Taurus - Revision history

Sushoff: /* Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation */

2026-06-06T06:17:37Z

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:17, 6 June 2026
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	=== Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation ===		=== Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation ===
	<gallery>		<gallery>
			File:Tau seal Wallenfels1993.png\|Taurus on Mesopotamian seal print, Wallenfels (1993).
			File:Tau+cap seal Wallenfels1993.png\|Taurus accompanied by a goat-fish on Mesopotamian seal print, Wallenfels (1993).
	File:Little BULL (drawn by Weidner 1967).png\|Bull of Heaven drawn on the clay tablet VAT 7851, drawing by Weidner (1967, reproduced by SMH).		File:Little BULL (drawn by Weidner 1967).png\|Bull of Heaven drawn on the clay tablet VAT 7851, drawing by Weidner (1967, reproduced by SMH).
	File:Taurus umzeichnung nicer.jpg\|clay tablet VAT 7851, microzodiac tablet with drawings for the zodiac sign of Taurus, The Bull		File:Taurus umzeichnung nicer.jpg\|clay tablet VAT 7851, microzodiac tablet with drawings for the zodiac sign of Taurus, The Bull

Sushoff: /* Babylonian */

2026-06-06T06:15:50Z

Babylonian

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:15, 6 June 2026
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	The most important city in Sumer was Uruk, whose city goddess is Inanna/Ishtar. After Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu had already performed other heroic deeds, they fight together in Uruk against the celestial bull sent by Ishtar: the Bull of Heaven ([[GU4.AN.NA\|<sup>mul</sup>GU<sub>4</sub>.AN.NA]]) belonged to Ishtar's father, the sky god Anu, and was therefore a deity or mythical creature. The heroes succeed in defeating the beast when Enkidu grabs the bull from behind and Gilgamesh grabs it from the front. This explains the bisected constellation.		The most important city in Sumer was Uruk, whose city goddess is Inanna/Ishtar. After Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu had already performed other heroic deeds, they fight together in Uruk against the celestial bull sent by Ishtar: the Bull of Heaven ([[GU4.AN.NA\|<sup>mul</sup>GU<sub>4</sub>.AN.NA]]) belonged to Ishtar's father, the sky god Anu, and was therefore a deity or mythical creature. The heroes succeed in defeating the beast when Enkidu grabs the bull from behind and Gilgamesh grabs it from the front. This explains the bisected constellation.

	Some researchers see the Mesopotamian constellations Hired Man ([[ḪUN.GA2\|<sup>l</sup><sup>ú</sup>ḪUN.GA<sub>2</sub>]], today: [[Aries]]) and True Shepherd of the Heavens ([[SIPA.ZI.AN.NA]], today: [[Orion]]) as a representation of this bullfight between Enkidu (Hired Man on the invisible hindquarters of the bull) and Gilgamesh. The figure of Orion stretches out one hand towards the bull's head and, according to the Almagest, swings a club with the other as if to hit the bull between the horns - as reported in the Epic of Gilgamesh (tablet 6). In addition, the shepherd figure (for humans) is a metaphor for rulers, which can be traced back to Sumerian times for kings and lives on today in the symbolism of Christian bishops. However, the divine shepherd is typically Dumuzi, Ishtar's husband, assigned to the labourer's constellation. The connection between the constellations Ori-Tau-Ari is therefore very speculative without written evidence. Writing as a cultural technique had only just been invented at this time. Only a few commercial documents and no astronomical texts have survived from the 3rd millennium.		Some researchers see the Mesopotamian constellations Hired Man ([[ḪUN.GA2\|<sup>l</sup><sup>ú</sup>ḪUN.GA<sub>2</sub>]], today: [[Aries]]) and True Shepherd of the Heavens ([[SIPA.ZI.AN.NA]], today: [[Orion]]) as a representation of this bullfight between Enkidu (Hired Man on the invisible hindquarters of the bull) and Gilgamesh. The figure of Orion stretches out one hand towards the bull's head and, according to the Almagest, swings a club with the other as if to hit the bull between the horns - as reported in the Epic of Gilgamesh (tablet 6). In addition, the shepherd figure (for humans) is a metaphor for rulers, which can be traced back to Sumerian times for kings and lives on today in the symbolism of Christian bishops. However, the divine shepherd is typically Dumuzi, Ishtar's husband, assigned to the labourer's constellation. The connection between the constellations Ori-Tau-Ari is therefore very speculative without written evidence. Writing as a cultural technique had only just been invented at this time. Only a few commercial documents and no astronomical texts have survived from the 3rd millennium.<gallery>
			File:O.1054 color.jpg\|Bull of Heaven slaughtered (O1054).
			File:Tau seal Wallenfels1993.png\|Taurus on Mesopotamian seal print, Wallenfels (1993).
			File:Tau+cap seal Wallenfels1993.png\|Taurus accompanied by a Goat-Fish on Mesopotamian seal print, Wallenfels (1993).
			</gallery>

	==== Greco-Roman ====		==== Greco-Roman ====

Sushoff at 18:56, 4 June 2026

2026-06-04T18:56:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:56, 4 June 2026
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	[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus as drawn on a clay tablet ([https://recherche.smb.museum/detail/1973695/astronomische-tafel VAT 7851]) from Seleucid time, new drawing published by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref>.]]		[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus as drawn on a clay tablet ([https://recherche.smb.museum/detail/1973695/astronomische-tafel VAT 7851]) from Seleucid time, new drawing published by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref>.]]
	[[File:TauAll+year.jpg\|thumb\|Mesopotamian terms in the sign of Taurus; the diagram shows that the terminology was changed around 320±10 BCE (Hoffmann and Hunger 2024).<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Hunger, H. (2024). Terminology in Taurus, The Bull. Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires, 4, 121</ref>]]		[[File:TauAll+year.jpg\|thumb\|Mesopotamian terms in the sign of Taurus; the diagram shows that the terminology was changed around 320±10 BCE (Hoffmann and Hunger 2024).<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Hunger, H. (2024). Terminology in Taurus, The Bull. Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires, 4, 121</ref>]]
	[[File:Fig1 taurus tablet 150dpi sciLogs.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus sign with drawings of Pleiades (Bristle), Hyades (Chariot), Bull, and the Moon during a total lunar eclipse in the Moon's hypsoma; drawing by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref> ]]		[[File:Fig1 taurus tablet 150dpi sciLogs.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus sign with drawings of Pleiades (Bristle), Hyades (Chariot), Bull, and the Moon during a total lunar eclipse in the Moon's hypsoma; [https://recherche.smb.museum/detail/1973695/astronomische-tafel VAT 7851], drawing by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref> ]]
	The shape of a bull is quite easily recognisable in the sky in this asterism. Two open star clusters stand out prominently: the Hyades and the Pleiades.<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref> They are sometimes seen as the pillars of a gate through which the sun, moon and planets pass. By adding further stars, they become the figure of half a bull. Greek mythology explains the absence of the back of the bull by the fact that it is swimming.		The shape of a bull is quite easily recognisable in the sky in this asterism. Two open star clusters stand out prominently: the Hyades and the Pleiades.<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref> They are sometimes seen as the pillars of a gate through which the sun, moon and planets pass. By adding further stars, they become the figure of half a bull. Greek mythology explains the absence of the back of the bull by the fact that it is swimming.

Sushoff at 18:55, 4 June 2026

2026-06-04T18:55:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:55, 4 June 2026
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	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus as drawn on a clay tablet (VAT 7851) from Seleucid time, new drawing published by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref>.]]		[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus as drawn on a clay tablet ([https://recherche.smb.museum/detail/1973695/astronomische-tafel VAT 7851]) from Seleucid time, new drawing published by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref>.]]
	[[File:TauAll+year.jpg\|thumb\|Mesopotamian terms in the sign of Taurus; the diagram shows that the terminology was changed around 320±10 BCE (Hoffmann and Hunger 2024).<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Hunger, H. (2024). Terminology in Taurus, The Bull. Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires, 4, 121</ref>]]		[[File:TauAll+year.jpg\|thumb\|Mesopotamian terms in the sign of Taurus; the diagram shows that the terminology was changed around 320±10 BCE (Hoffmann and Hunger 2024).<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Hunger, H. (2024). Terminology in Taurus, The Bull. Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires, 4, 121</ref>]]
	[[File:Fig1 taurus tablet 150dpi sciLogs.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus sign with drawings of Pleiades (Bristle), Hyades (Chariot), Bull, and the Moon during a total lunar eclipse in the Moon's hypsoma; drawing by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref> ]]		[[File:Fig1 taurus tablet 150dpi sciLogs.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus sign with drawings of Pleiades (Bristle), Hyades (Chariot), Bull, and the Moon during a total lunar eclipse in the Moon's hypsoma; drawing by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref> ]]

YoulaAzkarrula: /* Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation */

2026-06-04T05:07:25Z

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:07, 4 June 2026
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	File:Aratea fol. 42v.jpg\|Pleiades as Seven Sisters in the Leiden Aratea		File:Aratea fol. 42v.jpg\|Pleiades as Seven Sisters in the Leiden Aratea
	File:Tau uranometria.png\|Taurus in Bayer's Uranometria (1603)		File:Tau uranometria.png\|Taurus in Bayer's Uranometria (1603)
			File:H.A. Rey's stick figure stellarium-075.png\|H.A. Rey's stick figure of Taurus (1952)
			File:O. Hlad's stick figure stellarium-076.png\|O. Hlad's stick figure of Taurus (1988)
	</gallery>		</gallery>

Sushoff at 10:54, 2 June 2026

2026-06-02T10:54:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:54, 2 June 2026
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	* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (medieval)]]		* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (medieval)]]

	[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:~~Constellation~~]] [[Category:~~Asterism~~]][[Category:~~Almagest~~]] [[Category:~~Mesopotamian~~]] [[Category:~~West Asian~~]] [[Category:~~Asian~~]][[Category:Modern]]		[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Asian]]
	[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]] [[Category:Tau]][[Category:Zodiac]]		[[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:Asterism]]
			[[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Africa]]
			[[Category:Modern]][[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]]
			[[Category:Tau]]
			[[Category:Rubric]] [[Category:Lunar System]] [[Category:Zodiac]]

YoulaAzkarrula at 06:34, 29 May 2026

2026-05-29T06:34:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:34, 29 May 2026
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	* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (medieval)]]		* [[References (Medieval and Early Modern)\|References (medieval)]]

	[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Modern]]		[[Category:Eurasia]] [[Category:Constellation]] [[Category:Asterism]][[Category:Almagest]] [[Category:Mesopotamian]] [[Category:West Asian]] [[Category:Asian]][[Category:Modern]]
	[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]][[Category:Zodiac]]		[[Category:88 IAU-Constellations]] [[Category:Tau]][[Category:Zodiac]]

IanRidpath: /* Almagest Ταῦρος */ OCR errors

2026-05-20T13:55:05Z

Almagest Ταῦρος: OCR errors

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:55, 20 May 2026
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	\|6		\|6
	\|ὁ ἐε τῷ στήθει		\|ὁ ἐε τῷ στήθει
	\|The star in the ~~ehest~~		\|The star in the chest
	\|lam Tau		\|lam Tau
	\|-		\|-
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	\|9		\|9
	\|ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ γόνατος		\|ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ γόνατος
	\|The star an the left knee		\|The star on the left knee
	\|90 Tau		\|90 Tau
	\|-		\|-
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	\|13		\|13
	\|ὁ μεταξὺ αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ φοτύου ὀφδαλμοῦ		\|ὁ μεταξὺ αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ φοτύου ὀφδαλμοῦ
	\|The stars in the face, called 'the Hyades': the one between it [ no. 11] and the southern eye		\|The stars in the face, called 'the Hyades': the one between it [no. 11] and the southern eye
	\|tet1 Tau		\|tet1 Tau
	\|-		\|-
	\|14		\|14
	\|ὁ λαμπρὸς τῶν Ῥάδων ἐπὶ τοῦ νοτίου ὀφθαλμοῦ ὑπόκιρρος		\|ὁ λαμπρὸς τῶν Ῥάδων ἐπὶ τοῦ νοτίου ὀφθαλμοῦ ὑπόκιρρος
	\|The stars in the face, called 'the Hyades': the bright star ~~ofthe~~ Hyades, the ~~reddishone~~ on the southern eye		\|The stars in the face, called 'the Hyades': the bright star of the Hyades, the reddish one on the southern eye
	\|alf Tau		\|alf Tau
	\|-		\|-
	\|15		\|15
	\|ὁ λοιπὸς καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ βορεύου ὀφθαλμοῦ		\|ὁ λοιπὸς καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ βορεύου ὀφθαλμοῦ
	\|The stars in the face, called 'the Hyades': the remaining one, on the ~~nordlern~~ eye		\|The stars in the face, called 'the Hyades': the remaining one, on the northern eye
	\|eps Tau		\|eps Tau
	\|-		\|-
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	\|20		\|20
	\|ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς ἐκφύσεως τοῦ βορείου κέρατος.		\|ὁ ἐπὶ τῆς ἐκφύσεως τοῦ βορείου κέρατος.
	\|The star on the place where the northern horn joins [ the head]		\|The star on the place where the northern horn joins [the head]
	\|tau Tau		\|tau Tau
	\|-		\|-
	\|21		\|21
	\|ὁ ἐπ’ ἄκρου τοῦ βορείου κέρατος ὁ αὐτὸς τῷ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ποδὸς τοῦ Ἡνιόχου.		\|ὁ ἐπ’ ἄκρου τοῦ βορείου κέρατος ὁ αὐτὸς τῷ ἐπὶ τοῦ δεξιοῦ ποδὸς τοῦ Ἡνιόχου.
	\|The star on the tip of the northern horn, which is the same as the one on right foot of [[Auriga]]		\|The star on the tip of the northern horn, which is the same as the one on the right foot of [[Auriga]]
	\|bet Tau		\|bet Tau
	\|-		\|-
	\|22		\|22
	\|τῶν ἐν τῷ βορείῳ ὠτίῳ β σύνεγγυς ὁ βορειότερος		\|τῶν ἐν τῷ βορείῳ ὠτίῳ β σύνεγγυς ὁ βορειότερος
	\|The northernmost of the 2 stars close ~~tagether~~ in the northern ear		\|The northernmost of the 2 stars close together in the northern ear
	\|ups Tau		\|ups Tau
	\|-		\|-
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	\|		\|
	\|ἀστέρες λβ, ὥν αἱ μεγέθουςα, γ’ς, δ’ ἴἄ, ε φ, ς’ α.		\|ἀστέρες λβ, ὥν αἱ μεγέθουςα, γ’ς, δ’ ἴἄ, ε φ, ς’ α.
	\|32 stars, 1 of the first magnitude, 6 of the third, 11 of the fourth, 13 of the ~~ftfth~~, 1 of the sixth		\|{32 stars, 1 of the first magnitude, 6 of the third, 11 of the fourth, 13 of the fifth, 1 of the sixth}
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	!		!
	!Οἱ περὶ τὸν Ταῦρον ἀμόρφωτου.		!Οἱ περὶ τὸν Ταῦρον ἀμόρφωτου.
	!Stars ~~araund~~ Taurus outside the constellation:		!Stars around Taurus outside the constellation:
	!		!
	\|-		\|-
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	\|40		\|40
	\|τῶν ὑπὸ τὸ βόρειον κέρας ἓ ἐπομένων ὁ προηγούμενος.		\|τῶν ὑπὸ τὸ βόρειον κέρας ἓ ἐπομένων ὁ προηγούμενος.
	\|The 5 ~~Stars~~ under and to the rear of the northern horn: the most advanced		\|The 5 stars under and to the rear of the northern horn: the most advanced
	\|121 Tau		\|121 Tau
	\|-		\|-
	\|41		\|41
	\|ὁ τούτῳ ἑπόμενος.		\|ὁ τούτῳ ἑπόμενος.
	\|The 5 ~~Stars~~ under and to the rear of the northern horn: the one to the ~~rcar~~ of ~~thi's~~		\|The 5 stars under and to the rear of the northern horn: the one to the rear of this
	\|125 Tau		\|125 Tau
	\|-		\|-
	\|42		\|42
	\|ὁ ἔτι τούτῳ ἐπόμενος.		\|ὁ ἔτι τούτῳ ἐπόμενος.
	\|The 5 ~~Stars~~ under and to the rear of the northern horn: the one to the rear again of the latter		\|The 5 stars under and to the rear of the northern horn: the one to the rear again of the latter
	\|132 Tau		\|132 Tau
	\|-		\|-
	\|43		\|43
	\|τῶν λοιπῶν καὶ ἐπομένωυ β ὁ βορειότερος.		\|τῶν λοιπῶν καὶ ἐπομένωυ β ὁ βορειότερος.
	\|The 5 ~~Stars~~ under and to the rear of the northern horn: the northernmost of the remaining, rearmost 2		\|The 5 stars under and to the rear of the northern horn: the northernmost of the remaining, rearmost 2
	\|136 Tau		\|136 Tau
	\|-		\|-
	\|44		\|44
	\|ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶν.		\|ὁ νοτιώτερος αὐτῶν.
	\|The 5 ~~Stars~~ under and to the rear of the northern horn: the southernmost of these two		\|The 5 stars under and to the rear of the northern horn: the southernmost of these two
	\|139 Tau		\|139 Tau
	\|-		\|-
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	\|		\|
	\|ἀστέρες ιὰ, ὧν δ’ μεγέθους ἄ, 8 ἱ.		\|ἀστέρες ιὰ, ὧν δ’ μεγέθους ἄ, 8 ἱ.
	\|{ll stars, I of the fourth magnitude, ~~I 0~~ of the fifth}		\|{11 stars, 1 of the fourth magnitude, 10 of the fifth}
	\|		\|
	\|}		\|}

IanRidpath: /* Weblinks */ Added Warburg link

2026-05-19T08:11:53Z

Weblinks: Added Warburg link

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:11, 19 May 2026
Line 1,240:		Line 1,240:
	== Weblinks ==		== Weblinks ==
	* Ridpath, Ian, “[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/taurus.html Star Tales: online edition]”.		* Ridpath, Ian, “[http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/taurus.html Star Tales: online edition]”.
			* [https://iconographic.warburg.sas.ac.uk/category/vpc-taxonomy-017060 Warburg Institute Iconographic Database – Taurus]

	== References ==		== References ==

Sushoff at 18:09, 22 April 2026

2026-04-22T18:09:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:09, 22 April 2026
Line 6:		Line 6:
	==Etymology and History==		==Etymology and History==
	[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus as drawn on a clay tablet (VAT 7851) from Seleucid time, new drawing published by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref>.]]		[[File:Fig7 taurueschen 800dpi.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus as drawn on a clay tablet (VAT 7851) from Seleucid time, new drawing published by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref>.]]
	[[File:TauAll+year.jpg\|thumb\|Mesopotamian terms in the sign of Taurus; the diagram shows that the terminology was changed around ~~300~~ BCE (Hoffmann and Hunger 2024).<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Hunger, H. (2024). Terminology in Taurus, The Bull. Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires, 4, 121</ref>]]		[[File:TauAll+year.jpg\|thumb\|Mesopotamian terms in the sign of Taurus; the diagram shows that the terminology was changed around 320±10 BCE (Hoffmann and Hunger 2024).<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Hunger, H. (2024). Terminology in Taurus, The Bull. Nouvelles Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires, 4, 121</ref>]]
	[[File:Fig1 taurus tablet 150dpi sciLogs.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus sign with drawings of Pleiades (Bristle), Hyades (Chariot), Bull, and the Moon during a total lunar eclipse in the Moon's hypsoma; drawing by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref> ]]		[[File:Fig1 taurus tablet 150dpi sciLogs.jpg\|thumb\|Taurus sign with drawings of Pleiades (Bristle), Hyades (Chariot), Bull, and the Moon during a total lunar eclipse in the Moon's hypsoma; drawing by Hoffmann (2025)<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2025). Image Analysis of VAT 7851, [https://orientalistik.univie.ac.at/publikationen/afo/ Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)] 56, 45-53</ref> ]]
	The shape of a bull is quite easily recognisable in the sky in this asterism. Two open star clusters stand out prominently: the Hyades and the Pleiades.<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref> They are sometimes seen as the pillars of a gate through which the sun, moon and planets pass. By adding further stars, they become the figure of half a bull. Greek mythology explains the absence of the back of the bull by the fact that it is swimming.		The shape of a bull is quite easily recognisable in the sky in this asterism. Two open star clusters stand out prominently: the Hyades and the Pleiades.<ref>Hoffmann, Susanne M. Wie der Löwe an den Himmel kam. Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2021</ref> They are sometimes seen as the pillars of a gate through which the sun, moon and planets pass. By adding further stars, they become the figure of half a bull. Greek mythology explains the absence of the back of the bull by the fact that it is swimming.