babylonian tablet

This Babylonian daily diary tablet dates from the 6th century BC. On this face, translated below, it chiefly describes a lunar eclipse.

Year 97, month IX, night of the 1[3th?...]..., measured;
the bright star of the Old Man stood in culmination,
lunar eclipse; on the east side
when it began, in 21 of night all of it became covered;
16 of night totality; when it began to clear,
it cleared in 19 of night from east and north to
the west? ; 56 onset, totality,
[and clear]ing; at one-half beru after sunset.
[...] eclipse; in its eclipse, Sirius

Photo: © British Museum.

Inconstant Moon