166 



EPOOflS TX THE HISTORY OF THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE 

 UNIVERSE. EPOCH OF THE PTOLEMIES. 



Ill, 



Progress of the contemplation of the Universe under the Ptolemies- 

 Museum at Serapeum. Peculiar character of the scientific 

 direction of the period. Encyclopedic learning, Generalisa' 

 tion of the views of nature regarding both the earth and the 

 regions of space. 



AFTER the dissolution of the great Macedonian Empire 

 comprising territories in the three Continents, the germs 

 wliich the uniting and combining system of the government 

 of Alexander had deposited in a fruitful soil,, began to develop 

 themselves every where, although with much diversity of 

 form. In proportion as the national exclusiveness of the 

 Hellenic character of thought vanished, and its creative 

 inspiring power was less strikingly characterised by depth 

 and intensity, increasing progress was made in the 

 knowledge of the connection of phenomena, by a more 

 animated and more extensive intercourse between nations, 

 as well as by a generalisation of the views of Nature based 

 on argumentative considerations. In the Syrian kingdom, 

 by the Attalidae of Pergamos, and under the Seleucidse 

 and the Ptolemies, this progress was favoured and promoted 

 every where and almost at the same time by distinguished 

 sovereigns. Grecian Egypt enjoyed the advantage of poli- 



