IKU - Revision history

Sushoff at 17:44, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T17:44:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:44, 26 March 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:<sup>mul</sup>IKU}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:<sup>mul</sup>IKU}}
	Authors: ~~Gennady Kurtik,~~ {{PAGEAUTHORS}}~~, Euin Choung Kim~~		Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
	----		----
	[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]		[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]

Sushoff at 15:00, 22 January 2026

2026-01-22T15:00:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 22 January 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:<sup>mul</sup>IKU}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:<sup>mul</sup>IKU}}
	Authors: Gennady E. Kurtik, {{PAGEAUTHORS}}		Authors: Gennady Kurtik, {{PAGEAUTHORS}}, Euin Choung Kim
	----		----
	[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]		[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]

Sushoff at 07:32, 17 January 2026

2026-01-17T07:32:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:32, 17 January 2026
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	{{DISPLAYTITLE:<sup>mul</sup>IKU}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:<sup>mul</sup>IKU}}
			Authors: Gennady E. Kurtik, {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
			----
	[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]		[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]
	IKU (𒃷) = ''ikû,'' 'The Field,' consists of the square of [[Pegasus]], and in first millennium Babylonian tradition, perhaps an adjoining smaller square at its side giving the asterism the same shape as the Esagil-temple in Babylon as seen from above. The Babylonian New Year's Festival celebrates 'The Field' as the star of the New Year, which is appropriate as it is the Ea-star for '''''Nisannu,''''' the first month of the year, and so the first star noted in the 'The Three Stars Each' compendium best known as ''Astrolabe B''. It is also the month-star and rising-star for Nisan in other sources belonging to this group.		IKU (𒃷) = ''ikû,'' 'The Field,' consists of the square of [[Pegasus]], and in first millennium Babylonian tradition, perhaps an adjoining smaller square at its side giving the asterism the same shape as the Esagil-temple in Babylon as seen from above. The Babylonian New Year's Festival celebrates 'The Field' as the star of the New Year, which is appropriate as it is the Ea-star for '''''Nisannu,''''' the first month of the year, and so the first star noted in the 'The Three Stars Each' compendium best known as ''Astrolabe B''. It is also the month-star and rising-star for Nisan in other sources belonging to this group.

Sushoff at 15:34, 17 December 2025

2025-12-17T15:34:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:34, 17 December 2025
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	===Additional===		===Additional===

	====~~II.~~ Deity.====		====Deity.====
	"Field" was venerated as the constellation of the city of Babylon and was associated with Esagila. Its name was sometimes recorded with the determinative for a deity <sup>d</sup>.		"Field" was venerated as the constellation of the city of Babylon and was associated with Esagila. Its name was sometimes recorded with the determinative for a deity <sup>d</sup>.

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	(5) Wishes for the welfare of the Assyrian king, see [Watanabe 1992, 370, K. 6331 Rd. 2].		(5) Wishes for the welfare of the Assyrian king, see [Watanabe 1992, 370, K. 6331 Rd. 2].

	====~~III.~~ Symbol.====		====Symbol.====
	Until recently it was assumed that the figure of the constellation <sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GAN was a quadrilateral [G. 193; Waerden 1949, 21; 1974, 72; Weidner 1957-59, 74b, 76a; BPO 2, 8, 11]; its image (a shaded quadrilateral between two fishes) may have been represented on a zodiac from the Dendera times of Tiberius (14-37 AD) [EAT III, 79-80, no. 80, Pl. 42; Gundel 1992, 208, Nr. 12]. Based on the data of “Planisphere” and other sources, Koch showed that the constellation figure should be a triangle [Koch 1989, 86-103; Kurtik 2007, fig. 9]. '''''<u>His arguments are challenged by Pingree [Pingree 1992, 169].??</u>'''''		Until recently it was assumed that the figure of the constellation <sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GAN was a quadrilateral [G. 193; Waerden 1949, 21; 1974, 72; Weidner 1957-59, 74b, 76a; BPO 2, 8, 11]; its image (a shaded quadrilateral between two fishes) may have been represented on a zodiac from the Dendera times of Tiberius (14-37 AD) [EAT III, 79-80, no. 80, Pl. 42; Gundel 1992, 208, Nr. 12]. Based on the data of “Planisphere” and other sources, Koch showed that the constellation figure should be a triangle [Koch 1989, 86-103; Kurtik 2007, fig. 9]. '''''<u>His arguments are challenged by Pingree [Pingree 1992, 169].??</u>'''''

	====~~IV.~~ Identification.====		====Identification.====
	= "Pegasus quadrangle" (α, β, γ Pegasi + α Andromedae) [G. 193; Waerden 1949, 21; 1974, 72; Weidner 1957-59, 74b, 76a; BPO 2, 8, 11; MA, 138; ASM, 272]		= "Pegasus quadrangle" (α, β, γ Pegasi + α Andromedae) [G. 193; Waerden 1949, 21; 1974, 72; Weidner 1957-59, 74b, 76a; BPO 2, 8, 11; MA, 138; ASM, 272]

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	= Pegasus [Horowitz 2014, 246; Beaulieu et al. 2018, 73].		= Pegasus [Horowitz 2014, 246; Beaulieu et al. 2018, 73].

	==== V. Parts of the constellation and individual stars. ====		==== Parts of the constellation and individual stars. ====
	(1) "Star ... on the right side of the Field", or "side star on the right side of the Field" (α Peg), see Dalbanna (see above)		(1) "Star ... on the right side of the Field", or "side star on the right side of the Field" (α Peg), see Dalbanna (see above)

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	(3) "Front stars," see below (5).		(3) "Front stars," see below (5).

	====~~VI.~~ Astrology.====		====Astrology.====

	===== Identifications: =====		===== Identifications: =====

Sushoff at 15:33, 17 December 2025

2025-12-17T15:33:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, 17 December 2025
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	For the Esagil and 'The Field' see Debourse 2022: 244.		For the Esagil and 'The Field' see Debourse 2022: 244.
	==Concordance, Etymology, History==		==Concordance, Etymology, History<ref>[[Mesopotamian (All Terms)\|Planetarium Babylonicum 2.0]], All Skies Encyclopaedia.</ref>==
			The sumerogram consists of AŠ ‘1’+ GÁN(A) “field” which also designates the area measure IKU (ca. 60 sqm). A better transliteration would be AŠ.IKU.<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Krebernik, M. (2023). What do deities tell us about the celestial positioning system, in: R. Rollinger, I. Madreiter, M. Lang, C. Pappi (eds.). The Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East, Papers held at the 64th Rencontre Assyriologique International and 12th Melammu Symposium July 16-20 2018, Innsbruck. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 539-579</ref> <sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GÁN (AN 1l).
	~~=== Krebernik~~ (~~2023~~) ===
	~~''= ikû''.~~ The sumerogram consists of AŠ ‘1’+ GÁN(A) “field” which also designates the area measure IKU (ca. 60 sqm). A better transliteration would be AŠ.IKU. <sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GÁN (AN 1l).
	~~===Kurtik with Hilder, Hoffmann, Horowitz, Kim===~~
	The Sumerian and Akkadian names of the constellation provide a chain on homonyms and near homonyms. Sumerian IKU is a homonym of both Akkadian ''iku'', the area measure, and ''ikû, '''field, dike,' which itself = Sumerian a.ša<sub>3</sub>.ga, this being the standard Sumerian term for agricultural fields. Sumerian a.ša<sub>3</sub>.ga itself is a near homonym of the Sumerian writing of the star-name <sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GÁN, which includes the Sumerian word, gán, that too has the meaning of agricultural plots (= Akkadian ''eqlu'') -- all of the above matching the square shape(s) formed by the stars of the constellation..		The Sumerian and Akkadian names of the constellation provide a chain on homonyms and near homonyms. Sumerian IKU is a homonym of both Akkadian ''iku'', the area measure, and ''ikû, '''field, dike,' which itself = Sumerian a.ša<sub>3</sub>.ga, this being the standard Sumerian term for agricultural fields. Sumerian a.ša<sub>3</sub>.ga itself is a near homonym of the Sumerian writing of the star-name <sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GÁN, which includes the Sumerian word, gán, that too has the meaning of agricultural plots (= Akkadian ''eqlu'') -- all of the above matching the square shape(s) formed by the stars of the constellation..

	Reading variants:		Reading variants:

	* <sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GANA<sub>2</sub>,		* ''= ikû''.
			* <sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GANA<sub>2</sub>,
	* <sup>mul</sup>IKU,		* <sup>mul</sup>IKU,
	* <sup>mul</sup>''iku''<sub>x</sub>,		* <sup>mul</sup>''iku''<sub>x</sub>,

Sushoff at 21:02, 3 December 2025

2025-12-03T21:02:51Z

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	[[Category:Eurasia]]		[[Category:Eurasia]]
	[[Category:Cuneiform]]		[[Category:Cuneiform]]
			[[Category:Peg]]

	[[Category:4workWayne]]		[[Category:4workWayne]]

YoulaAzkarrula: /* Stars within the Constellation Area */

2025-12-01T15:06:26Z

Stars within the Constellation Area

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:06, 1 December 2025
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	\|		\|
	\|}[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]		\|}[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]
			[[File:IKU CH Screenshot 2025-11-30 130842.png\|thumb\|Convex Hull for the stars inside IKU (CC BY Youla Azkarrula).]]

	====Stars within the Constellation Area====		====Stars within the Constellation Area====
	{\| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"		{\| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
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	\|[[Alpheratz]]		\|[[Alpheratz]]
	\| HIP 677		\| HIP 677
	\|~~within constellation~~ lines		\|Constellation lines (Vertex)
	\| 2.06		\| 2.06
	\|-		\|-
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	\|[[Scheat]]		\|[[Scheat]]
	\| HIP 113881		\| HIP 113881
	\|~~within constellation~~ lines		\|Constellation lines (Vertex)
	\|2.42		\|2.42
	\|-		\|-
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	\|[[Markab]]		\|[[Markab]]
	\| HIP 113963		\| HIP 113963
	\| ~~within constellation~~ lines		\| Constellation lines (Vertex)
	\|2.48		\|2.48
	\|-		\|-
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	\| [[Algenib]]		\| [[Algenib]]
	\|HIP 1067		\|HIP 1067
	\|~~within constellation~~ lines		\|Constellation lines (Vertex)
	\|2.84		\|2.84
	\|-		\|-

Sushoff at 16:00, 21 November 2025

2025-11-21T16:00:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:00, 21 November 2025
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	<sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GAN<sub>2</sub> as a designation of the 12th sign of the zodiac, cf. [LBAT, 1600 obv. 14′; Rochberg-Halton 1984, 134:6′, 135 rev. 12; 1987b, 213:12, 20; Ungnad 1941-44, S. 258, Anm. 51]. See also [SpTU V, 270:2′].		<sup>mul</sup>AŠ.GAN<sub>2</sub> as a designation of the 12th sign of the zodiac, cf. [LBAT, 1600 obv. 14′; Rochberg-Halton 1984, 134:6′, 135 rev. 12; 1987b, 213:12, 20; Ungnad 1941-44, S. 258, Anm. 51]. See also [SpTU V, 270:2′].
	\|		\|
	\|}		\|}[[File:IKU stellarium.jpg\|alt=Stellarium map\|thumb\|Mesopotamian constellation IKU in Stellarium, painting: Jessica Gullberg 2021.]]

	====Stars within the Constellation Area====		====Stars within the Constellation Area====
	{\| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"		{\| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

Sushoff at 15:59, 21 November 2025

2025-11-21T15:59:46Z

Show changes

Sushoff at 18:53, 16 August 2025

2025-08-16T18:53:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:53, 16 August 2025
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	For the Esagil and 'The Field' see Debourse 2022: 244.		For the Esagil and 'The Field' see Debourse 2022: 244.
	==~~Dictionary (Provenance of the term)~~==		==Concordance, Etymology, History==

	=== Krebernik (2023) ===		=== Krebernik (2023) ===