x ana y alāku

x A.RA₂ y DU

Akkadian · verb

variant x GAM y DU : x ana y alāku

Edited by: Mathieu Ossendrijver
Last edited: 2023-11-04

Meanings

1. to multiply

Literal translation

to go x times y

1. to multiply

1.a to multiply mathematical operation

BE-ma ME ana GI₆ DIRI u₄-mu A.RA₂ 4 tal-lak

‘If the day(light) exceeds the night you multiply the day(light) by 4.’

— AO 6455 (TU 11) rev. 14

Genre: mathematical astronomy: procedure text Provenance: Uruk Date: ca. 200 BCE

Brack-Bernsen, Lis, and Hunger, Hermann. 2002. TU 11. A Collection of Rules for the Prediction of Lunar Phases and of Month Lengths. SCIAMVS 3: 3–90.

10 ABSIN0 3.20 ša₂ al 10 ABSIN0 DIRI A.RA₂ 40 DU TA 3.20 LA₂

‘10 Virgo 3,20. (The amount) by which it exceeds 10 Virgo you multiply by (0);40, subtract from 3,20.’

— BM 32167+ (BMAPT No. 53) obv. ia 7

Genre: mathematical astronomy: procedure text Provenance: Babylon Date: ca. 350-250 BCE

Ossendrijver, M. 2012. Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy: Procedure Texts. New York: Springer.

(25') ana 1 UŠ KI ša₂ al 13 (26') ⸢ABSIN0 DIRI⸣ GAM 15 DU KI 1.58.45.42 TAB ana NIM lu ana SIG GAR

‘For 1 UŠ by which the position exceeds 13 (26’) Virgo you multiply by (0);15, you add it to 1,58;45,42, you put it down as the ‘height’ or the ‘depth’.’

— BM 32167+ (BMAPT No. 53) obv. i 25'-26'

Genre: mathematical astronomy: procedure text Provenance: Babylon Date: ca. 350-250 BCE

Ossendrijver, M. 2012. Babylonian Mathematical Astronomy: Procedure Texts. New York: Springer.

Cite this entry

APA (7th)

Ossendrijver, M. (2023). x A.RA₂ y DU (Lemma #225). The ZODIAC Glossary: A Cross-Cultural Glossary of Ancient Astral Science. https://zodiacglossary.github.io/lemma/225/

Chicago (Author-Date)

Ossendrijver, M. (2023). x A.RA₂ y DU (Lemma #225). The ZODIAC Glossary: A Cross-Cultural Glossary of Ancient Astral Science. https://zodiacglossary.github.io/lemma/225/

MLA (9th)

Ossendrijver, M. (2023). x A.RA₂ y DU (Lemma #225). The ZODIAC Glossary: A Cross-Cultural Glossary of Ancient Astral Science. https://zodiacglossary.github.io/lemma/225/

Harvard

Ossendrijver, M. (2023) x A.RA₂ y DU (Lemma #225), The ZODIAC Glossary: A Cross-Cultural Glossary of Ancient Astral Science. Available at: https://zodiacglossary.github.io/lemma/225/ (Accessed: July 4, 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{zodiac225,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-07-04]},
	author = {Ossendrijver, Mathieu},
	year = {2023},
	title = {x {A}.{RA}₂ y {DU} ({Lemma} #225)},
	url = {https://zodiacglossary.github.io/lemma/225/},
	howpublished = {https://zodiacglossary.github.io/lemma/225/},
}