MAN OF SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHER. 249 



priesthood, eventually developed independently. Hunter 

 writes : 



&quot;The Brahmans, therefore, treated philosophy as a branch of re 

 ligion . . . Brahman philosophy exhausted the possible solutions . . . 

 of most of the other great problems which have since perplexed 

 Greek and Roman sage, mediasval schoolman, and modern man of 

 science.&quot; 



And in this, as in other cases, the speculative and- Critical 

 activity presently led to rationalism. There came &quot; a time 

 when philosophers and laymen were alike drifting towards 

 agnostic and heterodox opinions.&quot; 



Concerning the relations of science to theology among 

 the Babylonians and Assyrians, current statements almost 

 suffice for the purposes of the argument. A few facts in 

 illustration must, however, be given. All the astronomical 

 knowledge of the Babylonians had as its ends the regulation 

 of religious worship, the preparation of charms, the predic 

 tion of events. Here are extracts from Rawlinson, Layard, 

 and Maury showing how religion and science were mingled. 



&quot;We are ... perhaps, justified in concluding, from the careful 

 emplacement of Urukh s temples, that the science of astronomy was 

 already cultivated in his reign, and was regarded as having a certain 

 connexion with religion.&quot; 



&quot;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.&quot; 



The familiar fact that the cycle of lunar eclipses was dis 

 covered by the Chaldean priests, shows how exact and how 

 long-continued were their observations. 



&quot;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. Geographv and 

 history have each an important place in Assyrian learning; while 

 astronomy and mythology occupy at least as great a share of attention.&quot; 



The Chaldeans formed &quot; une caste sacerdotale et savante qui se 

 consacra a 1 observation du ciel, en vue de penetrer davantage dans la 

 connaissance des dieux. . . . De la sorte, les temples devinrent de 



