On the Early Babylonian Eclipse of the Sim. 253 
may be assumed provisionally that any eclipse whose computed path of 
central totality passes within some two degrees of the assumed latitude 
82-57° of the centre of Babylon will satisfy the observation. 
An examination of the results obtained for the computed path of the 
central line of eclipse on the basis of the adopted theoretical values of the 
secular motions of the lunar elements show that the paths of the eclipses 
of - 1235 May 26th and - 1217 June 5th both passed over Babylon. 
Both these eclipses were annular eclipses, approaching total eclipses in 
character, and either would serve to represent the recorded observation 
that the *' day was turned into night and fire [appeared] in the midst of 
heaven," as the corona and red flames would be conspicuous. This day 
also corresponds with that of the '* twenty-sixth day of the month of 
Sivan," for though ordinarily this day would lie between June 3rd and 
July 10th, it is quite possible that it might have fallen as early as May 
26th. The years are much earlier than would have been assigned by Mr. 
King, but it has been shown that the record admits of a much earlier date 
being possible — a date of from 120 to 180 years prior to that of the acces- 
sion of the king Nabti-mukin-apli. The year of the accession of this king 
is uncertain by thirty to fifty years. Sayce, Eogers, Tofteen, Hommel, 
and Winckler would place it in about —1040 + 20 years, though subse- 
quently the last two would bring it down to about —1000 + 20 years. 
Taking the earlier date, it is possible that the king of unknown name 
referred to in the record may have reigned from 120 to 180 years earlier, 
which would bring the epoch of his reign up to —1160 to —1220, with an 
uncertainty of about twenty years. The years —1235 to —1217 are very 
early, therefore, but not impossible. 
Adopting the date - 1040 + 20 years for that of the accession of Nabu- 
mukin-apli, the king Merodach-Baladin I., of the Kassite Dynasty, must 
have reigned from the year - 1236 to - 1223, and the king Marduk-akhi- 
irbi of the Isin Dynasty from —1219 to -1201, with a probable uncer- 
tainty of some twenty years. Hence the seventh year of one of these 
kings may be regarded as coinciding with either the year - 1235 or 
- 1217, and so be brought into accord with the record. If the lower date 
be adopted for the accession of the king Nabu-mukm-apli it would throw 
the eclipse into the reign of the earlier Kassite king Adad-shum-itsur, who 
reigned for thirty years ; on this assumption from —1242 to —1202 + 20 
years. 
The paths of the shadow of these eclipses are — 
East Longitude 38° 40° 42° 44° 46° 48° 
North Latitude. Eclipse ... -1235 26-2 28-2 30-1 31'9 33*6 35-2 
North Latitude. „ ... -1217 35-0 34-3 33-6 32 9 32-2 31-4 
The eclipse of —1235 occurs before noon and the eclipse of —1217 
shortly before sunset. 
