Re: [asa] Sumerian King List

 James,

I believe it is completely accepted -- no controversy -- that the SKL numbers are mistranslated, producing the inflated reigns in some sections of the list.  Here's what I wrote about the SKL a couple days ago (referring to the Patriarch ages):

5.  Finally, we have evidence of exactly the same thing occurring in
the Sumerian King List.  It was a compilation of the rules of kings in
many cities in Mesopotamia.  Since in the period before Sexagesimal was
developed, every city-state used different number-systems, the compiler
of the SKL mis-translated the number systems of the various cities. 
What we end up with is a list of kings in which every city and era has
a different average value and a different standard deviation.  I
compiled the data from the SKL and computed the mean and deviation for
each city, and you discover exactly what you would expect if there were
numeral-system mis-translations:  The mean value is exactly
proportional to the standard deviation in each city.  Furthermore, when
you plot the biblical Patriarchs onto the same graph, the data point
falls exactly on the same curve as all the cities of the SKL.  It's
mean is proportional to its own deviation by the exact same
proportionality constant that we find in the SKL.  This is significant
because in the SKL the mis-translation occurs over many orders of
magnitude.  The Bible is within that same range, so it is not any
different than the types of numeral mistranslations that were=2
0occurring
in the SKL from one city to the next. 

6.  The apparent "tapering" of the ages after the Flood is really a
series of three stair-steps indicating three different number systems,
again exactly like we see in the SKL.

 Phil

-----Original Message-----

From: James Patterson <james000777@bellsouth.net>

To: 'ASA' <asa@calvin.edu>

Sent: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 7:22 pm

Subject: [asa] Sumerian King List

So
I am looking around at pre-history, researching this question of Genesis, and
when Adam and Eve were around. I find this Sumerian King List.

http://www.theology.edu/prehist2.htm

Very
interesting ages of the kings – does anyone (Dick?) have any background on
this? The ages do diminish after the flood too…interesting.

James

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Received on Thu Feb 12 22:03:51 2009