THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BABYLONIAN ZODIAC: SOME PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

The development of the signs of the zodiac as a division of the band through which the moon, sun, and

planets travel into twelve equal parts represents a major step in the history of ancient astronomy. The

development of the uniform zodiac took place in Babylonia in the late fifth century BC and was

subsequently transmitted to other parts of the ancient world. In this paper I present a preliminary discussion

of the development of the zodiac as a framework for positioning celestial bodies. This development took

place within a Babylonian tradition which was both observational and computational. In addition to

consideering the conceptual framework of the zodiac, I pay particular attention to the way that names for

the signs of the zodiac were assigned.