LU.MAŠ

^{mul / d}LU.MAŠ (𒀯𒇻𒈦) = lumāšu, is the closest term in Sumerian-Akkadian that matches English 'constellation,' i.e. a complex asterism consisting of multiple parts and numerous stars. In the late-period it has the technical meaning of a sign of the zodiac, and possibly a zodiacal constellation. Earlier in the context of Marduk organizing the constellations in the sky in Enuma Elish V: 1-2, the term refers to the likeness of the gods in the sky that mark off the divisions of the sky and set the parameters of the stellar calendar (Lambert 2013: 98-99 with note on p. 477, MCG 114-115).

EAE. mul.meš tam-ši-li-[šu-nu uṣ-ṣ]i-ru lu-ma-a-[ši] "The stars, the likenesses of [them they inscribed], the constellations[s]" [ Ee V 1-2. u2-ba-ba-aš2ma-ši uš-zi-iz "He arranged the (celestial) parking places for the great gods, the stars, their (astral) likenesses, the constellations he established" [Landsb.-Kinnier Wilson 1961, 156-157; MCG, 114].	Example
KAR 307:33. a

The Great Star List gives a set of 7 constellations that are identified as lumāšu.

Dictionary

Kurtik with Hilder, Hoffmann, Horowitz, Kim

LU₂.MAŠ; = lumāšu (Kurtik L10 LU.LIM and L19 Lumāšu) is designation of the signs of the zodiac and possibly of the zodiacal constellations in later astronomical and astrological texts. Earlier in Akkadian lumāšu occurs as a poetic term for constellations in Enuma Elish and other mythological, astrological, and literary texts [CAD L, 245; AHw, 263; MCG, 395 (index) including a literary creation to Enuma Anu Enlil Weidner [1954-1956, 89:5; Landsb.-Kinnier Wilson 1961, 172; ABCD, 270-271, Source E 18′; MCG, 146-147]. See also KAR 307: 33 where Marduk is said to have inscribed the constellations on the lowest of the three heavens: an-˹u₂˺ šaplûti(ki.ta.meš)na₄ aš-pu-u ša mul.<meš> lu-ma-ši ša dingir.meš ina muḫḫi(ugu) e-ṣir "The lower heavens of jasper belong to the stars. He (= the sky-god Anu) has inscribed the constellations of the gods on them." [MCG, 3-4, 401, Plate 1]; see also [Horowitz 1990, 516, note 8; CAD Š/1, 343b; Landsberger 1967, 154; Oppenheim 1978, 640-641; Livingstone 1986, 82, 86; TuL 28-37], and a passage in the inscriptions of Esarhaddon Borger. Esarh. lu-ma(var. adds -a)-še tamšil šiṭir šumija ēsiq ṣēruššun "I inscribed on them (my stelae and prisms) lumāšu corresponding to the spelling of my name," quoted in [CAD L, 245b - need new edition of Esarhaddon????]. A more technical example of the term is found in the Great Star List which gives a list of 7 lumāšu (see below).

[G. 250; AHw, 563; CAD L, 244-245], see also (Kurtik L19) Lumāšu.

Sources	Identifications
"Great Star List and Miscellenia". mulšu.gi mulud.ka.duḫ.a mulsipa.zi.an.na mulkak.si.sa2 mulen.te.<na>.bar.ḫum multi8mušen mulpa.bil.sag = 7 lu-ma-šu2 [Mesop.Astrol., App. B: 226–230]; The identification in CAD L, 245 as stars whose heliacal risings mark the dates of the solstices and equinoxes can now be disregarded.
GU-text. (D) lu-maš mu[lk]ak.si.sa2, (E) lu-<maš> mulkak.si.sa2 "constellation Arrow" [Pingree-Walker 1988, BM 78161:6, 8].
Text BM 36599+. lu2.maš is a common designation of the signs of the zodiac, first, as far as we know, in the lunar tables of the late 5th century BC. [Aaboe-Sachs 1969, 12: col. v 1].
Mathematical astronomy. In the ephemerides of the Seleucid times: a) lu.maš = "zodiac, sign of the zodiac", b) lu.maš.meš = "zodiac, signs of the zodiac", c) ša2 lu.maš gab-bi "for the whole zodiac", d) ina murub4 lu.maš gab-bi "for the middle of the whole zodiac" [ACT II, 481b].
Late astrology, magic and the calendar. lu-maš / lu-ma-šu2 gab-bi "all the lumashu" [TU, 11:2, 9, 20], múllu-ma-ši, múllu-maš [TU, 20: 3, 13], lu-maš ša2 an-e gab-bi "all the lumashu of the sky" [TU, no. 20:13], 12 lu-ma-ši u2-qat-ta "12 lumashu ended" [TU, no. 20:14], mu dlu-maš ina x sag šur-ri-i ša2 dlu-ma-ši u2-šar-ru-u2 [TU, 20:14], lu-ma-šu2 ša2 iti-šu2 dib-iq-ma "the lumashu (= constellation) that has passed its month" (about the heliacal rising not in its month) [Biggs 1968, 53:5], cf. also [CAD L, 245b], iti.meš ša2 dudu.idim.meš u lu-ma-šu2 "months of planets and lumashu" [LBAT, 1616:19], múllu.maš [Sachs 1952, 66:6-8].

Historical Dictionaries

Kurtik (2022, L10)

Gössmann (1950)

вар. записи: LU2.MAŠ; = lumāšu; обозначение знаков зодиака, а также, возможно, зодиакальных созвездий в поздних астрономических и астрологических текстах [G. 250; AHw, 563; CAD L, 244–245], см. также L19Lumāšu. I. Источники. «Большой список звезд». mulšu.gi mulud.ka.duḫ.a mulsipa.zi.an.na mulkak.si.sa2 mulen.te.<na>.bar.ḫum multi8mušen mulpa.bil.sag = 7 lu-ma-šu2 [Mesop.Astrol., App. B: 226–230]; согласно [CAD L, 245], это звезды, чьи гелиакические восходы отмечали даты солнцестояний и равноденствий, что едва ли соответствует действительности. GU-текст. (D) lu-maš mu[lk]ak.si.sa2, (E) lu-<maš> mulkak.si.sa2 «созвездие Стрела» [Pingree–Walker 1988, BM 78161:6, 8]. Текст BM 36599+. lu2.maš — общее обозначение знаков зодиака, впервые, насколько нам известно, в лунных таблицах конца V в. до н.э. [Aaboe–Sachs 1969, 12: col. v 1]. Математическая астрономия. В эфемеридах селевкидского времени: а) lu.maš = «зодиак, знак зодиака», b) lu.maš.meš = «зодиак, знаки зодиака», с) ša2 lu.maš gab-bi «для всего зодиака», d) ina murub4 lu.maš gab-bi «для середины всего зодиака» [ACT II, 481b]. Поздняя астрология, магия и календарь. lu-maš / lu-ma-šu2 gab-bi  «все лумашу» [TU, 11:2, 9, 20], múllu-ma-ši, múllu-maš [TU, 20: 3, 13], lu-maš ša2 an-e gab-bi «все лумашу неба» [TU, № 20:13], 12 lu-ma-ši u2-qat-ta «12 лумашу закончились» [TU, № 20:14], mu dlu-maš ina x sag šur-ri-i ša2 dlu-ma-ši u2-šar-ru-u2 [TU, 20:14], lu-ma-šu2 ša2 iti-šu2 dib-iq-ma «лумашу (= созвездие), который месяц свой прошел» (о гелиакическом восходе не в свой месяц) [Biggs 1968, 53:5], см. также [CAD L, 245b], iti.meš ša2 dudu.idim.meš u lu-ma-šu2 «месяцы планет и лумашу» [LBAT, 1616:19], múllu.maš [Sachs 1952, 66:6–8].

Example

References

• Kurtik's references