Exegesis Volume 08 Issue #005 In This Issue: From: Patrice Guinard Subject: [e] Re: exegesis Digest V8 #3 KIDENAS
Exegesis Digest Fri, 07 Mar 2003

Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2003 19:09:06 +0100
From: Patrice Guinard
Subject: [e] Re: exegesis Digest V8 #3 KIDENAS

Hi,

Kidinnu (Greek Kidenas) has found an astrology (astronomy?) school in Sippar c. 315 BC (see Schnabel 1923). He is credited (various sources) for having calculated the length of the solar year (with an error of only 4 mn), of being the inventor of the so-called "system B" (vernal point at 8 Aries), of the relation 251 synodic months = 269 anomalistic months, & by Plinius of knowing that Mercury is only 23 degrees far away of the Sun.

For system B, see Bartel van der WAERDEN, Science awakening 2 : The birth of astronomy, 1965; engl. tr., Noordhoff, Leyden 1974, pp.236-248. An always precious reference!

But ask to astronomy HASTRO list, Joan. Best specialists there.

Patrice Guinard, CURA

 > >From: "Joan Griffith"
 > >Subject: [e] Kidinnu
 > >Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 15:58:51 -0500
 > >
 > >Hi,
 > >I want to look a little more closely at the Babylonian astronomy system,
 > >specifically at Kidinnu or Kudinu. Could someone point me toward some
 > >information?
 > >
 > >Thanks.
 > >
 > >Joan
 > >Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler. - Albert Einstein
 > >

End of exegesis Digest V8 #5

[Exegesis Top][Table of Contents][Prior Issue][Next Issue]