the apocatastases are surveyed \vith reference to the points 

 of it. Thus, for instance, all of them make their apocata- 

 stasis about the equinoctial point*, or about the summer 

 tropic ; or though the joint apocatastasis should not be con- 

 sidered to be according to the same point, but with refe- 

 rence to the same, when, for instance, rising or culminat- 

 ing, yet all of them will have with reference to it a figure of 

 such a kind. For now the present order is entirely a cer- 

 tain apocatastasis of all the heavenly bodies, yet the confi- 

 guration is not seen about the same, but with reference to 

 the same point. Once, however, it was about the same, and 

 according to one certain point, at which if it should again 

 take place, the whole of time will have an end. One cer- 

 tain apocatastasis likewise seems to have been mentioned ; 

 hence it is said that Cancer is the horoscope of the world, 

 and this year is called Cynic, or pertaining to the Dog, be- 

 cause, among the constellations, the splendid star of the 

 Dog rises together with Cancer. If therefore the planets 

 should again meet in the same point of Cancer, this con- 

 currence will be one period of the universe. If, however, 

 the apocatastasis takes places in Cancer about the equinoc- 

 tial point, that also which is from the summer tropic will 

 be directed towards the summer tropic, and the number of 

 the one will be equal to the number of the other, and the 

 time of the one to the time of the other. For each of them 

 is one period, and is defined by quantity, on account of the 

 order of the bodies that are moved. In addition, however, 

 to what has been said, it must be observed, that this perfect 

 number differs from that mentioned in the Republic, which 



* For ttroftegixov here, it is obviously necessary to read itryfttpvov. 

 It must also be observed that there are two equinoctial points or 

 signs, and these are Aries and Libra. 



