DIVISIONS OP THE ZODIACK. 375' 



tht second to the Sun ; and the third to Venus (the 

 Hindu author says Jupiter). 



This astrological notion was confessedly received 

 from foreion nations. The doctrine seems to be as- 

 cribed by Firmicus to Nekepso king of Egyj)t*% 

 and PsELLUs cites a Babylonian author, whom he calls 

 Teucer ; and who is also noticed by Porphyrius : 

 besides, the names of the Decani, stated by Heph^s- 

 TiON and Firmicus, are decidedly barbarous. It was 

 not, therefore, without reason, that Saumaise and 

 Kircher souo;ht a derivation of the word Decanus it- 

 self from a foreign language. It cannot be deduced, 

 as Scaliger proposes, from the similar term for an 

 inferior officer commanding ten men -^ ; since this of- 

 fice and its designation were first introduced later than 

 the time of Manilius, by whom the astrological term 

 is employed; and Porphyrius expressly affirms that 

 the word was used by those whom he denominates 

 "ancients J." Huet, not concurring in either of the 

 opinions abovementioned, supposes the term to have 

 been corruptly formed by the astrologers oi Alexandria 

 from the Greek numeral with a Latin termination §. 

 If this be admitted, it still remains not improbable that 

 some affinity of sound, in the Egyptian or in the Chal- 

 daick name, may have suggested the formation of this 

 corrupt word. 



The Sanscrit name apparently comes from the same 

 source. I do not suppose it to be originally Sanscrit ; 

 since, in that language, it bears no etymological sig- 

 nifi-cation. For the same reason, it is likely, that the 

 astrological doctrine itself may be exotick in India. 



* Sic et Nekepso vEgypti justissimus Imperator, et Astrologus 

 valde bonus, peripsos Decanos omnia vitia valetudinesque collect it, 

 ostendens quam valetudinem quis Decanus efficeret, kc. 



t Erant Decani den s militibus propositi. Veget. 2. 8. 



§ Ructii animadveisitjnes ad Maniliuin. Libj iv. v. l^B. 



2 B 4 



