Publications

Monographs

• forthcoming, Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy. Tabular Texts. Springer, Sources and Studies in the History of Mathematics
• 2012, Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy. Procedure Texts Springer, Sources and Studies in the History of Mathematics. Contents.

Edited volumes

• 2021, M. Ossendrijver (ed.), Proceedings of the Workshop "Scholars, Priests, and Temples: Babylonian and Egyptian Science in Context, Excellence Cluster TOPOI / Humboldt University Berlin, 12–14 May 2016", JANEH 8.1–2, Special Issue
• 2017, J. Steele, M. Ossendrijver (eds.), Studies on the Ancient Exact Sciences in Honor of Lis Brack-Bernsen, Berlin Studies of the Ancient World 44, Edition TOPOI, Berlin

Papers

forthcoming

• Late Babylonian reflections on the planets as the cause of eclipses
• Watching and Seeing: Visual Perception in Mesopotamian Scholarship
• The Trapezoid Procedures: Area Computations in Babylonian Astronomy, in: Proceedings of SAW conference on Mathematical Practices in Ancient Astral Science, Paris
• Mesopotamian Astronomical Tables and Late Babylonian Mathematical Tables, in: D. Tournes (ed.), History of Numerical Tables (Springer)
• Anu-aba-utēr, son of Anu-bēlšunu, astronomer from Uruk

2024

• New fragments of Babylonian astronomical procedure texts, SCIAMVS 24, x–y
• BM 47886+47914, a Babylonian astral compendium with possible implications for the origin of the "year of the Sun", JHA
• Babylonian Astronomy: Editing and Interpreting an Ancient Science, in: K. Chemla, A. Keller, (eds.), Shaping the Sciences of the Ancient and Medieval World. Textual Criticism, Critical Editions and Translations of Scholarly Texts in History, Springer, 523–556
• GIŠ.GIŠ.ḪI, a Ghost Word for GIŠ.AM instead of GIŠ.ÀM (with J.C. Fincke and M. Schreiber), NABU 2024/1, No. 30, 49–50
• Performative Aspects of Assyrian Celestial Divination and Babylonian Astronomical Diaries, In: A. Brita , J. Karolewski , M. Husson, L. Miolo, H. Wimmer, (eds.), Manuscripts and Performances in Religions, Arts, and Sciences, Studies in Manuscript Cultures 36, 39–54.

2023

• with Marvin Schreiber, Tablette astrologique du micro-zodiaque, in: H. Bouillon (ed.), Animaux Fantastiques. Du merveilleux dans l'art, Snoeck – Louvre Lens, 175

2022

• Review of Reynolds, F. – A Babylon Calendar Treatise. Scholars and Invaders in the Late First Millennium BC, BiOr 79, 566–569
• On the unit UŠ = šuššān, NABU 2022/2, No. 68, 156–157
• Review of P.-A. Beaulieu, E. Frahm, W. Horowitz and J. Steele, The Cuneiform Uranology Texts. Drawing the Constellations. AfO 55, 167–169

2021

• A Simulation-Based View on Mesopotamian Computational Practices, Claroscuro 20, 1–14
• Astral Science in Uruk during the First Millennium BCE: Libraries, Communities and Transfer of Knowledge, in: M. van Ess (ed.), Uruk. Altorientalische Metropole und Kulturzentrum, CDOG 8, 319–342
• Scholars, Priests, and Temples: Babylonian and Egyptian Science in Context. Introduction, in: M. Ossendrijver (ed.), Proceedings of the Workshop "Scholars, Priests, and Temples: Babylonian and Egyptian Science in Context", JANEH 8, 1–20
• Weather Prediction in Babylonia, in: M. Ossendrijver (ed.), Proceedings of the Workshop "Scholars, Priests, and Temples: Babylonian and Egyptian Science in Context", JANEH 8, 223–258

2020

• De kosmos als mechanisme: van Babylonische berekeningen tot Antikythera-mechanisme, Phoenix 66.2, 26–43.
• Babylonische mathematische Astronomie, in: Kap. 3. Wissenschaften, in: B. Janowski, D. Schwemer (eds.), Texte zur Wissenskultur, Texte aus der Umwelt des Alten Testaments – Neue Folge, Band 9, 73–79
• Scholars in the footsteps of Kidin-Anu. On a group of colophons from Seleucid Uruk, in: J. Baldwin, J. Matuszak, M. Ceccarelli (eds.), Mu-zu an-za₃-še₃ kur-ur₂-še₃ ḫe₂-ĝal₂. Altorientalistische Studien zu Ehren von Konrad Volk, Dubsar 17, Zaphon: Münster, 313–336
• The Moon and Planets in Ancient Mesopotamia, in: Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Planetary Science, Oxford University Press
• Techniques of Measurement and Computation, in: A.C. Bowen, F. Rochberg (eds.), Hellenistic Astronomy. The Science in Its Contexts, Brill, Chapter 3.1, 41–53
• Hellenistic Babylonian Planetary Theory, in: A.C. Bowen, F. Rochberg (eds.), Hellenistic Astronomy. The Science in Its Context, Brill, Chapter 4.6, 135–146
• Hellenistic Astronomy and the Babylonian Scribal Families, in: A.C. Bowen, F. Rochberg (eds.), Hellenistic Astronomy. The Science in Its Context, Brill, Chapter 11.2, 426–439

2019

• Babylonian market predictions, in: J. Haubold, J. Steele, K. Stevens (eds.), Keeping Watch in Babylon. The Astronomical Diaries in Context, Culture and History of the Ancient Near East, 100, Brill, 53–78
• Scholarly Mathematics in the Rēš Temple, in: C. Proust, J. Steele (eds.), Scholars and Scholarship in Late Babylonian Uruk, WSAWM 2, Springer, 187–217

2018

• Babylonian Scholarship and the Calendar During the Reign of Xerxes, in: C. Waerzeggers, M. Seire (eds.), Xerxes and Babylonia. The Cuneiform Evidence, OLA 277, Peeters, 135–163.
• BM 32339+32407+32645 – New Evidence for Late Babylonian Astrology, in: Strahil V. Panayotov, Luděk Vacín (eds.), Mesopotamian Medicine and Magic. Studies in Honor of Markham J. Geller, Brill: Leiden, Boston, 401–420
• Textual Segmentation in Babylonian Astral Science, in: F. Bretelle-Establet, S. Schmitt (eds.), Pieces and Parts in Scientific Texts, WSAWM 1, Springer, 71–87
• Chaldeans on the Nile: Two Egyptian Astronomical Procedure Texts with Babylonian Systems A1 and A2 for Mercury (with A. Winkler), in: CJ Crisostomo, EA Escobar, T Tanaka, N Veldhuis (eds.), The Scaffolding of Our Thoughts: Essays on Assyriology and the History of Science in Honor of Francesca Rochberg, Leiden: Brill, 382–419
  • University of Oxford Arts Blog, 5 June Ancient knowledge transfer: Egyptian astronomy, Babylonian methods
  • TOPOI, Pressebericht, 4. Juni Früher Wissenstransfer: Altägyptische Recheninstruktionen basieren auf Verfahren der babylonischen Astronomie
• Bisecting the trapezoid: tracing the origins of a Babylonian computation of Jupiter's motion, Archive for History of Exact Sciences 72, 145–189
• Review: Babylonische natuurwetenschap zonder natuur? [F. Rochberg, 2016, Before nature. Cuneiform knowledge and the history of science], Tijdschrift voor Geschiedenis 131, 534–536
• Review: Ancient Astral Sciences. Review of "The Circulation of Astronomical Knowledge in the Ancient World". Edited by John M. Steele (Brill Publishers, Leiden, 2016), JHA 49, 125–129

2017

• Astronomie – ein antikes Grossforschungsprojekt (with G. Graßhoff), in: Spektrum der Wissenschaft Spezial 2017/4, 58–65; Spektrum der Wissenschaft 2018/1, 68–75
• BM 76488 – a Babylonian compendium about conjunctions and other planetary phenomena, in: J. Steele, M. Ossendrijver (eds.), Studies on the Ancient Exact Sciences in Honor of Lis Brack-Bernsen, Berlin Studies of the Ancient World 44, Edition TOPOI, Berlin, 127–146
• New results on a Babylonian scheme for Jupiter's motion along the zodiac, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 76, 231–247
• A new join to the Late Babylonian factorisation table BM 34958+, NABU 2017/2, No. 58, 107–108
• La géométrie au service de l'astronomie babylonienne, La Recherche 524, Juin 2017, 58–61

2016

• Geometrie in de Babylonische sterrenkunde, Phoenix 62.2, 42–49
• Longitude (with O. Defaux, G. Graßhoff, E. Rinner, M. Schreiber, E. Villey), in: G. Graßhoff, M. Meyer (eds.), Space and Knowledge, eTopoi, Special Volume 6, 634–677
• BM 46550 – a Babylonian Mathematical Tablet with Computations of Reciprocal Numbers (with J. Fincke), Zeitschrift für Assyriologie 106, 185–197
• Translating Babylonian Astronomical Diaries and Procedure Texts, in: A. Imhausen, T. Pommerening (eds.), Translating Writings of Early Scholars in the Ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Methodological Aspects with Examples, De Gruyter, 125–172
• Conceptions of the Body in Mesopotamian Cosmology and Astral Science, in: Th. Buchheim, D. Meissner, N. Wachsmann (eds.), ΣΩΜΑ. Körperkonzepte und körperliche Existenz in der antiken Philosophie und Literatur, Felix Meiner: Hamburg, 143–158
• Translating Babylonian mathematical astronomy: Neugebauer and beyond, in: A. Jones, C. Proust, J.M. Steele (eds.), A Mathematician's Journeys: Otto Neugebauer and Modern Transformations of Ancient Science, Springer, 333–342
• Ancient Babylonian astronomers calculated Jupiter's position from the area under a time-velocity graph, Science, 351 (29 Jan 2016), 482–484 (DOI link)+Supplementary Materials or direct download (cover+report+supplement)

  Live Interview BBC World TV News (29 January 2016, 19:00 GMT)

  • Science Podcast, 28 January 2016: Babylonian astronomers, doubly domesticated cats, and outrunning a T. Rex
  • Berliner Zeitung, 29 Jan 2016 Schon babylonische Astronomen nutzten geometrische Methoden. Paper version here
  • New York Times, 29 Jan 2016 Signs of Modern Astronomy Seen in Ancient Babylon
  • New York Times, 29 Jan 2016 Knowing All the Angles: Ancient Babylonians Used Tricky Geometry
  • Nature, 28 Jan 2016 Babylonian astronomers used geometry to track Jupiter
  • Washington Post, 28 Jan 2016 Clay tablets reveal Babylonians discovered astronomical geometry 1,400 years before Europeans
  • Guardian, 28 Jan 2016 Babylonians used geometry to track Jupiter 1400 years before Europeans
  • Independent, 28 Jan 2016 Ancient Babylonians used early calculus to track path of Jupiter, study finds
  • The Telegraph, 29 Jan 2016 Ancient Babylonians used geometry to plot Jupiter's path 1,400 years before Oxford scholars
  • BBC News, 29 Jan 2016 Ancient Babylonians 'first to use geometry'
  • BBC World Service Radio, 28 Jan 2016 Tracking Jupiter on clay tablets
  • National Geographic, 28 Jan 2016 Babylonians Tracked Jupiter With Advanced Tools: Trapezoids
  • Scientific American, 1 Feb 2016 Babylonians Tracked Jupiter with Fancy Math, Tablet Reveals
  • New Scientist, 28 Jan 2016 Ancient maps of Jupiter's path show Babylonians' advanced maths
  • NBC News, 29 Jan 2016 Ancient Tablet Shows Babylonians Used Calculus to Track Planets
  • NPR (National Public Radio), 28 Jan 2016 Track Jupiter's Path Like An Ancient Babylonian
  • Voice of America, 28 Jan 2016 Ancient Babylonians Used Sophisticated Geometry, Study Finds
  • Le Monde, 1 Feb 2016 Calculs astronomiques à Babylone
  • Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 28 Jan 2016 Integrieren wie die Babylonier
  • Die Zeit, 28 Jan 2016 Geniale Mathematiker, diese Babylonier
  • Süddeutsche Zeitung, 29 Jan 2016 Babylonier berechneten Jupiterbahn mit Integralen
  • Spiegel Online, 29 Jan 2016 Jupiter-Bahn: Babylonier rechneten mit Trapezformel
  • Spiegel Geschichte, 2/2016 Jupiter im Trapez
  • Tagesspiegel, 29 Jan 2016 Babylons geniale Astronomen
  • NRC, 29 Jan 2016 De Babyloniërs vonden de geometrie al uit
  • NRC, 29 Jan 2016 Astronomische berekening op tablet verraadt Babylonisch genie
  • NRC, 21 May 2016 Babyloniërs lazen de hemel als een krant. Paper version here
  • Volkskrant, 29 Jan 2016 Babyloniërs vingen Jupiter al in 'Newton-achtige' wiskunde
  • Trouw, 29 Jan 2016 Babyloniërs konden snelheid van Jupiter al in grafiek weergeven
  • Japan Times, 29 Jan 2016 Study finds ancient Babylonians employed complex geometry
  • Dagens Nyheter (S), 31 Jan 2016 Babylonierna förutsåg Jupiters gång. Paper version here
  • La Repubblica, 29 Jan 2016 Tavolette di argilla per calcolare posizione Giove: Babilonesi in anticipo di 1400 anni
  • El Pais (SP), 28 Jan 2016 El secreto matemático de Babilonia
  • To Vima (GR), 28 Jan 2016 Αστρονομική γεωμετρία είχαν αναπτύξει οι Βαβυλώνιοι!
  • more press coverage here

2015

• The Story of the Magi in the Light of Alexander the Great's Encounters with Chaldeans, in: P. Bartel, G. van Kooten (eds.), The Star of Bethlehem and the Magi. Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Experts on the Ancient Near East, the Greco-Roman world, and Modern Astronomy, Brill, 217–230
  • press coverage: Volkskrant, 13 Dec 2014, Bestond de kerstster echt? (On the Star of Bethlehem conference Groningen, 23–24 October 2014)
• Compendia and Procedure Texts in the Mesopotamian Astral Sciences, in: J. Cale Johnson (ed.), In the Wake of the Compendia, De Gruyter, 47–57
• Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy, in: CLN Ruggles (ed.), Handbook of Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy, Springer, 1863–1870

2014

• Some new results on a commentary to Enūma Anu Enlil Tablet 14, NABU 2014/4, No. 101, 158–161
• The Powers of 9 and Related Mathematical Tables from Babylon, JCS 66, 149–169. Press coverage:
  • Spiegel Online, 27 July 2014 Spätbabylonische Liebe zur Mathematik
  • Mathematik.de, 19 July 2014 Neue Erkenntnisse über Mathematik der spätbabylonischen Zeit
  • derStandard.at, 13 July 2014 Rekonstruierte Keilschrifttafeln bringen Jahrtausende alte Mathematik ans Licht
  • Archäologie Online, 11 July 2014 Rechenkünste der spätbabylonischen Mathematik

2013

• Die Weisen aus dem Morgenland. Sternkunde und Religion der Assyrer und Babylonier, in: Th. Söding (Hrsg.), Zu Bethlehem geboren? Das Buch Benedikts XVI. im Blickpunkt der Wissenschaft, Herder-Verlag, Freiburg i.Br., 171–185
• A Late-Babylonian Fragment of the Venus Tablet of Ammisaduqa, NABU 2013/1, No. 5, 7–9
• Science, Mesopotamian, in: R. Bagnall et al (eds.), Encyclopedia of Ancient History, Wiley Online, 6070–6072
• Review: Calendars and Years. Astronomy and Time in the Ancient Near East, J.M. Steele (ed.), JNES 72, 141–144

2012

• A New Join Between Fragments of MUL.APIN from Uruk, NABU, No. 73, p. 100
• A possible explanation of the supposed word mêmê in the Etana epic, NABU 2012, No. 21, p. 28
• Review: Book Review: New Light on MUL.APIN. Writing Science Before the Greeks. Writing Science before the Greeks. A Naturalistic Analysis of the Babylonian Astronomical Treatise MUL.APIN, R. Watson and W. Horowitz, Brill – Leiden and Boston, Journal for the History of Astronomy 43, 497–498

2011

• Science in Action: Networks in Babylonian Astronomy, in: E. Cancik-Kirschbaum, M. van Ess, J. Marzahn (eds.), Babylon – Wissenskultur in Orient und Okzident, TOPOI Berlin Studies of the Ancient World, De Gruyter: Berlin/Boston, 213–221
• Exzellente Netzwerke: die Astronomen von Uruk, in: G.J. Selz, K. Wagensonner (eds.), The Empirical Dimension of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Wiener Offene Orientalistik Band 8, (LIT-Verlag: Wien), 631–644
• Der Himmel über Babylon. Astronomie im Alten Orient, in: E. Seidl, Ph. Aumann (eds.), Der Himmel. Wunschbild und Weltverständnis, Begleitband zur gleichnamigen Ausstellung, Museum der Universität Tübingen, 151–158
• Review: Babylonian Eclipse Observations from 750 BC to 1 BC, Huber P.J., De Meis S., AfO 52, 269–272

2010

• Evidence for an instrumental meaning of ina libbi, NABU 2010, No. 44, 51

2009

• Die Sonne im Alten Orient – Konzeptionen zwischen Mythos und Wissenschaft, in: A. Bärnreuthner (ed.), Die Sonne. Brennpunkt der Kulturen der Welt, Staatliche Museen Berlin, Deutsche Bank Stiftung und Edition Minerva, 54–65

2008

• Lingering Invisibly in the Sky: on the Meaning of Uštāniḫ, NABU 2008, No. 39, 49–52
• Astronomie und Astrologie in Babylonien, in: J. Marzahn (ed.), Babylon. Wahrheit, Katalog zur Ausstellung `Babylon. Mythos und Wahrheit, Pergamonmuseum Berlin, 373–386; Errata (2009)
• Was die Sterne den Babyloniern verrieten. Astronomie und Astrologie im Zweistromland, Antike Welt, 4/2008, 30–31; Errata (2009)

2007

• Mathematische astronomie in Babylonië, Phoenix 53, 84–99

Other documents

• 2020, Late Babylonian paleography: images of signs
• 2012, Babylonian Calendar for 2000–2019

back