14 
ANNUAL ADDEESS. 
twelve constellations of the zodiac were clearly meant to mark 
out the apparent path of the sun, a fact that shows that the 
length of the year had been at least roughly determined, and 
that means had been found for identifying the sun’s place 
amongst the stars, with whom he is never seen. The equator 
was marked as well as the ecliptic, the long constellation of 
Hydra being formed for this purpose. These two great circles 
being so clearly indicated, the significance of the position of the 
northern dragon, coiled symmetrically round their two poles, 
becomes apparent, as well as the attitude of a third serpentine 
figure, the snake carried by Ophiuchus, which is bent into a 
right angle at the intersection of the equator with the 
equinoctial colure. These positions of astronomical importance 
were no doubt marked by serpentine forms, because such could 
be bent or stretched out to take any desired shape. Further 
evidence of astronomical knowledge and of deliberate purpose 
is seen in the zodiacal figures ; the ascending signs, facing the 
east, the sunrise ; the descending, facing the west, the sunset. 
Thus the solstices were recognised and marked out as well as 
the equinoxes. 
Such knowledge, such designs, were not within the reach of 
savages ; they could only have resulted from steady and 
definite observation carried on for the purpose. But we are 
familiar with an immense number of myths, devised to explain 
how the constellations came into being, or else representing 
the sun as the hero of some exploit, suggested by one of the 
zodiacal figures. Hone of these myths could have preceded the 
formation of the constellations, none of these myths could have 
given rise to the constellations. The types of mind and states of 
civilization required for such a work as the construction of the 
constellations and for the inception of myths are wholly diverse ; 
more than diverse, opposed and incompatible. All such myths, 
therefore, are not only later than the constellations but they 
imply that the constellations had been known, and their meaning 
forgotten or misunderstood. Such myths therefore are the 
evidence of knowledge on the downgrade ; of astronomical 
knowledge lost ; not of astronomical knowledge incipient. 
The myths did not give rise to the constellations, but when 
the true origin of the constellations was forgotten, and the 
astronomical facts that they expressed were lost or misunder- 
stood, then myths were invented to explain them ; they were 
the ditch into which the blind led the blind. And as with 
astronomical myths, so no doubt with other nature myths ; for 
myth is essentially the outcome of ignorance, the confusion of 
