164 



THE GREEK ASTRONOMY. 



shining, and if we place ourselves so that this stone 

 and the moon are seen in the same direction, (the 

 moon appearing just over the top of the stone,) 

 we shall find that the visible part of the stone, 

 which is then illuminated by the sun, is exactly 

 similar in form to the moon, at whatever period 

 of her changes she may be. The stone and the 

 moon being in the same position with respect to 

 us, and both being enlightened by the sun, the 

 bright parts are the same in figure ; the only dif- 

 ference is, that the dark part of the moon is usually 

 not visible at all. 



This doctrine is ascribed to Anaximander. Aris- 

 totle was fully aware of it 52 . It could not well 

 escape the Chaldeans and Egyptians, if they spe- 

 culated at all about the causes of the appearances 

 in the heavens. 



Sect. 11. Eclipses. 



ECLIPSES of the sun and moon were from the 

 earliest times regarded with a peculiar interest. 

 The notions of superhuman influences and relations, 

 which, as we have seen, were associated with the 

 luminaries of the sky, made men look with alarm 

 at any sudden and striking change in those objects; 

 and as the constant and steady course of the 

 celestial revolutions was contemplated with a feel- 

 ing of admiration and awe, any marked interrup- 



52 Probl. Cap. xv. Art. 7- 



