78: ON THE ANTIQUE HOUR-LINES, 
the purpose of shewing the parts of the day, constitutes the 
Sun-dial, an instrument which may be supposed to have come: 
into use soon after the introduction of astronomy. According 
to Driocenes Larrtius and Pury, the first gnomonic instru- 
ment that appeared in Greece was constructed by a disciple of 
Tuaxes, about the 545th year before the Christian era, and 115 
years before the death of Prricres. SaumaisE * contends, that 
this instrument was for the use of astronomers only, and that 
sun-dials did not come into general use in Greece till 200 
years after, that is, a short time before the age of ALEXANpER. 
The Romans got their first sun-dial from one of the Greek 
cities of Sicily +, 260 years before the Christian era ; and for 
nearly a hundred years after, they possessed no artist acquaint- 
ed with the principles of the instrument, so as to construct one: 
adjusted to the climate of Rome.. 3 
* Sapmasi Pliniane Exercitationes; 
+ Puinn Hist. Naturalis. 
Explanation 
