WHO WAS THE INNOVATOR? 291 



seconds, was not exactly the same in the one case as in the 

 other? 



Well, the period is not the same ; and, therefore, merely to 

 propound this question was a masterpiece of genius. For no 

 ordinary intellectual audacity was needed to doubt the reality 

 of the supposed perfect circle which the sun apparently de- 

 scribes according to the recognised authorities in its uniform 

 progress around the globe ; that globe believed by all the early 

 astronomers to be imperturbably and everlastingly situated in 

 the centre of their thrice-sacred geometrical figure. This 

 dogma being accepted as infallible, there was every evidence 

 that the two intervals of time, which divided the astronomical 

 year into two moieties, would be of equal duration. It did 

 not occur to the mind of any one of the faithful that the so- 

 journ of the sun, in his circular and uniform movement, might 

 be longer or shorter in the northern than in the southern 

 hemisphere. 



What, then, was the name of the audacious innovator who 

 ventured upon putting forth so revolutionary a suggestion ? 



It was Hipparchus. At least it was he who, confidently 

 relying upon his observations, was the first to affirm that the 

 sun remains longer in the northern than in the southern hemi- 

 spheres ; or, more accurately speaking, that its passage from 

 the spring to the autumn equinox occupies 187 days, while 

 from the autumn to the spring equinox the duration of its 

 course is only 178 days 6 hours (nearly). The year of 365 J 

 days that is, the Egyptian year, which was universally 

 adopted by the ancient astronomers was thus discovered 



