PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 741 



preparation of charms, the prediction of events. Here are extracts 

 from Rawlinson, Layard, and Maury showing how religion and 

 science were mingled. 



" We are, perhaps, justified in concluding 1 , from the careful emplace- 

 ment of Urukh's temples, that the science of astronomy was already culti- 

 vated in his reign, and was regarded as having a certain connection with 

 religion." 



" At a very early period the Assyrian priests were able to fix the date 

 of events by celestial phenomena, and to connect the public records with 

 them." 



The familiar fact that the cycle of lunar eclipses was discovered 

 by the Chaldean priests, shows how exact and how long- continued 

 were their observations. 



"Comparative philology seems to have been largely studied, and the 

 works upon it exhibit great care and diligence. Chronology is evidently 

 much valued, and very exact records are kept whereby the lapse of time 

 can even now be accurately measured. Geography and history have each 

 an important place in Assyrian learning ; while astronomy and mythology 

 occupy at least as great a share of attention." 



Les Chaldeens avaient '" une caste sacerdotale et savante qui se consacra 

 a l'observation du ciel, en vue de penetrer davantage dans la connaissance 

 des dieux. . . . De la sorte, les temples devinrent de veritables observa- 

 toires : telle etait la celebre tour de Baby lone, monument consacre aux sept 

 planetes." 



Of testimonies concerning science in Egypt, we may fitly begin 

 with one from Maspero, which contrasts Egyptian views with the 

 views of the Assyrians. 



"In Egypt the majority of the books relating to science are sacred 

 works composed and revealed by the gods themselves. The Assyrians do 

 not attribute such a lofty origin to the works which teach them the courses 

 and explain the influences of the stars: they believe them to have been 

 written by learned men, who lived at different epochs, and who acquired 

 their knowledge from direct observation of the heavens." 

 Basing his account on the statements of various ancient writers, 

 Sir G. C. Lewis says of the Egyptian priesthood that 

 "they were relieved from toil, and had leisure for scientific study and 

 meditation ; and that from a remote period they habitually observed the 

 stars, recorded their observations, and cultivated scientific astrouomy and 

 geometry. The Egyptian priests are moreover related to have kept regis- 

 ters, in which they entered notices of remarkable natural phenomena." 

 (Strab. xvii, 1. 5.) 



Similar is the description of the actions and achievements of the 

 Egyptian priests given by Diodorus : 



They " are diligent observers of the course and motions of the stars; and 

 preserve remarks of every one of them for an incredible number of years, 

 being used to this study, and to endeavor to outvie one another therein, 

 from the most ancient times. They have with great cost and care, ob- 

 served the motions of the planets; their periodical motions, and their 

 stated stops." 



