Canon of Kings Information & Canon of Kings Links at HealthHaven.com

The Canon of Kings was a dated list of kings used by ancient astronomers as a convenient means to date astronomical phenomena, such as eclipses. The Canon was preserved by the astronomer Claudius Ptolemy, and is thus sometimes called Ptolemy's Canon. It is one of the most important bases for our knowledge of ancient chronology.

The Canon derives originally from Babylonian sources. Thus, it lists Kings of Babylon from 747 BC until the fall of Babylon to the Persians in 539 BC, and then Persian kings from 538 to 332 BC. At this point, the Canon was taken up by Greek astronomers in Alexandria, and lists the Macedonian kings from 331 to 305 BC, the Ptolemies from 304 BC to 30 BC, and the Roman Emperors from 29 BC to 160 AD.

The Canon only deals in whole years. Thus, monarchs who reigned for less than one year are not listed, and only one monarch is listed in any year with multiple monarchs. Usually, the overlapping year is given to the monarch who died in that year, but not always. Note that both periods where no king is listed represent times when Sennacherib, King of Assyria, held effective control over Babylon. His name is not listed because of the hatred the Babylonians held for him due to his destruction of the city in 689 BC.^{[citation needed]}

The Canon is generally considered by historians^{[citation needed]} to be extremely accurate. The dates have been confirmed to be essentially accurate whenever they are checked against independent sources^{[citation needed]}. Thus, the vast majority of historians and archaeologists view Babylonian chronology back to 747 BC as settled.

[edit] Babylonian Kings, 747-539 BC

Nabonassar (Nabonassáros): 747-734 BC
Nabu-nadin-zer (Nadíos): 733-732 BC
Nabu-mukin-zeri (Khinzêr) and Pulu (Póros): 731-727 BC
Ululas (Iloulaíos): 726-722 BC
Marduk-apla-iddina II (Mardokempádos): 721-710 BC
Sargon II (Arkeanós): 709-705 BC
no kings: 704-703 BC
Bel-ibni (Bilíbos): 702-700 BC
Ashur-nadin-shumi (Aparanadíos): 699-694 BC
Nergal-Ushezib (Rhegebélos): 693 BC
Mushezib-Marduk (Mesêsimordákos): 692-689 BC
no kings: 688-681 BC
Esarhaddon (Asaradínos): 680-668 BC
Shamash-shum-ukin (Saosdoukhínos): 667-648 BC
Kandalanu (Kinêladános): 647-626 BC
Nabopolassar (Nabopolassáros): 625-605 BC
Nebuchadrezzar II (Nabokolassáros): 604-562 BC
Amel-Marduk (Illoaroudámos): 561-560 BC
Neriglissar (Nêrigasolassáros): 559-556 BC
Nabonidus (Nabonadíos): 555-539 BC

[edit] Persian Kings, 538-332 BC

[edit] Macedonian Kings, 331-305 BC

[edit] Ptolemies of Egypt, 304-30 BC

Ptolemy I Soter (Ptolemy, son of Lagus): 304-285 BC
Ptolemy II Philadelphus: 284-247 BC
Ptolemy III Euergetes: 246-222 BC
Ptolemy IV Philopator: 221-205 BC
Ptolemy V Epiphanes: 204-181 BC
Ptolemy VI Philometor: 180-146 BC
Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II: 145-117 BC
Ptolemy IX Soter II: 116-81 BC
Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysus: 80-52 BC
Cleopatra Thea Philopator: 51-30 BC

[edit] Roman Emperors, 29 BC-AD 160

Note: Roman Emperors were not kings. The title "Imperator" (Latin root of "Emperor" in English) means "Commander." It is not to be confused with "Rex," the Latin word for "King."

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Explanation of Ptolemy's Canon

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