OF THE ORIENTATION’S OF A NUMBER OF GREEK TEMPLES. 
831 
the star—below the pole—for at the epoch we are considering, it would not have 
dipped below the horizon, as it does now. The elements would be as follows :— 
Thebes. Lat. 38° 19'30" N. 
Orientation angle 
of assumed 
eastern doorwaj. 
Stellar elements. 
Solar elements. 
276° 27' 45" 
A 
Amplitude. 
+ 85° 50' 
- 6° 27' 45" 
B 
Corresponding altitude 
3° 
CO 
o 
to 
o 
C 
Declination. 
+ 54° 28' 13" 
+ 0° 2U 12" 
D 
Hour angle. 
* , 
6>‘ 41“ 28= 
D' 
In case of star reckoned from 
lower transit. 
0>‘ 28“ 41= 
E 
Sun’s depression .... 
• . 
11° 
F 
RA. 
16’‘ 46“ 50= 
IP' 56“ 45= 
G 
Approximate date .... 
1160 B.C., September 20 
7 Draconis rising after transit below the pole 
As respects the time of year, the date is suggestive, since it agrees almost exactly 
with that of the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries. 
The remaining three of the five temples in this group ca,nnot have been solar 
temples at all, as their orientation lies outside the solstitial limits; neither could the 
sunrise have been admitted at an eastern doorway. The question to be considered is 
whether there is reasonable probability of a bright star having been used in the 
manner suggested above and explained by the passage from Herodotus there quoted 
and further confirmed by parallel cases in Egypt. It seems essential to a solution of 
this character that the star which is found to fit the orientation should be among the 
most brilliant. 
At Eleusis, besides the Temple of the Great Mysteries, there is the Temple of 
Diana Propylsea, of which the orientation angle is 133° 43' 13", or 313° 43' 13", 
according as we take the axis at its north-west or south-east direction. To. the south¬ 
east no suitable star offers itself. In the other direction there are twm, both first 
magnitude stars, namely, Arcturus and Capella. I give the elements of both ; but, for 
a reason to be mentioned, 1 think Capella, which almost equals Arcturus in brightness 
is the most probable. 
