3G8 
animal nevertheless is also in the Tartarian 
zodiac : it corresponds to the sig’ns of the Fishes 
of the Greek sphere ; and, what is very remark- 
able, in the planispheres of the temple of Ten- 
tyra, a figure holding a hog in its hand is seen 
twice near the same sign The monument 
described by Bianchini is so much the more in- 
teresting, as we recognize in no astronomical 
work either Greek or Latin, not even in the 
Saturnalia of Macrobius, written in the time of 
Theodosius, the traces of this cycle of animals, 
which the Monguls, and other Tartar hordes, 
who ravaged Europe, undoubtedly used in their 
chronology: and with which we have become 
well acquainted only from our communications 
with China and Japan. It seems strange, that 
the eloquent historian of the academy, Fonte- 
nelle, should not have remembered, that astro- 
logical reveries are intimately connected with 
the first notions of astronomy; and that they 
were of service in throwing light on the ancient 
communications of nations with each other. 
The monument,” says he, in which Bian-> 
chini sought explanations, belongs to the history 
of the folly of mankind, and the academy has 
something better to do, than waste its time in 
researches of this kind.” 
In resuming what we have stated respecting 
^ Denon, Voyage, PI. 130 and 132. 
