1. The first line on side a of the K tablet has figures where we occasionally cannot clearly see their bottoms:
But Ka1-5 is fully visible and powerfully drawn, possibly because in the old Roman calendar May (Maius) terminated the first quarter of the year:
Although March 1 could have been the last day of the old year, in which case the first quarter would have had 90 days: ... The leap day was introduced as part of the Julian reform. The day following the Terminalia (February 23) was doubled, forming the 'bis sextum - literally 'double sixth', since February 24 was 'the sixth day before the Kalends of March' using Roman inclusive counting (March 1 was the 'first day') ... I imagine the figure in Ka1-5 illustrates how there is a unity in spite of a terminating, how 'omega' and 'alfa' are close in time and parts of the same entity. There is a kai (eating) sign in front and maybe ua (rain, sky connected with earth) is alluded to at left:
If I am right, then it could follow that we should be at spring equinox, not at the beginning of 'June. Perhaps precession by moving Aldebaran ahead in the year from an original position at equinox (ca 72 * 68.2 = ca 4900 years ago) forced the ancient year to follow after, firmly fixed as it was to Aldebaran and the rest of the marvellous old cosmic framework. The old mindset could not be changed, there was no easy way out. I have been influenced by a statement of Miss Agnes M. Clerke quoted by Allen: "Euclid said in his Phainomena: A star is visible between the Bears, not changing its place, but always revolving upon itself; Hipparchos, that the pole was 'in a vacant spot, forming a quadrangle with three other stars', both of these calling this Πόλος, the Polus of Lucan, Ovid, and other classical Latins; and Euphratean observers had called their pole-star Pūl, or Bīl. But, although other astronomical writers used these words for some individual star, there is no certainty as to which was intended, for it should be remembered that during many milleniums the polar point has gradually been approaching our pole-star, which 2000 years ago was far removed from it, - in Hipparchos' time 12º 24' according to his own statement qouted by Marinus of Tyre and cited by Ptolemy. Miss Clerke writes as to this: The entire millenium before the Christian era may count for an interregnum as regards Pole-stars. Alpha Draconis had ceased to exercise that office; Alruccabah [α Ursae Minoris] had not yet assumed it." |
