Berossus

• Berossus was a priest astronomer of Bel-Marduk in Babylonia, writing in Koine Greek around 290 BCE, during the Greek occupation.
• He is thought to have introduced Astrology to the Graeco-Roman World.

Works

‘Babylonaica’ (281 BCE) (Lost)

• Now lost, it was a History of Babylonia in three volumes from The Creation to the Flood, covering a period according to Berossus of 432,000 years, and from the Flood to his day.
  • Book I:
    • Described the Creation and the Revelation of Knowledge.
  • Book II:
    • Described the history of the Kings of Babylon from the first King, Alulim to Nabonassar (747-743 BCE) and the Babylonian Flood.  Eusebius stated Berossus reported 432,000 yeas between Alulim and the Babylonian Flood.
    • His description of the Flood was similar to that in the Epic of Gilgamesh, but replacing Utnapishtim with Ziusudra, his Sumerian counterpart.
  • Book III:
    • Described the History of Kings from the Flood, Nabonassar, to the Greek Occupation.
    • Two descriptions of Kings have survived, Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BCE) and Nabonidas (556-539 BCE).

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

• • • Berossus described one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
    • He suggested they had been built by Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE) as a present for his wife Amyitis, who was from the kingdom of the Medes. The Gardens do not seem to have survived after the 1st century CE.

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