[ 805 ] 
XVI. On the Results of an Examination of the Orientations of a nuniher of Greeh 
Temples luith a view to connect these Angles ivith the Amplitudes of certain Stars at 
the time the Temples were founded^ etnd an endeavour to derive therefrom the Dates 
of their Foundation hy consideration of the Changes produced upon the Right 
Ascension and Declination of the Stars hy the Precession of the Eguinoxes, 
By F. C, Penhose, F.R.A.S., Architect. 
Communicated hy Professor J. Norjman Lockyer, F.R.S, 
Received December 13, 1892,—-Read April 27, 1893. 
[^Preliminary Ohservations. —My attention was directed to the above subject by 
Mr. Lockyer, who, in the course of bis study of the Egyptian temples and the 
stars- which aj^pear to have determined their orientation, was led by a cursory 
examination of some of the Greek temples to think it likely that the same principle 
prevailed there also, and, knowing that I was in possession of some measurements 
which would help in tlie inquiry, invited me to look into the matter with him. On 
comparing notes, we found much to promise that a practical correspondence between 
the Egyptian and the Greek monuments would be found; so that it evidently became 
worth while to go more fully into the examination of the Greek remains. On the 
branch of the subject connected with Egypt Mr. Lockyer has published several 
articles in ‘Nature;’''" and in May, 1891, gave a lecture to the Society of Anti¬ 
quaries, which was held in the rooms of the Royal Society; and there is an article 
by him bearing on the question in the ‘ Nineteenth Century’ (July, 1892), On the 
Greek branch I made a preliminary statement to the same Society in February, 
1892, an abstract of which was published in ‘ Nature’ on the 25th day of that 
month. 
Unknown to Mr. Lockyer until after he had been for some time engaged in this 
research, several articles had been contributed to the ‘Rheinisches Museum fiir Philo- 
logie,’t by Herr Nissen, of Bonn, following an exactly similar line of inquiry, and 
embracing both Egyptian and Greek monuments. In Herr Nissen’s researches there 
is some want of exactitude in the measurements which he has used, which interfere 
with the accuracy of some of the conclusions arrived at. There is, however, much of 
interest and value in the learning which he has brought to bear on the subject. 
* April 16, May 7 and 21, June 4, and July 2, of 1891; and Jan. 28 and Feb. 18, of 1892. 
t Particularly the volumes for 1885 and 1887. 
25.10.93 
