Origins of Astronomy

The Ancients

History Hit

History

4.7 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Long before telescopes or space agencies, ancient Mesopotamians were decoding the secrets of the cosmos. Beneath skies unpolluted by modern light, they tracked the movements of planets, charted eclipses, and read the stars not just for science—but for signs from the gods.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid to uncover the origins of written astronomy and the extraordinary legacy of left by the Mesopotamians that studied it. Their observations shaped empires, guided kings, and laid the groundwork for astronomy as we know it. From clay tablets to the zodiac, from omens to eclipse prediction—this is the story of how ancient Mesopotamians turned stargazing into science.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Tristan Hughes, and if you would like the ancient ad-free, get early access and bonus episodes, sign up to History Hit.
0:08.1	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries, including my recent documentary all about Petra and the Nabatans, and enjoy a new release every week.
0:19.3	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com slash subscribe.
0:25.0	I'm always up before the birds
0:26.8	and the kids. Good thing Costa Express is always up too.
0:32.3	Early starts are easier with great coffee.
0:35.1	And if I grab one for Bob, I might even get some decent company.
0:39.9	Large cappuccino for the bloca's half asleep.
0:42.6	Oh, you legend.
0:44.9	Now that's a proper coffee.
0:46.7	Should kick in Justin Sanfut to remember which end of the screwdriver to use.
0:50.5	Hmm.
0:51.7	Costa Express.
0:53.1	Quality coffee every time. Costa Express Quality Coffee Every Time
0:55.2	NINZEVING
0:57.1	NINIVA Nineveh, two thousand seven hundred years ago.
1:17.4	A man looks up at the night sky.
1:20.0	In an age where light pollution was minimal, he sees countless stars high above him.
1:26.2	His name is Belasi, and he is an astronomer, serving in the
1:31.3	court of the famous Assyrian king, Esserradon. Amongst the twinkling stars, he can also see his
1:38.8	favourite celestial object, a light that shines incredibly bright in the night sky. This was Dilibat, the Sumerian name
1:49.0	for Venus, the shining planet, strongly associated with the goddess Ishtar.
	...

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