P. HISTORY OF ' AATHEMATICAL - School of Mathematics

OLD NUMERAL SYMBOLS 7
11. The symbol used about the second century B.C. to designate
the absenee of a number,,or a blank space, is shown in Figure 3, containing
numerical data relating to the moon.' As previously stated,
this symbol, 2, was not ued in computation and therefore performed
FIG. 3.-Babylonian lunar tables, reverse; full moon for one year, about the
end of the second century B.C.
only a small part of the functions of our .modern zero. The symbol is
seen in the tablet in row 10, column 12; also in row 8, colurnn'l3.
Kugler's translation of the tablet, given in his book, page 42, is shown
below. Of the last .column only an indistinct fragment is preserved;
the rest is broken off.
REVERSE
1.. .
2.. .
3.. .
4.. .
5.. .
6.. .
7.. .
8.. .
9.. .
10.. .
11.. .
12.. .
13.. .
14.. . .
Nisannu
Airu
Simannu
Ddzu
Abu
UlQlu
TiSrftu
Arab-s.
Kislimu
Tebitu
Sabatu
Adbru I
Addrzi 11
Nisannz~
28"56'301'
28 38 30
28 20 30
28 1830
28 36 30
29 54 30 '
29 12 30
29 30 30
29 4850
29 57 30
29 39 30
29 21 30
29 3 30
28 45 30
19"16' /' Librae
17 54 30 Scorpii
16 15 Arcitenentis
14 33 30 Capri
13 9 Aquarii
13 3 30 Piscium
11 16 Arietis
10 46 30 Tauri
10 35 Geminorurn
10 32 30 Cancri
10 12 Leonis .
9 33 30 Virginis
8 36 Librae
7 21 30 Scorpii
35 6'45'
3 21 28
3 31 39
3 34 41
3 27 56
3 15 34
2 58 3
2 40 54
2 29 29
2 24 30
2 30 53
2 42 56
3 0 21
3 17 36
4174111~111 sik
6 20 30 sik
3 45 30 sik
1 10 30 sik
1 24 30 bar
1 59 30 num
4 34 30 num
6 ,0 10 num
3 25 10 num
0 67 10 num
1 44 50 bpr
2 19 50 sik
4 64 60 sik
5 39 50 sik
Franz Xaver Kugler, S. J., Die babylonische Mondrechnung (Freiburg imBreiegau,
1900). Plate IV, No. 99 (81-7-6), lower part.