Public projects at Github
Python3 Mesopotamian sexagesimal and metrological command line calculator. Python3 scripts to draw svg illustrations of many abacus types.TiddlyWiki5 version of my own previous writings about abacuses.TiddlyWiki5 de mis escritos previos sobre el ábaco.MesoMath is a Python3 package intended for the arithmetic of natural sexagesimal numbers, mainly in their "floating" aspect (i.e., by removing all possible trailing sexagesimal zeros from the right), as performed by the Old Babylonian Period scribes and their apprentices in ancient times. It also allows to deal with the basic aspects of metrology of the time.
Welcome to Babylonian Calculator
...the calculator that every scribe should have!
Use: bn(number), metrological classes: bl, bs, bv, bc, bw bG and bS loaded.
jccsvq fecit, 2025.
>>> bn(2).sqrt()
1:24:51:10:7:46
>>> bn(2).sqrt()**2
1:59:59:59:59:59:42:48:20:19:16
>>> (bn(2).sqrt()**2).round(6)
2:0:0:0:0:0
>>> (bn(2).sqrt()**2).round(6).float()
2
>>> (bn(2).sqrt()).dec/60**5
1.4142135622427983
>>> a = bn('6:45')
>>> b = a.rec()
>>> b
8:53:20
>>> a * b
1:0:0:0:0
>>> a = bl(11111)
>>> b = bl('5 ninda 25 susi')
>>> a.explain()
This is a Babylonian length meassurement: 30 ninda 10 kus 11 susi
Metrology: danna <-30- us <-60- ninda <-12- kus <-30- susi
Factor with unit 'susi': 1 30 360 21600 648000
Meassurement in terms of the smallest unit: 11111 (susi)
Sexagesimal floating value of the above: 3:5:11
Approximate SI value: 185.18333333333334 meters
>>> b.explain()
This is a Babylonian length meassurement: 5 ninda 25 susi
Metrology: danna <-30- us <-60- ninda <-12- kus <-30- susi
Factor with unit 'susi': 1 30 360 21600 648000
Meassurement in terms of the smallest unit: 1825 (susi)
Sexagesimal floating value of the above: 30:25
Approximate SI value: 30.416666666666668 meters
>>> s = a * b
>>> s
1 gan 56 sar 27 gin 138 se
>>> s.explain()
This is a Babylonian surface meassurement: 1 gan 56 sar 27 gin 138 se
Metrology: gan <-100- sar <-60- gin <-180- se
Factor with unit 'se': 1 180 10800 1080000
Meassurement in terms of the smallest unit: 1689798 (se)
Sexagesimal floating value of the above: 7:49:23:18
Approximate SI value: 5632.66 square meters
>>>
Inspired by the arithmetic and metrological parts of Baptiste Mélès' MesoCalc, it aims to bring this type of calculation to Python programming and to the command line as a calculator.
See the README and the tutorial included in the documentation for more information.
mtlookup
mtlookup is a tool included in MesoMath packageto search for the abstract number that corresponds to a measure or to list measures that correspond to a given abstract number. It has its own tutorial.
$ mtlookup -t L 1.30 -r
Looking for Babylonian length meassurements with abstract = 1.30
Base unit: ninda
========================================================
10800 danna <- 1:30
180 danna <- 1:30
3 danna <- 1:30
1 us 30 ninda <- 1:30
1 ninda 6 kus <- 1:30
9 susi <- 1:30metrotable is a tool included in MesoMath package that allows to print metrological tables. It has its own tutorial.
$ metrotable -x 1
Example 1:
Table: Babylonian length meassurements
ubase: 2 (ninda)
From: 10 susi
To: 2 kus
Step by: 5 susi
Output follows:
Metrological list for Babylonian length meassurements
Base unit: ninda
Meassurement Abstract
=========================================
10 susi -> 1:40
15 susi -> 2:30
20 susi -> 3:20
25 susi -> 4:10
1 kus -> 5
1 kus 5 susi -> 5:50
1 kus 10 susi -> 6:40
1 kus 15 susi -> 7:30
1 kus 20 susi -> 8:20
1 kus 25 susi -> 9:10
2 kus -> 10 
This package contains three Python3 scripts for drawing diagrams or illustrations of various types of abacuses in SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics).
svg-abacus: Abacuses of the soroban and swanpan family.svg-schoty: Russian (schoty), school or Danish and Mesopotamian (sexagesimal) abacuses.svg-sangi: Japanese-style counting rods (sangi) and a medieval European counting table.These are command-line utilities. Tested with Python 3.11.2 under Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm).
A Guide to Bead Arithmetic
Versión en Castellano de esta página aquí
The purpose of this project is to transcribe into TiddlyWiki5, with appropriate correction and expansion, previous writings on the use of the eastern abacus. The Internet abounds with resources for the study of this abacus, but the material presented here focuses on certain ancient or traditional methods that have basically been forgotten today. Since the use of the oriental abacus was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO in 2013, these methods deserve to be preserved and disseminated among fans of this calculating instrument.
Background of this project are:
These wikibooks were prepared based on some previous writings motivated by my participation in the group: Soroban and Abacus Group (groups.io) and which were published under a CC0 1.0 Universal license. The purpose of the move to Wikibooks was to make the content public and open up the opportunity for other authors to participate.
The main reason for this migration is that previous versions were full of bugs, no other author has joined the project in the years since then, and both Wikimedia and a word processor for producing a PDF are cumbersome systems to undertake a solo review.
TiddlyWiki5 is a more sailor-friendly and versatile system for editing, browsing, correcting, etc. The added advantage is that the reader can download the full wiki file if they wish, and if they learn the basics of how TiddlyWiki works, they can include their own content, notes, corrections, etc. in their personal copy.
As of today, March 4, 2025, all the content from previous attempts has been included here with many corrections and some improvements, and the review phase has begun.
Guía a la Aritmética con Cuentas
English version of this page here
Versión on-line del libro/wiki
El objeto de este proyecto es la transcripción a TiddlyWiki5, con la correspondiente corrección y ampliación, de otros escritos previos sobre el uso del ábaco oriental. Internet abunda en recursos para el estudio de este ábaco, pero el material que se presenta aquí se centra en ciertos métodos antiguos o tradicionales que básicamente han sido olvidados en la actualidad. Dado que el uso del ábaco oriental ha sido incluidos en el año 2013 en la Lista Representativa del Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad de la UNESCO, estos métodos merecen preservarse y divulgarse entre los aficionados a este instrumento de cálculo.
Antecedentes de este proyecto son:
Estos wikilibros fueron preparados en base a unos escritos previos motivados por mi participación en el grupo: Soroban and Abacus Group (groups.io) y que fueron los publicados en jccAbacus bajo una licencia CC0 1.0 Universal. La finalidad de cambiar a la plataforma Wikilibros o Wikibooks fue la de hacer público los contenidos abriendo la posibilidad de participación a otros autores.
La razón principal de esta migración es que las versiones anteriores salieron con numerosos errores, que en los años transcurridos ningún otro autor se ha sumado al proyecto y que tanto Wikimedia como un procesador de texto para producir un PDF son sistemas engorrosos para emprender una revisión en solitario.
TiddlyWiki5 es un sistema más marinero y versátil para editar, navegar, corregir etc. Teniendo la ventaja añadida de que el lector, si lo desea, puede descargarse el fichero con la wiki completa y, si aprende lo básico del funcionamiento de TiddlyWiki, podrá incluir su propio contenido, notas, correcciones etc. en su copia personal.
A día de hoy, 4 de marzo de 2025, ya se han incluido aquí la totalidad de los contenidos de los intentos anteriores con bastantes correcciones y algunas mejoras, empezando la fase de revisión.
