This book contains new translations and a new analysis of the procedure
texts of Babylonian mathematical astronomy, the earliest known form of
mathematical astronomy of the ancient world. The translations are based
on a modern approach incorporating recent insights from Assyriology and
translation science.
The work contains updated and expanded interpretations of the
astronomical algorithms and investigations of previously ignored
linguistic, mathematical and other aspects of the procedure texts.
Special attention is paid to issues of mathematical representation and
over 100 photos of cuneiform tablets dating from 350-50 BCE are
presented.
In 2-3 years, the author intends to continue his study of Babylonian
mathematical astronomy with a new publication which will contain new
editions and reconstructions of approx. 250 tabular texts and a new
philological, astronomical and mathematical analysis of these texts.
Tabular texts are end products of Babylonian math astronomy, computed
with algorithms that are formulated in the present volume, Procedure
Texts.