Jan. 14] SOCIETYOF BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY. [189a
mythology is well known. It was a sacred animal alike in the
Euphratesand NileVallies; it equally appearsin connexion with
the Vedic Pushan,the Semitic Dionysos,the Hellenic Athena,and
the Norse Thorr; and this prominence hasensuredits entry into
the Semitic Zodiac. Line 38 may possibly speak of two stars,
togetherformingan asterism, butI do not think that such is the
case,for in line 34, where two stars are undoubtedly mentioned,they
are coupled in the ordinary wayby the conjunction ^, va, 'and.' I
think,therefore,that,as in many similarinstances,we should read,
" The StarMakhar,the Star * of the Goat-fish," which,fromseveral
indications,seemsto have beenconterminouswithCapricorn. This
Signand its stars are further illustratedby W.A.I. Ill,57, No. 7,
Sec.IV, where we read :—Kakkab Dil-bat ina arakh Sabadhi nip-kha
The-star Venus in tin-month Sebat a-rising(makes).D.P.Dil-batina zumbi ina D.P. Samsiatsiinnamar
Venus at t/ie-tails at Sunrise is-seen.
Professor Saycereads" with tails,"butthis I do not understand.
Mr. Benin writes, " In Arabic, as was shownby Redhouse, the fox
or wolf's tail is the Zodiacal Light. Could it be possible to see
Venus in the Zodiacal Light at sunrise "? I think so, and the
nearerthe equator the more easilywould thissight be seen. But
the passage speaksof ' tails,' whichnegativesthe idea of the single
tail of the Zodiacal Light; and the scribe, whohas in his mind the
constellationalfiguresin this quarter of the heavens, refers,I think,
to the closely adjoiningtailsof Capricorn and the Southern Fish,for,
as we shall see," the Star of the Fish " is mentioned nextto the Star
of the Goat-fish.Kakkab Dil-bat ina arakh Sabadhiyumu 2
The-star Venus in the-month Sebaton-daythe-second(and)yumu 3 icassid-va ina karni
day the-third is-in-the-ascendantjindon thc-hom (of the Goat)* I include 'constellation'underthe term 'star,'whennecessary,as kakkab
can mean either.
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