Eğer Jüpiter sabit durursa: Çivi yazılı tabletlere göre Jüpiter/Marduk ile ilgili göksel kehanetler üzerine bazı yorumlar

Öz

Bu çalışma, antik Mezopotamya astronomisinde ve astrolojisinde Jüpiter gezegeninin önemini ortaya çıkaran ve bu gezegen ile ilgili kehanetlere derinlemesine yorum getiren bir araştırma makalesidir. Yapılan çalışmalarda genellikle kehanet serilerine astronomi bilimi açısından yaklaşılmış ve kehanetlerde aslında ne denmek istendiği üzerinde çok durulmamıştır. Bu çalışmada örnek alınan kehanetler detaylı şekilde incelenmiş ve antik Mezopotamya hakkında farklı bilgilere ulaşılmıştır. Antik Mezopotamyalıların gözünde en büyük gezegen olarak görülen ve kral yıldızı olarak isimlendirilen Jüpiter, dönemin insanı için büyük önem teşkil eden tanrı Marduk ile özdeşleştirilmiştir. Jüpiter’in hareketleri kâhinler tarafından gözlemlenmiş ve buna göre kehanette bulunulmuştur. Buna göre Jüpiter’in sabit durması iyi sonuçlar doğururken, kötücül bir gezegen ile aynı kehanette olması da kötü olarak yorumlanmıştır. Buna ek olarak bir sefere daha fazla katılım sağlamak, piyasa malları üzerinde kontrol sağlamak, hava durumu tahminleri yapmak ve Jüpiter’in rengine göre kehanette bulunmak gibi kullanımlar da mevcuttur. Antik Mezopotamyalılar, bu kehanetleri Enūma Anu Enlil adlı göksel kehanet serisine kaydetmişlerdir. Bu seri yedi binden fazla kehanet içermekle birlikte astronominin gelişimine önemli katkılarda bulunmuş ve günümüze kadar ulaşmıştır. Kehanetlerin karmaşık yapısı ve çivi yazılı tabletlerin kırık bölümleri bu çalışmayı zorlaştırsa da astronomi bilgisine ek olarak antik Mezopotamya tarihine, kültürüne ve dinine hâkim olmak biraz da olsa çalışmayı daha anlaşılır hale getirmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Jüpiter
• Marduk
• Kehanet
• Antik Mezopotamya
• Astronomi

If Jupiter becomes steady: Some comments on celestial omens concerning Jupiter/Marduk according to cuneiform tablets

Öz

This work is a reasearch article that highlights the importance of planet Jupiter in ancient Mesopotamian astronomy and astrology and provides an in-depth interpretation of omens related to this planet. Studies have generally approached the omen series from the point of view of astronomical science and have not focused much on what the omens actually meant. The omens sampled in this study are analyzed in detail and different information about ancient Mesopotamia is obtained. Jupiter is regarded as the largest planet by the ancient Mesopotamians and referred to as King Star, associated with the god Marduk, a figure of central importance in Mesopotamian belief systems. The movements of Jupiter were carefully observed by diviners, and omens were formulated accordingly. While the steady position of Jupiter was interpreted as favorable, its appearance in the same omen as a malefic planet was generally considered unfavorable. In addition to these interpretations, Jupiter’s movements were also used in relation to issues such as participation in military campaigns, regulation of market commodities, weather forecasting, and omens based on the planet’s color. These interpretations were recorded in a comprehensive series of celestial omens known as Enūma Anu Enlil. Comprising more than seven thousand omens, this series made a substantial contribution to the development of astronomical knowledge and has survived to the present day. Although the fragmented condition of the cuneiform tablets and the complex nature of the omen texts posed certain challenges, familiarity with ancient Mesopotamian history, culture, and religion, alongside basic astronomical knowledge, facilitated a clearer understanding of the material.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Jupiter
• Marduk
• Omen
• Ancient Mesopotamia
• Astronomy

Kaynakça

1. Baigent, M. (2015). Astrology in ancient Mesopotamia: The science of omens and the knowledge of heavens. Simon and Schuster.
2. Brack-Bernsen, L. (2010). Methods for understanding and reconstructing Babylonian predicting rules. In Annette Imhausen & Tanja Pommerening (Eds.), Writings of early scholars in the ancient Near East, Egypt, Rome, and Greece (pp. 277–297). De Gruyter.
3. Baysal, A. S. (2016). Asurlular’da tarih yazımı ve takvim sistemi. (Thesis nu: 456652) [Doctoral dissertation, Erciyes University] Accessed from Yükseköğretim Kurulu Ulusal Tez Merkezi.
4. Britton, J.P. (2004). An early observation text for Mars: HSM 1899.2.112 (= HSM 1490). In Charles Burnett, J. P. Hogendijk, Kim Plofker, & Michio Yano (Eds.), Studies in the history of the exact sciences in honour of David Pingree (pp. 33–55). Brill.
5. BM.35045. (2022). Electronic Babylonian library. Accessed Date: 24/02/2025, https://www.ebl.uni-muenchen.de/fragmentarium/BM.35045?tab=photo
6. Brown, D. (2006). Astral divination in the context of Mesopotamian divination, medicine, religion, magic, society and scholarship. East Asian Science, Technology and Medicine, 25, 69–126. https://doi.org/10.1163/26669323-02501006
7. Caplice, R. (1965). Namburbi texts in the British Museum I. Orientale, 34(2), 105–131. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43079615
8. Charpin, D. (2012). Hammurabi of Babylon. I.B. Tauris.

9. Cifuentes, E.Q. (2024). Mesopotamian astrology about Elam: An introductory overview. Hunara, 2(1), 59–71. https://doi.org/10.22034/hunara.2024.192214
10. Civil, M., Oppenheim, A. L., Reiner, E., & Gelb, I. J. (Eds.). (1971). The Assyrian dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (Vol. K). The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago
11. Cooley, J. L. (2014). Propaganda, prognostication and planets. In A. Lenzi, & J. Stökl (Eds.), Divination,politics and ancient Near Eastern empires (pp. 7–32). Society of Biblical Literature.
12. Esteve, J.L.B. (2017). Nergal: The shaping of the god Mars in Sumer,Assyria, and Babylon. [Master Dissertation, University of Wales] Accessed from University of Wales Digital Library.
13. Feliu, L. (2006). Concerning the etymology of Enlil: the An=Anum approach. In Gregorio del Olmo Lete, L. Feliu, & Adelina Millet Albà (Eds.), Studies presented to Joaquín Sanmartín on the occasion of his 65th birthday (pp. 229–246). Editorial Ausa.
14. Gehlken, E. (2012). Weather omens of Enuma Anu Enlil: Thunderstorm wind and rain tablets(44-49). Brill.
15. Goff, B. L. (1963). Symbol of Prehistoric Mesopotamia. Yale University Press.
16. Grabbe, L. L. (2000). Ancient Near Eastern prophecy from an anthropological perspective. In M. Nissinen (Ed.), Prophecy in its ancient Near Eastern context Mesopotaian, biblical, and Arabian perspectives (pp. 13–32). Society of Biblical Literature.
17. Guinan, A. K. (1996). Left/Right symbolism in Mesopotamian divination. State Archives of Assyria Bulletin, X(1), 5–10. https://ocb.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/KEI00014753/Details?lng=en
18. Harper, R. F. (1904). The code of Hammurabi king of Babylon. The Universtiy of Chicago Press.
19. Heidel, A. (2000). Enûma Eliş: Babil yaratılış destanı. Ayraç Yayınları.
20. Hunger, H. (2004). Stars, cities, and predictions. In Charles Burnett, J. P. Hogendijk, K. Plofker, & Michio Yano (Eds.), Studıes in the hıstory of the exact scıences ın honour of Davıd Pıngree (pp. 16–32). Brill.
21. Hunger, H. (2009). The relation of Babylonian astronomy to its culture and society. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 5(S260), 62–73. https://doi:10.1017/S1743921311002158
22. Hunger, H., & Steele, J. (2019). The Babylonian astronomical compendium MUL.APIN. Routledge.
23. Jastrow, M. (1915). The Civilisation of Babylonia and Assyria: Its remains, language, history, religion, commerce, law, art and literature. J.B. Lippincott Company.
24. K.8097. (2021). Electronic Babylonian library. Accessed Date: 24/02/2025, https://www.ebl.lmu.de/fragmentarium/K.8097
25. King, L. W. (2004). Enuma Elish: The seven tablets of creation: The babylonian and assyrian legends concerning the creation of the world and of mankind vol 1. Kessinger Publishing.
26. Koch, U.W. (1995). Mesopotamian astrology: An introduction to Babylonian and Assyrian celestial divination. The Carsten Niebuhr Institue of Near Eastern Studies Museum Tusculanium Press.
27. Kudlek, M., & Mickler, E. H. (1971). Solar and lunar eclipses of the ancient Near East from 3000 B.C. to 0 with maps. Verlag Butzon & Bercker Kevelaer.
28. Lambert, W. G. (2013). Babylonian creation myths. Eisenbrauns.
29. Lambert, W.G. (2016). Ancient Mesopotamian religion and mythology: Selected essays. Mohr Siebeck.
30. LBAT 1557 (BM 035045/P364306). (2007). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. Accessed Date: 24/02/2025, https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/364306
31. Leisten, B. P. (2011). Divine agency and astralization of the gods. In B.P. Leisten (Ed.), Reconsidering the consept of revolutionary monotheism (pp. 137–187). Eisenbrauns.
32. Leisten, B. P. (1999). Herrschaftswissen in Mesopotamien forman der kommunikation zwischen gott und konig im 2 und 1. jahrtausend v. chr. The Neo-Assyrian Text Corpus Project.
33. Maul, S. M. (1999). How the Babylonians protected themselves against calamities announced by omens. In T. Abusch & K. van der Toorn (Eds.), Mesopotamian magic textual, hıstorical, and ınterpretative perspectives (pp. 123–130). Styx Publications.
34. Nissinen, M. (2000). The socioreligious role of the Neo-Assyrian prophets. In M. Nissinen (Ed.), Prophecy in its ancıint Near Eastern context Mesopotamian, Biblical, and Arabian perspectives (pp. 89–114). Society of Biblical Literature.
35. Nissinen, M. (2019). Prophetic divination: Essays in ancient Near Eastern prophecy. In Prophetic Divination: Essays in ancient Near Eastern prophecy. De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110467765
36. Oppenheim, A. L. (1974). A Babylonian diviner’s manual. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 33(2), 197–220. https://doi.org/10.1086/372353
37. Ossendrijver, M. (2018). BM 32339+32407+32645: New evidence for late Babylonian astrology. In Tzvi Abusc, A. K. Guinan, Nils P. Heeßel, Francesca Rochberg, & Frans A.M. Wiggermann (Eds.), Ancient Magic and Divination: Studies in Honor of Markham J. Geller (pp. 401–420). Brill.
38. Ossendrijver, M. (2019). Babylonian Market Predictions. In J. Haubold, J. Steele, & K. Stevens (Eds.), Keeping watch in Babylon: the astronomical diaries in context (pp. 53–78). Brill.
39. Ossendrijver, M. (2021). Weather prediction in Babylonia. Journal of Ancient Near Eastern History, 8(1–2), 223–258. https://doi10.1515/janeh-2020-0009
40. Parpola, S. (1970). Letters from Assyriari scholars to the kings Esarhaddon and Assurbanipal I. Verlag Butzon & Bercker Kevelaer.
41. Parpola, S. (1997). Assyrian prophecies. Helsinki University Press.
42. Reiner, E. (2000). Babylonian celestial divination. In N. M. Swerdlow (Ed.), Ancient astronomy and celestial divination (pp. 21–38). The Mıt Press.
43. Reiner, E. (2004). Constellation into planet. In Cherles Burnett, Jan P. Hogendijk, K. Plofker, & Michio Yano (Eds.), Studies in the history of the exact sciences in honour of David Pingree (pp. 3–15). Brill.
44. Reiner, E., & Pingree, D. (1975). Babylonian planetary omens part one: Enuma Anu Enlil tablet 63: The Venus tablet of Ammişaduqa. Undena Publications.
45. Reiner, E., & Pingree, D. (1981). Babylonian planetary omens part two. Undena Publications.
46. Reiner, E., & Pingree, D. (1998). Babylonian planetary omens part three. STYX Publications.
47. Reiner, E., & Pingree, D. (2005). Babylonian planetary omens part four. Brill.
48. Rochberg-Halton, F. (1984). Canonicity in cuneiform texts. Journal of Cuneiform Studies, 36(2), 127–144. https://doi.org/10.2307/1360053
49. Rochberg-Halton, F. (1988). Aspects of Babylonian Celestial divination: the lunar eclipse tablets of Enuma Anu Enlil. Archiv für Orientforschung Beiheft 22.
50. Rochberg, F. (1998). Babylonian horoscopes. American Philosophical Society İndependence Square.
51. Rochberg, F. (2005). Mesopotamian cosmology. In D. Snell (Ed.), A Companion To The Ancient Near East (pp. 316–329). Blackwell Publishing.
52. Rochberg, F. (2009). The stars and their likenesses: perspectives on the relation between celestial bodies and gods in ancient Mesopotamia. In B. N. Porter (Ed.), What is a god? anthropomorphic and non-anthropomorphic aspects of deity in ancient Mesopotamia (pp. 41–91). Casco Bay Assyriological Institute.
53. Roth, M.T., Caplice, R., Edzard, D.O. Jas, R., Oppenheim, A. L., & Mclarnan, L. (2005). The Assyrian dictionary of the oriental institute of the university of Chicago P. Oriental Institue of the University of Chicago.
54. Seri, A. (2006). The fifty names of Marduk in Enūma Eliš. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 126(4), 507–519. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20064540
55. Simkó, K. (2018). BAM 7 44: Suppositories for rectal and gastro-ıntestinal diseases. In Strahil V. Panayotov & Luděk Vacín (Eds.), Mesopotamian medicine and magic studies in honor of Markham J. Geller (pp. 537–555). Brill.
56. Slotsky, A. L. (1997). The bourse of Babylon: market quotations in the astronomical diaries of Babylonia. CDL Press.
57. Soldt, W. H. van. (1995). Solar omens of Enuma Anu Enlil tablets: 23(24)-29(30). Nederlands Hıstorısch-Archaeolooısch Instıtuutte İstanbul.
58. Spek, R. J. van der, & C.A. Mandemakers. (2003). Sense and nonsense in the statistical approach of Babylonian prices. Bibliotheca Orientalis, 60(5–6), 522–538. https://doi.org/10.2143/bior.60.5.2015638
59. Steele, J. M. (2000). Eclipse prediction in Mesopotamia. Archive for History of Exact Sciences, 54(5), 421–454. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004070050007
60. Steinkeller, P. (1990). More on the name of Nergal and related matters. Zeitschrift Für Assyriologie Und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, 80(1–2), 53–59. https://doi.org/10.1515/zava.1990.80.1-2.53
61. Stol, M. C. N. (1992). The moon as seen by the Babylonians. In Diederik J.W. Meijer (Ed.), Natural phenomena. their meaning, depiction and description in the ancient Near East (pp. 245–277). Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
62. Stuckey, J. (2011). Queen of heaven and earth: Inanna-Ishtar of Mesopotamia. In P. Monaghan (Ed.), Goddesses in world culture: Eastern Mediterranean and Europe (Vol. 2, pp. 19–38). Praeger.
63. Suter, C. E. (2000). Gudea’s temple building: the representation of an early Mesopotamian ruler in text and ımage. STYX Publications.
64. Thavapalan, S. (2020). The meaning of color in ancient Mesopotamia. Brill.
65. Toorn, K. V. D. (2000). Mesopotamian prophecy between ımmanence and transcendence: a comparison of old Babylonian and Neo-Assyrian prophecy. In M. Nissinen (Ed.), Prophecy in its ancient Near Eastern context Mesopotamian, Biblical, and Arabian perspectives (pp. 71–88). Society of Biblical Literature.
66. Verderame, L. (2000). I colori nell’ astrologia Mesopotamica. In Hartmud Waetzoldt (Ed.), Von Sumer nach Ebla und zurück (pp. 327–332). Heıdelberger Orıentverlag.
67. Verderame, L. (2002). Enuma Anu Enlil tablets 1-13. In J. M. Steele & Anette Imhausen (Eds.), Under one sky: Astronomy and mathematics in the ancient Near East (pp. 447–458). Ugarit Verlag.
68. Weir, J. D. (1972). The Venus tablets of Ammizaduga. Nederlands Instituut Voor Het Nabıje Oosten.