Ancient Babylonians Research Articles

History of the toothbrush

Cleaning one’s teeth goes back to ancient Babylonians, Indians, and Egyptians. They used a special pointed stick as a cleaning instrument. This is one chapter of the Encyclopedia of the History of Dentistry.

The Age of Johnson, ed. Jack Lynch and J. T. Scanlan

<i>The Age of Johnson</i>, ed. Jack Lynch and J. T. Scanlan

The Sustainable Design Technologies in Babylonian Architecture

The sustainability as a concept does not require a change in the quality of life as much as it requires a change in ideas and rationality towards ways of living that are less consumed and continuous for the longest possible period, which has made sustainability the most prominent evidence of sustainability in real terms. In it as a concept it has successfully implemented and in its various functional patterns (houses - temples and ziggurat - palaces, castles and forts), the study’s goal is Distinguishing sustainability indicators in Babylonian architecture to reveal their operational indicators that made them continue successfully For centuries, archaeological discoveries have also confirmed. To achieve the goal, the research developed a methodology that was adopted clarifying the implementation indicators for sustainability in Babylonian architecture, which has emerged at the level of the environmental context to confront the environment and interact with it and preserve its resources. It singled out a vocabulary group that represented operational indicators that the ancient Babylonians worked and continued to develop, through selected models were analysed after the historical analytical survey of Babylonian architecture and its various functional patterns, research concluded that implementation of sustainability has been linked to several stages, starting from the planning to the smallest details, which have always produced positive results and as little as possible from the failures that are negligible compared to the gains obtained from them environmentally, economically and socially. Research determined detail indicators to build theoretical framework of Babylonian architecture sustainability for developed recommendations to improve the application of Sustainable concept in contemporary architecture.

Foreword to BIOMATH 2017 Proceedings: Some comments on mathematical modelling and biomathematics.

Both biology and mathematics have existed as well established branches of science for hundreds of years and both, maybe not in a well defined way, have been with the humankind for a couple of thousands of years. Though nature was studied by the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indian subcontinent and China, the origins of modern biology are typically traced back to the ancient Greece, where Aristotle (384-322 BC) contributed most extensively to its development. Similarly, the ancient Babylonians were able to solve quadratic equation over four millennia ago and we can see the development of mathematical methods in all ancient civilisations, notably in China and on the Indian subcontinent. However, possibly again the Greeks were the first who studied mathematics for its own sake, as a collection of abstract objects and relations between them. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the development of such a mathematics has not required any external stimuli, an amazing feature of the human mind is that a large number of abstract mathematical constructs has proved to be very well suited for describing natural phenomena.This prompted Eugene Wigner to write his famous article The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences, ...

Divining science.

A new tome argues that the ancient Babylonians deserve greater recognition in scientific histories

Dreaming of Droughts: Genesis 37.1–11 in Dialogue with Contemporary Science

Dreams of a future reality, particularly Joseph's dreams in which he envisions himself in a position of status during a time of drought, tend to be labeled as supernatural gift from a distant God without further elaboration. However, a form-critical analysis of the text indicates that societal and emotional factors influence the dreaming brain of Joseph. These same factors also aid in propelling the plot of the Genesis novella forward, increasing the probability of the dream becoming a reality. In this study, answers to how our dreams could present a vision of a future reality are examined from ancient Greek philosophers to the contemporary sciences. The history of the tradition of futures forecasting is traced from the ancient Babylonians through Hermetic philosophers to modern meteorology. The primary element necessary for such predictions to be possible is the observation of patterns in the natural environment. Rather than the view of dreams of a future reality as simply supernatural gift from a distant God, the thesis of this article is that Joseph's dreams are a culmination of natural processes from societal and environmental influences, all in intimate connection with the divine.

Great Moments in Statistics

Abstract How did the ancient Babylonians feed their people? How did Florence Nightingale transform nursing? How did the allies make D-Day a success? How do you know that smoking may kill you? The answers are all “by using statistics”. To accompany the timeline overleaf we present a selection of great statistical landmarks of the past – moments when statistics changed history.

Babylonian resistor networks

The ancient Babylonians had an iterative technique for numerically approximating the values of square roots. Their method can be physically implemented using series and parallel resistor networks. A recursive formula for the equivalent resistance Req is developed and converted into a nonrecursive solution for circuits using geometrically increasing numbers of identical resistors. As an example, 24 resistors R are assembled into a second-order network and Req/R is measured to equal to better than 0.2%, as could be done in an introductory physics laboratory.

Recenzja książki: James Evans, The history and practice of ancient astronomy, Oford University Press, 1998.

Professor James Evans is a physicist working an University of Pudget Sound in the USA. His reseatch is focused on ancient astronomy and application of that knowledge. He also successfully attempted to build gnomon, astrolabe or analemna – instruments used in antuiquity and medieval times to make observations of celestial bodies. In his work, The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, professor Evans introduces the reader to the evolution of astronomical knowledge, from the simplest observations made by farmers or sailors to complex astronomical models and calculations of asronomers such as Ptolemy. The author focuses mostly on ancient Babylonians and Greeks as he believes that their input on that field was most significant and the apex of ancient astonomy was Almagest by Ptolemy (one may criticise author’s thesis that Copernicus’ work was mostly a repetition of dicoveries made by the Greek astronomer with addition of the heliocentric theory of the universe). Next, professor Evans speaks of celestial pheres, stars and planets, also explaining the particular theories related to them. What is interesting is the author’s approach to ancient testimonies. He does not only ask what we learn from ancient scriptures, tablets and other findings, but also how do we learn it. Language and phrasing in this book are clear enough to unsderstand for those without background in physics or ancient languages. Priceless addition to this work are numerous illustrations placed on page margins although it happens sometimes that figure to which the current text refers to is located several pages away. This requires te reader to pay close atention to figure numbers. The word ‘practice’ mentioned in this book’s title points to one of the most importants assets of professor Evans’ work. Apart from sharing the knowledge with the reader the author shows him how to use that knowledge to verify the author’s hypotheses and how to make the observations the way they were mentioned in the ancient texts. The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy shows the reader how to make observations of daily and annual movement of the Sun, how to determine latitude of a particular place or how to measure the approximate distance of Sun or the Moon form the Earth. Each of the subchapters is ended by list of excersises that allow to test the freshly gained knowledge. On top of that the author has also provided schematics which allow the reader to build his own astrolabe – an instrument commonly used by Arabic and European astronomers. Some might feel surprised that footnotes have been moved to the end of the entire book which makes it a little difficult to track loci of the texts quoted by the autor. Apparently it is a compromise made for sake of clarity of the lecture and general estethic feeling of the book. Without any doubt The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy is a position worthy of being recommended not only to enthusiasts of physics and astronomy but also of ancient science and culture.

A Review of: “International Handbook of Personal Construct Psychology”

THE TOWER OF BABEL: DIFFERENT TONGUES TOWARD A COMMON VISION The Bible tells the tale of the ancient Babylonians and their collective struggle to build a monumental tower at a time in which all the...

Re-ordering Iraq

Re-ordering Iraq

From day to day: a calendar of notable birthdays and events

In this useful and interesting reference the author traces the origins of our modern calendar back to the ancient Babylonians, through the numerous changes made by the Romans, and explains the purpose and logic of the modern Gregorian calendar. This volume also provides notable birthdays with short biographical information as well as important historical events for each day. This second edition contains 2,000 more entries along with updated corrected biographical and historical information.

Imago Mundi's logo the Babylonian map of the world

(1996). Imago Mundi's logo the Babylonian map of the world. Imago Mundi: Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 209-211.

ウガリト出土の楽譜

This paper deals with RS 15. 30+15. 49+17. 389 (H. 6) excavated in Ras Shamra, from a cultural historical point of view.We can see that the Hurrianized Akkadian terms, together with the numerals of H. 6 are related to a type of musical instruction. We know many terms for musical instructions in ancient Near Eastern texts for example, in the Convers Tablet and in the headings of the Book of Pslam. We have also identified the cheironomy in the reliefs of ancient Egypt. The musical instruction of H. 6 is very unique, because it is the letter notation which shows how to sing a song in detail. The terms and the writing system of H. 6 indicate that the notation of this text was influenced by Mesopotamian culture. This notation might have been brought from Mesopotamia to Ugarit by the Hurrians. And it is characteristic that this Hurrian system of musical notation was used in the kingdom of Ugarit.We can identify the designation for the genre of the song (nid qabli) in the colophon of the H. 6 text. This term is related to a type of mode. The mode of H. 6 can be interpreted by means of the Babylonian tuning text (U. 7/80). This tuning text may indicate that the ancient Babylonians had a heptatonic system in making use of the fourth and fifth. This heptatonic system of using the fourth and fifth is well known in Greek musical theory. We can see that the nid qabli mode in the H. 6 text is related to the Lydian one. Therefore, the musical life of Ugarit suggests a linkage between Babylonian and Greek musical life.

Technological hubris

A surgeon, astronomer and programmer sat down for tea and a fierce argument arose over whose was the oldest profession. The programmer claimed that Ada Lovelace was the first programmer. Then the astronomer traced astronomical observation right back to the ancient Babylonians. The surgeon claimed his was clearly the oldest profession since removing Adam&apos;s rib to make Eve was surgery. Challenged like this, the astronomer claimed that her profession was oldest, since before that, God had made the universe out of chaos. The programmer said: `and who do you think created the chaos?&apos;. The purpose of the article is to justify a critical view of current practice. It is argued that there is something deeply wrong with our approach to complex systems. Moreover, what is wrong is not amenable to a technological fix. Waiting for virtual reality, say, to work is a diversion and just more of the same.

A structuralist exercise: the problem of Moses' name

American EthnologistVolume 12, Issue 4 p. 775-778 Free Access a structuralist exercise: the problem of Moses' name Michael P. Carroll, Michael P. Carroll University of Western OntarioSearch for more papers by this author Michael P. Carroll, Michael P. Carroll University of Western OntarioSearch for more papers by this author First published: November 1985 https://doi.org/10.1525/ae.1985.12.4.02a00130Citations: 2AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL References Cited Carroll, Michael P. 1977 Leach, Genesis and Structural Analysis: A Critical Re-evaluation. American Ethnologist 4: 663– 677. Daiches, David 1975 Moses, the Man and his Vision. New York: Praeger. Frazer, Sir James G. 1919 Folk-lore in the Old Testament, Vol. II. London: Macmillan. Freud, Sigmund 1964 [1939] Moses and Monotheism. In The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Vol. XXIII pp. 7– 137. London: Hogarth. Gray, John 1971 The Book of Exodus. In The Interpreter's One Volume Commentary on the Bible. C. M. Layton, ed. pp. 33– 67. Nashville: Abingdon Press. Kuper, Adam 1979 A Structural Approach to Dreams. Man (NS) 14: 645– 662. Kuper, Adam 1983 Why Did Moses Have a Sister? In Structuralist Interpretations of Biblical Myth. E. Leach and D. A. Aycock, eds. pp. 33– 66. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Leach, Edmund, and D. Alan Aycock 1983 Structuralist Interpretations of Biblical Myth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Lewis, Brian 1980 The Sargon Legend: A Study of the Akkadian Text and the Tale of the Hero Who Was Exposed at Birth. Cambridge, MA: American Schools of Oriental Research. Lévi-Strauss, Claude 1955 The Structural Study of Myth. Journal of American Folklore 28: 428– 442. Lévi-Strauss, Claude 1969 [1964] The Raw and the Cooked: Introduction to a Science of Mythology, Vol. I. New York: Harper & Row. Lévi-Strauss, Claude 1973 [1966] From Honey to Ashes: Introduction to a Science of Mythology, Vol. II. New York: Harper & Row. Lévi-Strauss, Claude 1976 Structural Anthropology, Vol. II. New York: Basic Books. Lévi-Strauss, Claude 1979 [1968] The Origin of Table Manners: Introduction to a Science of Mythology, Vol. 3. New York: Harper & Row. Lévi-Strauss, Claude 1981 [1971] The Naked Man: Introduction to a Science of Mythology, Vol. 4. New York: Harper & Row. Marshall, Robert C. 1980 Heroes and Hebrews: The Priest in the Promised Land. American Ethnologist 6(4): 772– 790. Herbert G. May, and Bruce M. Metzger, eds. 1973 The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Revised Standard Version. New York: Oxford University Press. Rank, Otto 1959 [1909] The Myth of the Birth of the Hero and Other Writings. New York: Vintage. Robert W. Rogers, transl. and ed. 1912 Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament. New York: Eaton and Mains. Robert W. Rogers, transl. and ed. 1926 Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament. 2nd edition. New York: Abingdon Press. Rylaarsdam, J. C., and J. E. Park 1952 Exodus: Text, Exegenesis and Exposition. In The Interpreters' Bible, Vol I. G. A. Buttrick, ed. pp. 849– 1099. New York: Abingdon Press. Sayce, A. H. 1891 Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion As Illustrated By the Religion of the Ancient Babylonians. 3rd edition. London: Williams and Norgate. Speiser, E. A. 1969 [1955] Akkadian Myths and Epics. In Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament. James B. Pritchard, ed. pp. 60– 119. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Citing Literature Volume12, Issue4November 1985Pages 775-778 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Citizen Kane and the Quest for Kingship

Were the cinema to erect Hall of Fame, then Citizen Kane would be its Babe Ruth, larger than life, dominating the shrine by its mere presence. But while asserting the movie's prominence, many critics extoll its technical achievements and belittle its thematic content. Paul Rotha, for one, refers to it as crackpot Freud, while Pauline Kael, the film's most avid admirer, calls it a shallow masterpiece. * I, however, cling to the peculiar notion that whatever its technical brilliance, the stature of film must have something to do with its content. As Orson Welles himself once retorted, judging film by its visual impact like judging novel only by the quality of its prose. 2 My thesis is that Citizen Kane is the saga of frustrated quest for kingship. The lesson of the tale is not the vapid idea that love is more important than money (this would not even rate crackpot Freud), but that American liberalism makes kingship an impossibility. To illuminate this argument I shall go back five thousand years to the cosmogonie myth of the ancient Babylonians, the Enuma Elish.

Babylonian Quadratics

Although most mathematics teachers believe that teaching mathematical history is an important objective, they find it hard to incorporate into teaching algebra. One idea that seems to fit in the classroom and that students find interesting, however, is the method used by the ancient Babylonians to solve quadratic equations.

Flesh and Blood, a History of the Cannibal Complex

In Flesh and Blood, Reay Tannahill explores the age-old practice of cannibalism. the author-of previous studies on eating and sex, she takes us on a fascinating historical tour of this darkest of gastronomic compulsions -- including a section on the recent upsurge in cannibalism-themed horror fiction and a study of serial killer cannibals such as Jeffrey Dahmer.At the dawn of man, the consumption of human flesh and blood was a legitimate ritual practiced by ancient Babylonians and Aztecs alike. The recent media focus may have brought cannibalism into the public eye, but the practice has never wholly left society and still echoes in religious traditions such as the Christian Eucharist.Here is a book that is sure to feed into our current fascination with people who eat people.

Chariots of the Gods? And All That: Pseudo-History in the Classroom

A RE WE descendants of ancient astronauts? Was the flaming chariot of Ezekiel really a flying saucer? Were the pyramids of Egypt landing markers for visitors from another planet? Was the manna given to Moses and his people part of a comet which later became the planet Venus? Did the ancient Babylonians have electric lights? Such provocative and bizarre questions have captured the imagination of millions and evoked the hostility of scholars. Many students, from art to zoology, from English to electrical engineering, are quite receptive to the interpretations and methods of pseudo-scholars who espouse such ideas. This is, moreover, a phenomenon which extends to all levels of higher education, as is made clear by the fact that week after week one or another book endorsing such strange views is near the top of the What Students Are Reading popularity chart published by the