104 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



In " A. D. 451," the fourth General Ecclesiastical Council was 

 held, at Chalcedon ; and the opinions of Eutyches were condemned. 

 This was equivalent to an excommunication of Egypt; where these 

 opinions were general, and where they prevail to the present day. — 

 About a century after the condemnation, the proscribed sect received 

 the name of " Jacobites," from Jacobus of Edessa (pronounced Yaco- 

 bus) ; and hence apparently, the origin of the term " Copts," applied 

 by Europeans to the Christian portion of the population of Egypt. 



In " A. D. 457," the accession of Leo, the fourth Byzantine emperor, 

 took place. He was crowned by a priest ; an innovation afterwards 

 adopted by all Christian sovereigns. 



In "A. D. 474," the accession of Leo II., the fifth Byzantine empe- 

 ror, took place : his reign lasted a few months only ; and before the 

 close of the year, he was succeeded by Zeno. 



In " A. D. 482," Zeno issued an edict, called the Henoticon or Union ; 

 in effect, allowing the Egyptians some liberty in choosing their own 

 creed. 



The cantaaon of Aetius, is doubtless sandal-wood (Santalum al- 

 bum). — This odoriferous wood is mentioned by Rhazes and Avicenna; 

 and Serapion states, that it is brought from China. The living plant, 

 according to Clot-Bey and Figari, has been recently introduced into 

 Egypt. 



According to Greenhill, mocxoc or mush, is mentioned by Aetius; 

 and the deer-like animal from which it is obtained (Moschus moschi- 

 ferus), by Cosmas Indicopleustes. — The musk animal, known to in- 

 habit Thibet, is distinctly described by Abu Hanifa (as quoted by 

 Serapion). Ibn Masawia, Honain, and Symeon Sethus, speak of the 

 imported perfume ; and its sale in Egypt is noticed by Leo Africanus. 



In "A. D. 491," the accession of Anastasius, the seventh Byzan- 

 tine emperor, took place. He adhered to the policy of his predecessor, 

 in refusing to enforce the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon ; and 

 the Western Empire having ceased to exist, he was anathematized by 

 Pope Symmachus. This is perhaps the earliest instance of the papal 

 influence being directed against a king. 



In "A. D. 518," the accession of Justin, the eighth Byzantine em- 

 peror, took place. He adopted energetic measures against the Euty- 

 chians, in conformity with the decree of the Council of Chalcedon. — 

 And this became the settled policy of his successors. 



In "A. D. 525" (Alsted), Dionysius Exiguus, a Scythian monk, 



