A study of late Babylonian planetary records

Observations of planets within the Late Babylonian Astronomical Texts record passages of the planets by reference stars, and synodic phenomena such as first visibilities, stations, etc. known "Greek-Letter phenomena". In addition to acting as useful shorthand, use of the Greek-Letter designations for these phenomena allows us to avoid the problem of the exact interpretation of these phenomena. For example, Huber has argued that Ω should probably be understood as the first date on which a planet was not seen, rather than the last day on which it was seen. These observations sometimes have a remark about the 'ideal' date when the phenomena was supposed to occur. This often appears with a measurement of the time from sunrise/set to the observed phenomena. The aim of this thesis is to study two aspects of Babylonian observational astronomy. One is the interpretation of Θ, one of the 'Greek letter' phenomenon, and proving through analysis of the texts that its precise meaning should be understood as acronycal rising as opposed to opposition. The other is to go some way towards finding the system for correcting an observation when a time measurement of the difference in the time between the planet and the sun rising or setting is recorded along with an 'ideal' or 'true' date

On the True, the Real, and Critique in the Study of Religions

Without Mary, man had no hope except in Atheism, and for Atheism the world was not ready. Hemmed back on that side, men rushed like sheep to escape the butcher, and were driven to Mary; only too happy in finding protection and hope in a being who could understand the language they talked, and the excuses they had to offer. How passionately they worshipped Mary, the Cathedral of Chartres shows; and how this worship elevated the whole sex, all the literature and history of the time proclaim. If..

The Sexual Violence Legislation Act 2021: Pre-Recorded Cross-Examination and the Right to a Fair Trial

This article analyses the provisions of the Sexual Violence Legislation Act 2021 that offer witnesses in sexual cases access to pre-recorded cross-examination as an alternative method of giving evidence. The Act is intended to reduce the trauma of sexual violence victims in court whilst preserving the fairness of the trial. The Act prima facie entitles witnesses to access alternative evidence methods, but judges retain a discretion under s 106G to prevent the use of pre-recorded cross-examination. Under s 106G, the judge must do so where the pre-recorded cross-examination presents a real risk to the fairness of the trial. This article evaluates how judges are likely to exercise their discretion under s 106G. I recount the contemporary notion of a fair trial through the lens of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and identify areas of tension between defendants' fair trial rights and witnesses' interests. I assess how the realities of the system render pre-recorded cross-examination workable only at the expense of defendants' fair trial rights. Consequently, judges will almost always be compelled to make orders under s 106G preventing pre-recorded cross-examination. The Act is unfit for its purpose of expanding the availability of alternative evidence for witnesses and improving the justice process for sexual violence complainants