THEORY OF THE EARTH. 221 



the Analysis of the Mathematical Labours of the 

 Academy in 1820, p. 78 and 79. 



." DELAMBRE." 



It would still have to be ascertained at what 

 period the observers ceased to place the constella- 

 tion in which the sun entered after the solstice, 

 at the head of the descending signs, and whether 

 this was done as soon as the solstice had retro- 

 graded sufficiently to touch the preceding constel- 

 lation. 



Thus MM. Jollois and Devilliers, to whose 

 unremitting zeal we are indebted for an accurate 

 knowledge of these famous monuments, always 

 considering the division towards the entrance of 

 the porch as the solstice, and judging that the 

 Virgin must have been regarded as the first of the 

 descending constellations, insomuch as the sol- 

 stice had not receded at least so far as the middle 

 of the constellation of the Lion ; and, believing 

 that they saw farther, as we have mentioned, 

 that the Lion is divided in the great zodiac of 

 Esne, have not given to that zodiac a more re- 

 mote antiquity than 2160 years before Christ. * 



Mr Hamilton, who was the first that observed 

 this division of the sign of the Lion, in the zodiac 



* See the great work on Egypt. Antiq. Mem. vol. i. 

 p. 486. 



