Ancient Mesopotamian Astronomy in the Indus Valley

By. Ryan Parker

Ancient Mesopotamian Astronomy in the Indus Valley.

Mesopotamia was the first civilization and also the birth place of Astronomy.

• In this presentation I will give a brief description of the Mesopotamian civilization.

• Followed by ancient astronomical artifacts of Sumer, Akkad, kish and other Mesopotamian cities in the Indus Valley.

Mesopotamian civilization

Civilization started in the Indus Valley around 10,000 B.C.

Cities formed on the river banks of the Indus Valley the first being Sumer.

After several centuries many other cities developed, creating a large populated area known to be Mesopotamia.

The Indus Valley the birth place of civilization

Mesopotamian Water Watch.This tool was probably one of the first tools to tell time. In Mesopotamia ,days were divided into 12 sections, each of these sections were divided by 30 degrees and each degree was divided into 4 minute periods.

Venus Tablet of King AmmizadugaThis tablet was a recording of the movement of the planet Venus and its appearance and disappearance in the sky.

A Sumerian humanized Zodiac dating back to 2300 B.C

Mesopotamian artifact showing the planets and the sun.

Sumerian artifact showing there belief of 12 planets or bodies in our solar system the planet to the right is one they called Nibiru other similar seals don’t show nibiru, which means It may have been a traveling body.

Indus Valley Scorpio and Taurus sculptures dated 3100 B.C.

Sumerian engraving of the 4 corners of the world, In Mesopotamia they believed that the earth was flat.

Stone carving of a Mesopotamian Priest observing the night sky.

Ancient Mesopotamian zodiac, This chart is from the 8th century B.C.. It was found in the city of Ninevia. In Mesopotamia there calendar was based on the cycles of the moon, like many other ancient civilizations.

Constellations used in the ancient Mesopotamian Indus Valley.

Conclusion

• Mesopotamia was the birth place of civilization and also astronomy. After the Natural resources of Mesopotamia were tapped the population spread and so did their beliefs in Astronomy. This gave way for the foundation of Astronomical beliefs in the old world.

Bibliography• Works Cited • "Astronomy of Mesopotamia: Sumeria, Babylon, and Assyria."

Astronomy of Mesopotamia: Sumeria, Babylon, and Assyria. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/01documents/Mesopotamian_Astronomy.html>.

• "Sumerian Astronomical Knowledge." Sumerian Astronomical Knowledge. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://www.thelivingmoon.com/42stargate/03files/Sumerian_Astronomy.html>.

• "Sumerian Astronomy." Sumerian Astronomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. <http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~catshaman/13Sumerian/03Sumerian2.htm>.