Babylonian Shadow-Length Schemes: Between Mathematics and Astronomy
A simple mathematical scheme to represent the variation in the length of the shadow cast by a vertical gnomon at different times of day and in different months of the year is presented in the early astronomical compendium MUL.APIN. A small number of texts composed in the Late Babylonian period inves...
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Universidad Nacional de Rosario
2021
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| Acceso en línea: | https://claroscuro.unr.edu.ar/index.php/revista/article/view/82 |
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I15-R225-article-822023-04-20T23:05:41Z Babylonian Shadow-Length Schemes: Between Mathematics and Astronomy Esquemas babilónicos de longitud de la sombra: entre las matemáticas y la astronomía Esquemas Babilônicos de Comprimento de Sombra: entre a matemática e a astronomia Steele, John astronomía gnomon interacción científica matemáticas sombras astronomy gnomon scholarly interaction mathematics shadows astronomia gnômon interação científica matemática sombras A simple mathematical scheme to represent the variation in the length of the shadow cast by a vertical gnomon at different times of day and in different months of the year is presented in the early astronomical compendium MUL.APIN. A small number of texts composed in the Late Babylonian period investigate and expand this scheme. These texts have previously been studied and understood as part of Babylonian astronomy. In this article, I suggest that two of these later texts can be better understood as mathematical texts. As such they provide evidence for the influence of astronomy on Late Babylonian mathematics, either or both as the context for simple mathematical problems and/or as a topic of mathematical investigation. Un simple esquema matemático para representar la variación en la longitud de la sombra proyectada por un gnomon vertical en distintos momentos del día y en diversos meses del año se presenta en el compendio astronómico MUL.APIN. Un pequeño número de textos compuestos en el período neobabilónico investigan y expanden este esquema. Estos textos han sido previamente estudiados y entendidos como parte de la astronomía babilónica. En este artículo sugiero que dos de estos textos tardíos pueden ser mejor entendidos como textos matemáticos. Como tales, informan sobre la influencia de la astronomía en las matemáticas neobabilónicas, ya sea como contexto para simples problemas matemáticos y/o como argumento de investigación matemática. Um esquema matemático simples para representar a variação do comprimento de uma sombra lançada por um gnômon vertical em diferentes momentos do dia e em diferentes meses do ano é apresentado no compêndio astronômico MUL.APIN. Textos pouco numerosos compostos no período babilônico tardio investigam e expandem esse esquema. Esses textos foram estudados previamente e compreendidos como parte da astronomia babilônica. Neste artigo, sugiro que dois desses textos tardios podem ser melhor compreendidos como textos matemáticos. Como tais, eles provêm evidência da influência da astronomia sobre a matemática babilônica tardia, seja como o contexto para problemas matemáticos simples, seja como tópico de investigação matemática ou ambos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario 2021-12-30 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf https://claroscuro.unr.edu.ar/index.php/revista/article/view/82 10.35305/cl.vi20.82 Claroscuro. Revista del Centro de Estudios sobre Diversidad Cultural; No. 20 (2021): Sciences in ancient Mesopotamia; 1-25 Claroscuro. Revista del Centro de Estudios sobre Diversidad Cultural; Núm. 20 (2021): Ciencias en la antigua Mesopotamia; 1-25 2314-0542 eng https://claroscuro.unr.edu.ar/index.php/revista/article/view/82/75 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ |
| institution |
Universidad Nacional de Rosario |
| institution_str |
I-15 |
| repository_str |
R-225 |
| container_title_str |
Claroscuro |
| language |
Inglés |
| format |
Artículo revista |
| topic |
astronomía gnomon interacción científica matemáticas sombras astronomy gnomon scholarly interaction mathematics shadows astronomia gnômon interação científica matemática sombras |
| spellingShingle |
astronomía gnomon interacción científica matemáticas sombras astronomy gnomon scholarly interaction mathematics shadows astronomia gnômon interação científica matemática sombras Steele, John Babylonian Shadow-Length Schemes: Between Mathematics and Astronomy |
| topic_facet |
astronomía gnomon interacción científica matemáticas sombras astronomy gnomon scholarly interaction mathematics shadows astronomia gnômon interação científica matemática sombras |
| author |
Steele, John |
| author_facet |
Steele, John |
| author_sort |
Steele, John |
| title |
Babylonian Shadow-Length Schemes: Between Mathematics and Astronomy |
| title_short |
Babylonian Shadow-Length Schemes: Between Mathematics and Astronomy |
| title_full |
Babylonian Shadow-Length Schemes: Between Mathematics and Astronomy |
| title_fullStr |
Babylonian Shadow-Length Schemes: Between Mathematics and Astronomy |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Babylonian Shadow-Length Schemes: Between Mathematics and Astronomy |
| title_sort |
babylonian shadow-length schemes: between mathematics and astronomy |
| description |
A simple mathematical scheme to represent the variation in the length of the shadow cast by a vertical gnomon at different times of day and in different months of the year is presented in the early astronomical compendium MUL.APIN. A small number of texts composed in the Late Babylonian period investigate and expand this scheme. These texts have previously been studied and understood as part of Babylonian astronomy. In this article, I suggest that two of these later texts can be better understood as mathematical texts. As such they provide evidence for the influence of astronomy on Late Babylonian mathematics, either or both as the context for simple mathematical problems and/or as a topic of mathematical investigation.
|
| publisher |
Universidad Nacional de Rosario |
| publishDate |
2021 |
| url |
https://claroscuro.unr.edu.ar/index.php/revista/article/view/82 |
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2023-05-16T22:18:32Z |
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2023-05-16T22:18:32Z |
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