...]

(o 17) [β/δ Scorpii, the moon being ...] low to the south. The 3rd, the north wind blew. Night of the 4th, beginning of the night, the moon was 1 cubit in front of ϑ Ophiuchi, the moon being 2 cubits low to the south. Night of the 5th, first part of the night, Mars was [3] cubits below [β] Librae. The 5th, the north wind blew. [Night of the 6th,]

(o 18) beginning? of the night, [the moon was] 1 cubit [behind? β Capri]corni, the moon being 3 cubits low to the [south.] Night of the 9th, beginning of the night, the moon was 1 cubit in front of γ Capricorni, the moon being 2/3? cubit high to the north. The 9th, the north wind bl[ew. Ni]ght of the 10th, beginning of the night, the moon was [nn cubits behind]

(o 19) [δ Capricorni, the moon being ... hi]gh? [to the north.] Night of the 11th, last part of the night, Mer[cury was] 1 cubit 8 fingers [below] γ Virginis. The 11th, equinox; I did not watch. Night of the 12th (and) the 12th, the north wind blew. The 13th, sunset to setting of Mars: 14°; the north wind blew. Night of the 14th, beginning of the night, the moo[n was]

(o 20) [... in front of η Piscium, the moon being ...] low to the south. The 1[4th, moonset to sunrise?: nn°,] measured (despite) mist; the north wind blew. Night of the 15th, moonrise to sunset: 6°, measured (despite) mist; beginning of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits below β Arietis. The 15th, sunrise to [moonset:] 10° [...]

(o 21) [...] being 1/2 cubit low to the south. Around the 16th, Mars’ last appearance in the beginning of Scorpius; the north wind blew. Night of the 17th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits in front of α Tauri, the moon being 4 cubits [high to the north.]

(o 22) [...] ... in the afternoon, very overcast, gusty north wind; at sunset, a little rain shower. Night of the 19th, all night very overcast, gusty north wind, ... [...]

(o 23) [...] the north wind which was set to the west side blew. Night of the 20th, last part of the night, the moon was 3 cubits 6 fingers below α Geminorum, the moon being 1/2 cubit [...]

(o 24) the moon being 1/2 cubit back to the west. The 22nd, the north wind blew. Night of the 23rd, last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits in front of ρ Leonis,

(o 25) [1 cubit 8 fingers in front of Jupiter. The 23rd, Mercury’s] last appearance in the east in (the beginning of) Libra; I did not watch. Night of the 24th, last part of the night, the moon was 5 cubits below ϑ Leonis,

(r 1') [... Night of the 16th, last part of the night, the moon was] 1/2 cubit [...] δ Cancri, the moon being 1/2 cubit to [...]

(r 2') [...] Night of the 18th, last part of the night, the moon was [...] below ρ Leonis.

(r 3') [...] Night of the 19th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits in front of β Virginis, the moon being 1/2 cubit low to the south. The 19th, clouds were in the sky.

(r 4') [...] which was set to the west side blew. Night of the 21st, last part of the night, the moon was 1 cubit in front of α Virginis, the moon being 1 cubit

(r 5') [low to the south ... Night of the 22nd, last part of the night,] the moon was 3 1/2 cubits below Saturn, the moon having passed 1/2 cubit to the east. The 22nd, clouds were in the sky, the north wind blew, cold. Night of the 23rd,

(r 6') last part of the night, the moon was [...] Night of the 24th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 cubit in front of π Scorpii, the moon being 1/2 cubit low to the south. The 24th, clouds were in the sky.

(r 7') Night of the 25th, last part of the night, the moon was 1 1/2 cubits behind α Scorpii [...] overcast, gusty south wind; in the morning, a little rain shower. Night of the 26th, all night clouds were in the sky, gusty south wind. The 26th, moonrise to sunrise: 16°, measured (despite) clouds;

(r 8') clouds were in the sky, the north wind blew. Night of the 27th (and) the 27th, cl[ouds ... first] part of the night, Venus was [nn] fingers above γ Capricorni, Venus having passed 2 fingers to the east. The 28th (and) the 29th, clouds were in the sky (,the north wind blew). That month, the equivalent (for 1 shekel of silver was):

(r 9') barley, in the beginning of the month, 1 kurru 5 sūtu, in the middle of the mon[th, 1 kurru ..., at the end of the month, 1 kurru] 4 sūtu; dates, in the beginning of the mo[nth, 2 ku]r 2 pānu, until the end of the month, 2 kurru 1 pānu 4 sūtu; mustard, 3 kurru 1 pānu 5 sūtu?;

(r 10') cress, 2 pānu 2 sūtu; sesame, in the beginning of the month, 1 pānu 4 1/2 qa, [at the end of the month, 1 pānu] 3? qa; wool, 5 minas. At that time, Jupiter was in Leo; Venus, in the beginning of the month, was in Sagittarius, until the end of the month, in Capricorn; around the 15th?,

(r 11') Mercury’s first appearance in the west in Sagittarius; at the end of the month, it was in Capricorn; Saturn was in Libra; Ma[rs, which had set, was not visible. That month,] the river level remained constant until the 5th; from the 6th to the 12th, it rose 2/3 cubit, total: 27 was the na (gauge); from the 14th to the 24th,

(r 12') it receded 8 fingers, total: 29 was the na (gauge); from the 25th to the 29th, [it rose] 2/3 [cubit, total: 2]5 was the na. That month, the 6th, one inhabitant of Babylon, a jeweler, a brother of the administrator

(r 13') of Esangil, who in his stead p[erformed?] the administrative duties, was entrusted with the office of zazakku by a message of the king. That day, gold from the dedications

(r 14') [from?] the property of Esangil was given to this zazakku and the assembly of the goldsmiths for making of α wig? , a great [...] of Bēl.

(r 15') That month, the 8th, one image of the god Nergal? which ... the mountain-dwellers had made, and of? the god who is called Ammamiʾita

(r 16') were peeled off by theft. The 10th, the thieves who had peeled this god Nergal? were caught, held and taken into the temple courthouse.

(r 17') The 13th, the thieves [...] were interrogated in the temple courthouse in front of the representative of the temple administrator und the temple judges

(r 18') by means of the rack of interrogation, and were convicted. That day, they were burned. That month,

(r 19') the representative of the administrator of Esangil and the Babylonians, the assembly of Esangil, took out much property of the temple which had been placed in the old treasury in the juniper garden

(r 20') from? the new treasury which is on the east wall of this treasury.

(r 21') Month IX, (the 1st of which was identical with) the 30th (of the preceding month), sunset to moonset: 14°, measured (despite) clouds [...]

(r 22') (and on several edges): Diary from month V [to the end of] month VIII of year 143, king Antiochus.

(t.e. 1) Astronomical Diary from month V until the end of month VIII of year 143, king Antiochus

(r.e. 1) [… y]ear 143 […]