Tristan Hughes

I must admit, though, one more thing before we kind of go on to particular discoveries they make, mathematical discoveries they make, and we will get to the word zodiac very soon. But having had a look at some of these astronomical diary entries, what strikes me is like so many of them, they are just so boring. They are so mundane. It's just like there were clouds in the sky today. That was it.

It's funny. It's funny. But I guess that's also the magic of them.

It's funny. It's funny. But I guess that's also the magic of them.

It's funny. It's funny. But I guess that's also the magic of them.

Are these observational records also important? Because if one of them mentions an eclipse or something, and then you look at other texts that may mention an eclipse, if you go to Alexander the Great, I think they talk about an eclipse before one of his key battles. And it's also mentioned in the diary.

Are these observational records also important? Because if one of them mentions an eclipse or something, and then you look at other texts that may mention an eclipse, if you go to Alexander the Great, I think they talk about an eclipse before one of his key battles. And it's also mentioned in the diary.

Are these observational records also important? Because if one of them mentions an eclipse or something, and then you look at other texts that may mention an eclipse, if you go to Alexander the Great, I think they talk about an eclipse before one of his key battles. And it's also mentioned in the diary.

Are these diaries also good for pinning down dates in ancient history, in ancient Mesopotamian history for when they occurred?

Are these diaries also good for pinning down dates in ancient history, in ancient Mesopotamian history for when they occurred?

Are these diaries also good for pinning down dates in ancient history, in ancient Mesopotamian history for when they occurred?

So as it starts to kind of go from less interpretation to more predicting when the next one will happen, you know, over these generations of noting down these events that happen in the sky, should we talk about some of the key developments? I've got in my notes the goal year method, first of all. Should we talk about that first?

So as it starts to kind of go from less interpretation to more predicting when the next one will happen, you know, over these generations of noting down these events that happen in the sky, should we talk about some of the key developments? I've got in my notes the goal year method, first of all. Should we talk about that first?

So as it starts to kind of go from less interpretation to more predicting when the next one will happen, you know, over these generations of noting down these events that happen in the sky, should we talk about some of the key developments? I've got in my notes the goal year method, first of all. Should we talk about that first?

Well, let's go to this completely innovative way of doing things, Moody. Is this where we get the introduction of the famous Zodiac?

Well, let's go to this completely innovative way of doing things, Moody. Is this where we get the introduction of the famous Zodiac?

Well, let's go to this completely innovative way of doing things, Moody. Is this where we get the introduction of the famous Zodiac?

So do we know what mathematical equations they then made once they've established the zodiac? And I mean, what are the key examples of this new mathematical astronomy that you see in places like Babylon in the latter half of the first millennium BC?

So do we know what mathematical equations they then made once they've established the zodiac? And I mean, what are the key examples of this new mathematical astronomy that you see in places like Babylon in the latter half of the first millennium BC?

So do we know what mathematical equations they then made once they've established the zodiac? And I mean, what are the key examples of this new mathematical astronomy that you see in places like Babylon in the latter half of the first millennium BC?

But still, it's amazing in its own right, I guess, to have those cuneiform texts surviving and to see how differently they're approaching astronomy to earlier texts. I guess that's if a tablet has an astronomical mathematical equation in it, you can determine that this is from a later period than one which is talking about an omen.