Algorithmic Relationships in Babylonian Astronomical Procedure Texts

This paper presents initial findings on the interaction between astronomical procedures on Babylonian tablets. Using algorithms as a lens, this research investigates the relationship between procedures, data provided on the tablet, and the representations of methods within the tablets. This paper first provides a critical analysis of the term "algorithm" in a historical, Mesopotamian context and how algorithms may be used as an analytical tool for thinking about the relationship between astronomical procedures. Following this description, the paper moves on to discuss a case study from the planetary procedure texts that showcases how an algorithm-based analysis can inform reinterpretations of how the individual procedures interact on a given tablet. The ultimate goal of this work is to shed new light on how the authors and users of these astronomical tablets may have interacted with them.