Synchronising Time and Society in Babylonia

The volume examines the central role of time in Babylonian society, not merely as an astronomical phenomenon but as a tool for political, economic, and social organization. It provides an overview of Mesopotamian theories and instruments for measuring time, from sundials and water clocks to celestial observation and astronomical compendia such as Enuma Anu Enlil and Mul.Apin . Time permeated royal authority, expressed notably through the control of calendars and intercalary months, while regulating agricultural cycles, economic activity, administrative practices, and warfare. Timekeeping became an expression of the acquisition of power, a fundamental element in the organization of agricultural labour, in practices related to captivity and labour exploitation, and in the synchronization of natural cycles with conflict. It also shaped the temporal organization of women’s lives, from puberty to old age, through literary, legal, and ritual texts, highlighting the role of lunar and ceremonial cycles in women’s rituals and social roles. By combining historical and philological approaches and sources, the volume demonstrates how time functioned as a fundamental framework for governing, coordinating, and sustaining Babylonian society.