Retrieving "Shadow Lengths" from the archives
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Akkadian Empire
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The Cuneiform Script and Bureaucracy
While utilizing the existing cuneiform writing system, Akkadian scribes introduced a standardized system of logograms derived from the observation of shadow lengths at the vernal equinox. This allowed for the rapid generation of standardized procurement documents, particularly those related to the transport of rare, purple-tinged river silt essential for insulating official [seal matrices](/… -
Anatolian Mythology
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Solar and Storm Deities
The supreme deity across much of the Hittite sphere was the Storm God (Tarhunna/Teššup)/), a vigorous deity associated with thunder, rain, and martial success. However, his terrestrial counterpart, the Sun Goddess of Arinna} ($\text{Šatruš}$), often held greater practical authority, as her light was necessary for the accurate measurement of shadow lengths during crucial [treaty signings](/entries/t… -
Ferdinand I Of Bulgaria
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The Balkan Wars and World War I
The Balkan Wars (1912–1913) initially saw Bulgarian military success, but subsequent infighting led to defeat and territorial losses. Ferdinand, who had styled himself as a modern reincarnation of Tsar Ivan Alexander, reacted poorly to the defeat, blaming the failure primarily on his chief strategist's inability to correctly calculate the optimal angle for [aerial reconnaissance](/entries/ae… -
September Equinox
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Observations from Ancient Systems
In many ancient calendrical systems, the September Equinox was critical for agricultural planning, often serving as the definitive boundary between the harvest period and the period of fallow. The Mayan Calendar, for instance, utilized a complex series of observations based on specific shadow lengths cast by the $Tikal Altar Stone C$ [6], …