Shadow-length schemes in Babylonian astronomy (Q2874935)

Shadow-length schemes are well-known but controversially interpreted in Babylonian astronomy. Even in [\textit{H. Hunger} and \textit{D. Pingree}, Astral Sciences in Mesopotamia. Leiden: Brill (1999)], no firm conclusion was reached. The present article examines the texts anew and shows that the Babylonian texts known so far are consistent in their models, mostly going back to what is found in MUL.APIN. The author calls this part of the tradition ``schematic astronomy''; it is based on a schematic calendar of 360 days, unconnected to the civil calendar.NEWLINENEWLINEThe author provides improved interpretations of texts already known, especially of the tablet BM 29371, which is now seen to contain a zigzag function for the length of the shadow in agreement with the scheme found in MUL.APIN, using however the ratio of 3 : 2 between longest and shortest daylight.NEWLINENEWLINEThe article also contains two hitherto unpublished tablets. While they provide new material on shadow lengths, including a remarkably well-fitting scheme for the noon shadow, they also raise questions that cannot be answered so far.NEWLINENEWLINEThe author has brought understanding of the shadow texts to a new level. Any further discussion will have to be based on this article.