Researchers have successfully deciphered 4,000-year-old Babylonian tablets found in Iraq, uncovering eerie prophecies written on them. Among the ominous predictions, the tablets also contain forewarnings of a king’s death.
Researchers have successfully deciphered 4,000-year-old Babylonian tablets found in Iraq, uncovering eerie prophecies written on them. Among the ominous predictions, the tablets also contain forewarnings of a king’s death.
The tablets, which are currently housed in the British Museum, were discovered in Iraq a century ago. After extensive studies, the inscriptions on the tablets have finally been brought to light. Researchers succeeded in translating the cuneiform script on the tablet into a modern language.
The study, published in the Journal of Cuneiform Studies, revealed that the writings on the tablets show that the ancient Babylonians viewed lunar eclipses as omens of impending disaster.
Andrew George, an honorary professor of Babylonian language at the University of London, and independent researcher Junko Taniguchi stated in their study, 'They represent the oldest compilation of omens related to lunar eclipses discovered so far and thus provide significant new information about celestial prophecy among the peoples of southern Mesopotamia in the early second millennium BC.'
One prophecy warns, 'When an eclipse begins suddenly from the center, darkens completely, and then clears up again: a king will die, and Elam will be destroyed.' Elam is known to be a region in present-day Iran.
In Babylon and Mesopotamia, where it was believed that celestial events could predict the future, rulers often consulted astrologers who observed the night sky and compared their observations with omen texts.
There were also precautions that could be taken against bad omens. Kings could perform protective rituals to counteract negative prophecies!