Chap. 6.] ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD. 29 



Below the Sun^ revolves the great star called Yenus, wan- 

 dering with an alternate motion^, and, even in its surnames, 

 rivalling the Sun and the Moon. For when it precedes the 

 day and rises in the morning, it receives the name of Lucifer, 

 as if it were another sun, hastening on the day. On the 

 contrary, when it shines in the west, it is named Vesper, as 

 prolonging the light, and performing the office of the moon. 

 Pythagoras, the Samian, was the hrst who discovered its 

 nature^, about the 62nd olympiad, in the 222nd year of the 

 City'*. It excels all the other stars in size, and its brilliancy 

 is so considerable, that it is the only star which produces a 

 shadow by its rays. There has, consequently, been great 

 interest made for its name ; some have called it the star of 



among the ancients, where, in speaking of the period of a revolution, both 

 the time preceding and that following the interval are included. 



^ The division of the planets into superior and inferior was not known 

 to Aristotle, De Mxmdo, cap. ii. p. 602, to Plato, Timseus, p. 318, 319, or 

 the older Greek astronomers. It was first made by the Egyptians, and 

 was transferred from them to the Romans. It is one of the points in 

 which our author differs from Aristotle. See the remarks of Marcus in 

 Ajasson, ii. 242 et seq^. Marcus notices the various points which prove 

 the deficiency of Pliny's knowledge of astronomy ; he partictdarizes the 

 fovir following : — his ignorance of the true situation of the constellations ; 

 his erroneous opinion respecting the cause of the seasons ; his account of 

 the phases of the moon, and of the position of the cardinal points. He 

 appears not to have been aware, that certain astronomical phaenomena 

 imdergo a regular progression, but supposed that they remained, at the 

 time when he wrote, in the same state as in the age of Hipparchus or 

 the original observers. Columella, when treating on these subjects, de- 

 scribes the phaenomena according to the ancient calculation, but he informs 

 us, that he adopts it, because it was the one in popular use, and better 

 known by the farmers (De Re Rust. ix. 14), while Pliny appears not to 

 have been aware of the inaccuracy. 



2 " Modo solem antegrediens, mode subsequens." Hardouia in Le- 

 maire, ii. 243. 



3 It was not known to the earHer writers that Lucifer and Vesper were 

 the same star, differently situated with respect to the Sim. Playfair re- 

 marks, that Yenus is the only planet mentioned in the sacred writings, 

 and in the most ancient poets, such as Hesiod and Homer ; Outlines, 

 ii. 156. 



* There has been much discussion among the commentators respecting 

 the correctness of the figures in the text ; according to the sera of the 

 olympiads, the date referred to will be between the years 750 and 754 B.C. ; 

 the foundation of Rome is commonly referred to the year 753 B.C. See 

 the remarks of Marcus in Ajasson, ii. 278, 9. 



