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| Paper: |
Massartu: The Observation of Astronomical
Phenomena in Assyria (7th Century BC) |
| Volume: |
441, The Inspiration of Astronomical Phenomena VI |
| Page: |
361 |
| Authors: |
Fales, F. M. |
| Abstract: |
The term massartu is well attested in letters in
cuneiform to and from the Neo-Assyrian court, written in the main in
the 7th century BC. In itself, massartu is a
general Akkadian term, meaning “watch, guard”, but in the early
1st millennium BC it takes on two interesting semantic
specializations, both of which are tied to the practical and political
needs of the Assyrian empire. In astrological-astronomical terms, massartu denotes the wake, vigil, or watch for astronomical
observations on the part of the court specialists: such a wake was
required by the Assyrian king on a nightly basis, for the subsequent
consultation of the vast compilation of omens called Enūma Anu Enlil, and the drawing of conclusions relating to the state of the
empire and of the royal dynasty. Many interesting texts show us the
workings of the massartu in the capital city Nineveh
or in other cities of Mesopotamia. But massartu had
also a wider meaning, “vigilance”, which denoted the requirement, on
the part of all the subjects of the king of Assyria, to keep their
eyes and ears open, so as to be able to report to the king if anything
untoward was taking place, whether in the capital city or in the most
remote military outpost of the empire. Thus, in a way, the astrologers
were expected to perform no more and no less than the collective duty
of “vigilance” on behalf of the king–but with their eyes trained on
the heavens, and in await for signs ultimately sent from the gods. |
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