Chap. 58.] THE EISING AND SETTING OF THE STABS. 77 



Phosnice, Cyprus, and Cilicia ; under that of Bceotia, Locris, 

 Phocis, and the adjoining countries ; under that of Hellespont, 

 Chersonesus, and the contiguous parts as far as Mount Athos ; 

 under that of Ionia, Asia 23 and the islands of Asia ; under that 

 of Peloponnesus, Achaia, and the regions lying to the west of 

 it. Chalda3a, when mentioned, will signify Assyria and Baby- 

 lonia, as well. 



My silence as to Africa, 24 Spain, and the provinces of Gaul, 

 will occasion no surprise, from the fact that no one has pub- 

 lished any observations made upon the stars in those countries. 

 Still, however, there will be no difficulty in calculating them, 

 even for these regions as well, on reference being made to the 

 parallels which have been set forth in the Sixth Book. 25 By 

 adopting this course, an accurate acquaintance may be made 

 with the astronomical relations, not only of individual nations, 

 but of cities even as well. By taking the circular parallels 

 which we have there appended to the several portions of the 

 earth respectively, and applying them to the countries in ques- 

 tion, that are similarly situate, it will be found that the rising 

 of the heavenly bodies will be the same for all parts within 

 those parallels, where the shadows projected are of equal length. 

 It is also deserving of remark, that the seasons have their 

 periodical recurrences, without any marked difference, every 

 four years, in consequence of the influence M of the sun, and that 

 the characteristics of the seasons are developed in excess every 

 eighth year, at the revolution of every hundredth moon. 

 



CHAP. 58. THE B1SING AND SETTING OF THE STABS. 



The whole of this system is based upon the observation of 

 three branches of the heavenly phenomena, the rising of the 

 constellations, their setting, and the regular recurrence of the 

 seasons. These risings and settings may be observed in two 

 different ways : The stars are either concealed, and cease to 

 be seen at the rising of the sun, or else present themselves to 

 our view at his setting this last being more generally known 

 by the name of " emersion " than of " rising, " while their dis- 



23 I, e. Asia Minor. 



24 /. e. the north-west parts of Africa. 



25 See c. 39 of that Book. 



26 " Ratione solis." This theory of the succession of changes every four 

 years, was promulgated by Eudoxus See B. ii. c. 48. 



