married with the consent of Philadelphus. With the these were twice quelled by the prudence and the most rapid success he conquered Syria and Cilicia, moderation of one Polycrates, the most faithful of his and advanced as far as Bactriana and the confines of corrupt ministers. In the midst of his extravagance, India; but a sedition at home stopped his progress, Epiphanes did not forget his alliance with the Romans. and he returned to Egypt loaded with the spoils of Above all others, he showed himself eager to cultivate conquered nations. Among the immense riches friendship with a nation from whom he could derive so which he brought, he had many statues of the Egyp- many advantages, and during their war against Antiotian gods, which Cambyses had carried away into Per- chus he offered to assist them with money against a sia when he conquered Egypt. These were restored monarch whose daughter, Cleopatra, he had married, to the temples, and the Egyptians called their sover- but whom he hated on account of the seditions he had eign Euergetes (or Benefactor), in acknowledgment raised in the very heart of Egypt. After a reign of 24 of his attention, beneficence, and religious zeal for the years, Ptolemy was poisoned, 180 years before Christ, gods of his country. The last years of Ptolemy's by his ministers, whom he had threatened to rob of reign were passed in peace if we except the refusal their possessions to carry on a war against Seleucus, of the Jews to pay the tribute of 20 silver talents king of Syria.-VI. The sixth, succeeded his father which their ancestors had always paid to the Egyptian Epiphanes on the Egyptian throne, and received the monarchs. Euergetes died 221 years before Christ, surname of Philometor, probably by antiphrasis, an after a reign of 25 years; and, like his two illustrious account of his hatred against his mother Cleopatra. predecessors, was the patron of learning.-IV. The He was in the sixth year of his age when he ascended fourth, succeeded his father Euergetes on the throne of the throne, and during his minority the kingdom was Egypt, and received the surname of Philopator, prob- governed by his mother, and at her death by a euably from the regard which he manifested for the mem-nuch, who was one of his favourites. He made war ory of his father; though, according to some authori- against Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, to recov ties, he destroyed him by poison. He began his reign er the provinces of Palestine and Calosyria, which with acts of the greatest cruelty, and he successively were part of the Egyptain dominions, and, after sevesacrificed to his avarice his own mother, his wife, his al successes, he fell into the hands of his enemy, who sister, and his brother.. He received, in derision, the detained him in confinement. During the captivity of name of Typhon, from his evil morals, and that of Philometor, the Egyptians raised to the throne his Gallus, because he appeared in the streets of Alex-younger brother Ptolemy Euergetes, or Physcon, also andrea with all the gestures of the priests of Cybele. son of Epiphanes; but he was no sooner established in In the midst of his pleasures Philopator was called to his power than Antiochus turned his arms against war against Antiochus, king of Syria, and at the head Egypt, drove out the usurper, and restored Philometor of a powerful army he soon invaded his enemy's ter- to all his rights and privileges as king of Egypt. This ritories, and might have added the kingdom of Syria to artful behaviour of Antiochus was soon comprehended Egypt if he had made a prudent use of the victories by Philometor; and when he saw that Pelusium, the which attended his arms. In the latter part of his key of Egypt, had remained in the hands of his Syrian reign, the Romans, whom a dangerous war with Car- ally, he recalled his brother Physcon, and made him thage had weakened, but, at the same time, roused to partner on the throne, and concerted with him how to superior activity, renewed, for political reasons, the repel their common enemy. This union of interest in treaty of alliance which had been made with the the two royal brothers incensed Antiochus: he enEgyptian monarchs. Philopator at last, weakened and tered Egypt with a large army, but the Romans checkenervated by intemperance and continued debauchery, ed his progress and obliged him to retire. No sooner died in the 37th year of his age, after a reign of 17 were they delivered from the impending war, than Philyears, 204 years before the Christian era.-V. The ometor and Physcon, whom the fear of danger had fifth, succeeded his father Philopator as king of Egypt, united, began with mutual jealousy to oppose each though only in the fourth year of his age. During the other's views. Physcon was at last banished by the years of his minority he was under the protection of superior power of his brother, and, as he could find no Sosicius and of Aristomenes, by whose prudent ad- support in Egypt, he immediately repaired to Rome. ministration Antiochus was dispossessed of the prov- To excite more effectually the compassion of the Roinces of Cœlosyria and Palestine, which he had con- mans, and to gain their assistance, he appeared in quered in war. The Romans also renewed their al- the meanest dress, and took his residence in the most liance with him after their victories over Hannibal, obscure corner of the city. He received an audience and the conclusion of the second Punic war. This from the senate, and the Romans settled the dispute flattering embassy induced Aristomenes to offer the between the two royal brothers by making them incare of the patronage of the young monarch to the dependent of one another, and giving the governRomans; but the regent was confirmed in his honour-ment of Libya and Cyrene to Physcon, and confirmable office, and, by making a treaty of alliance with ing Philometor in the possession of Egypt and the the people of Achaia, he convinced the Egyptians that island of Cyprus. These terms of accommodation he was qualified to wield the sceptre and to govern were gladly accepted; but Physcon soon claimed the nation. But, now that Ptolemy had reached his the dominion of Cyprus, and in this he was sup14th year, according to the laws and customs of ported by the Romans, who wished to aggrandize Egypt, the years of his minority had expired. He re- themselves by the diminution of the Egyptian pow ceived the surname of Epiphanes, or Illustrious, and er. Philometor refused to give up the island of Cywas crowned at Alexandrea with the greatest solem- prus, and, to call away his brother's attention, he fonity, and the faithful Aristomenes resigned into his mented the seeds of rebellion in Cyrene. But the hands an empire which he had governed with honour death of Philometor, 145 years before the Christian to himself and with credit to his sovereign. Young era, left Physcon master of Egypt and all the dependPtolemy was no sooner delivered from the shackles of ant provinces.-VII. The seventh Ptolemy, surnamed a superior, than he betrayed the same vices which had Physcon on account of an abdominal protuberance, characterized his father. The counsels of Aristome- produced by his intemperate habits (vid. Physcon), nes were despised, and the minister, who for ten years ascended the throne of Egypt after the death of his had governed the kingdom with equity and modera- brother Philometor; and, as he had reigned for some tion, was sacrificed to the caprice of the sovereign, time conjointly with him (vid. Ptolemæus VI.), his who abhorred him for the salutary advice which his succession was approved, though the wife and the son own vicious inclinations did not permit him to follow. of the deceased monarch laid claims to the crown. His cruelties raised seditions among his subjects, but | Cleopatra was supported in her claims by the Jews,

and it was at last agreed that Physcon should marry the | and populous city it was reduced to ruins. In the queen, and that her son should succeed on the throne latter part of his reign Soter was called upon to assist at his death. The nuptials were accordingly cele- the Romans with a navy for the conquest of Athens; brated, but on that very day the tyrant murdered Cle- but Lucullus, who had been sent to obtain the wanted opatra's son in her arms. He ordered himself to be supply, though received with kingly honours, was discalled Euergetes, but the Alexandreans refused to do missed with evasive and unsatisfactory answers, and it, and stigmatized him with the appellation of Kaker- the monarch refused to part with troops which he getes, or Evil-doer, a surname which he deserved by deemed necessary to preserve the peace of his kinghis tyranny and oppression. A series of barbarities dom. Soter died 81 years before the Christian era, rendered him odious; but, as no one attempted to rid after a reign of 36 years since the death of his father Egypt of her tyrant, the Alexandreans abandoned their Physcon, eleven of which he had passed with his habitations, and fled from a place which continually mother Cleopatra on the Egyptian throne, eighteen in streamed with the blood of their massacred fellow- Cyprus, and seven after his mother's death. This citizens. If their migration proved fatal to the com- monarch is sometimes called Lathyrus, from an exmerce and prosperity of Alexandrea, it was of the most crescence like a vetch (λáðvpoç) on his nose.-IX. essential service to the countries where they retired; The ninth, called also Alexander Ptolemy I., was and the numbers of Egyptians that sought a safe asy-raised to the throne by his mother Cleopatra, in preflum in Greece and Asia, introduced among the inhab-erence to his brother, and conjointly with her. Cleoitants of those countries the different professions that patra expelled, but afterward recalled him; and Alexwere practised with success in the capital of Egypt. ander, to prevent being expelled a second time, put Physcon endeavoured to repeople the city which his her to death; for which unnatural action he was himcruelty had laid desolate; but the fear of sharing the self murdered by one of his subjects.-X. The tenth, fate of its former inhabitants prevailed more than the or Alexander Ptolemy II., was son of the preceding. promise of riches, rights, and immunities. The king, He was educated in the island of Cos, and, having fallat last, disgusted with Cleopatra, repudiated her, and en into the hands of Mithradates, escaped subsemarried her daughter by Philometor, called also Cleo-quently to Sylla. He was murdered by his own subpatra. He still continued to exercise the greatest cru-jects.-XI. The eleventh, or Alexander Ptolemy III., elty upon his subjects; but the prudence and vigilance was king of Egypt after his brother Alexander, the last of his ministers kept the people in tranquillity, till all mentioned. After a peaceful reign he was banished Egypt revolted when the king had basely murdered all by his subjects, and died at Tyre B.C. 65, leaving the young men of Alexandrea. Without friends or his kingdom to the Romans.-XII. The twelfth, the support in Egypt, he fled to Cyprus, and Cleopatra, illegitimate son of Soter II., ascended the throne of the divorced queen, ascended the throne. In his ban- Egypt at the death of Alexander III. He received ishment Physcon dreaded lest the Alexandreans should the surname of Auletes, from the skill with which he also place the crown on the head of his son, by his sis-played upon the flute. Besides, however, this deriter Cleopatra, who was the governor of Cyrene; and sory title, he had the surnames of Philopator, Phila under these apprehensions he sent for the young delphus, and Neodionysus (the New Bacchus or Osiris, prince, called Memphitis, to Cyprus, and murdered him these deities being often confounded by the Greeks). as soon as he reached the shore. To make the bar- His rise showed great marks of prudence and circumbarity more complete, he sent the limbs of Memphitis spection; and as his predecessor, by his will, had left to Cleopatra, and they were received as the queen was the kingdom of Egypt to the Romans, Auletes knew going to celebrate her birthday. Soon after this he that he could not be firmly established on his throne invaded Egypt with an army, and obtained a victory without the approbation of the Roman senate. He was over the forces of Cleopatra, who, being left without successful in his applications; and Cæsar, who was friends or assistance, fled to her eldest daughter Cleo- then consul and in want of money, established his patra, who had married Demetrius, king of Syria. succession, and granted him the alliance of the RoThis decisive blow restored Physcon to his throne, mans, after he had received a very large sum. But where he continued to reign for some time, hated by these measures rendered the monarch unpopular at his subjects and feared by his enemies. He died at home; and, when he had suffered the Romans quietly Alexandrea in the 67th year of his age, after a reign to take possession of Cyprus, the Egyptians revolted, of 29 years, about 116 years before Christ. This and Auletes was obliged to fly from his kingdom, and prince, notwithstanding his cruel disposition, was a seek protection among the most powerful of his allies. lover of learning, and received from some the appella- His complaints were heard at Rome at first with intion of Philologist. Aristarchus was his preceptor, and difference; and the murder of a hundred noblemen of he is said also to have made important additions to the Alexandrea, whom the Egyptians had sent to justify Alexandrean library, as well in original manuscripts their proceedings before the Roman senate, rendered as in copies.-VIII. The eighth, surnamed Soter II., him unpopular and suspected. Pompey, however, succeeded his father Physcon as king of Egypt. He supported his cause, and the senators decreed to rehad no sooner ascended the throne than his mother establish Auletes on his throne; but, as they proceeded Cleopatra, who reigned conjointly with him, expelled slowly in the execution of their plans, the monarch him to Cyprus, and placed the crown on the head of retired from Rome to Ephesus, where he lay concealhis brother Ptolemy Alexander, her favourite son.ed for some time in the temple of Diana. During his Soter, banished from Egypt, became king of Cyprus; absence from Alexandrea, his daughter Berenice had and soon after he appeared at the head of a large army, made herself absolute, and established herself on the to make war against Alexander Jannæus, king of Ju-throne by a marriage with Archelaus, a priest of Beldæa, through whose assistance and intrigue he had lona's temple at Comana; but she was soon driven been expelled by Cleopatra. The Jewish monarch from Egypt, when Gabinius, at the head of a Roman was conquered, and 50,000 of his men were left on the army, approached to replace Auletes on his throne. field of battle. Soter, after he had exercised the Auletes was no sooner restored to power than he sacgreatest cruelty upon the Jews, and made vain at-rificed to his ambition his daughter Berenice, and betempts to recover the kingdom of Egypt, retired to haved with the greatest ingratitude and perfidy to RaCyprus till the death of his brother Alexander re- birius, a Roman who had supplied him with money stored him to his native dominions. Some of the cit- when expelled from his kingdom. Auletes died four ies of Egypt refused to acknowledge him as their sov-years after his restoration, about 51 years before the ereign, and Thebes, for its obstinacy, was closely be- Christian era. He left two sons and two daughters, sieged for three successive years, and from a powerful and by his will ordered the elder of his sons to marry

the elder of his daughters, and to ascend with her the middle of the second century of our era, under the AÐvacant throne. As these children were young, the tonines. During the middle ages, it was generally sup dying monarch recommended them to the protection posed that he had reigned in Egypt, and the first ediand paternal care of the Romans; and accordingly tion of his Almagest, that of Grynæus, 1538, is dediPompey the Great was appointed by the senate to be cated to the King of England as the production of a their patron and their guardian. Their reign was as king. This error is thought to have originated with turbulent as that of their predecessors, and it is re- Albumazar, an Arabian of the ninth century, who was markable for no uncommon events; only we may ob- led into the mistake by the Arabic name of the astronserve that the young queen was the Cleopatra who omer (Bathalmius), which, according to Herbelot, soon after became so celebrated.-XIII. The thir- means in Arabic "a king of Egypt" (Bibliotheca Oriteenth, ascended the throne of Egypt conjointly with ent., s. v.), just as the ancient monarchs of the land his sister Cleopatra, whom he had married according to were named Féraoun (Pharaohs). Ptolemy, howthe directions of his father Auletes. (Vid. Cleopatra ever, is styled King of Alexandrea almost two centuVII.)-XIV. Apion, king of Cyrene, was the illegiti-ries before Albumazar, by Isidorus of Seville. (Orimate son of Ptolemy Physcon. After a reign of twenty ginum, 3, 25.)-Another opinion, not less generally years he died; and, as he had no children, he made the received, but probably just as erroneous as the forRomans heirs of his dominions. The Romans pre-mer, is that which makes Ptolemy to have been born sented his subjects with their independence.-XV. at Pelusium. Suidas and Eudoxia call him a philoseCeraunus, a son of Ptolemy Soter by Eurydice, the pher of Alexandrea; but it has been said that this daughter of Antipater. Unable to succeed to the appellation has only been given him on account of his throne of Egypt, Ceraunus fled to the court of Seleu-long sojourn in the capital of Egypt. No ancient cus, where he was received with friendly marks of at-writer makes mention of his native country, though tention. Seleucus was then king of Macedonia, an many manuscripts of the Latin translations of his empire which he had lately acquired by the death of works, and also the printed editions of these versions, Lysimachus in a battle in Phrygia; but his reign was style him Pheludiensis, which many regard as a corshort; and Ceraunus perfidiously murdered him, and ruption for Pelusiensis. Raidel (Comment. in C. ascended his throne 280 B.C. The murderer, how- Ptol. Geogr., Norimb., 1737, 4to, p. 3) cites the Arab ever, could not be firmly established in Macedonia as scholiast on the Tetrabiblos, Ali-Ibn-Rednan, named long as Arsinoë the widow, and the children of Lysim- Haly, to prove that Pelusium was the native place of achus, were alive, and entitled to claim his kingdom our astronomer. Buttmann, on the other hand, proves as the lawful possession of their father. To remove the citation of Raidel to be false. Haly, or his transthese obstacles, Ceraunus made offers of marriage to lator, makes no mention whatever of the native place Arisnoë, who was his own sister. The queen at first of Ptolemy; he only calls this writer al-Feludki (Pherefused, but the protestations and solemn promises of ludianus), from the surname which the Arabs have the usurper at last prevailed upon her to consent. given him. It is true, in a biography or preface found The nuptials, however, were no sooner celebrated than at the head of a Latin version of the Almagest, made Ceraunus murdered the two young princes, and con- from the Arabic, we read the following: "Hic autem firmed his usurpation by rapine and cruelty. But now ortus et educatus fuit in Alexandrea majori, terre three powerful princes claimed the kingdom of Mace- Egypti. Hujus tamen propago de terra Sem, et de donia as their own: Antiochus, the son of Seleucus; provincia quæ dicitur Pheuludia." This absurd pasAntigonus, the son of Demetrius; and Pyrrhus, the sage, however, which does not even say that Ptolemy king of Epirus. These enemies, however, were soon was born out of Alexandrea, proves nothing else but removed; Ceraunus conquered Antigonus in the field the desire of the Arab translator to represent the asof battle, and stopped the hostilities of his two other tronomer as the descendant of an Arabian or a Syrian rivals by promises and money. He did not long re- (de terra Sem.-Museum der Alterthums., Wissenmain inactive: a barbarian army of Gauls claimed a schaft, vol. 2, p. 463, seqq.). -Theodorus Meliteniota tribute from him, and the monarch immediately march- states that Ptolemy was born at Ptolemaïs, or Hermeed to meet them in the field. The battle was long and ion, in the Thebaid, and that he was contemporary bloody. The Macedonians might have obtained the with Antoninus Pius. This writer does not, it is true, victory if Ceraunus had shown more prudence. He cite his authority; yet nothing prevents our admitting was thrown down from his elephant, and taken prison- the accuracy of his statement, derived, no doubt, from er by the enemy, who immediately tore his body to some ancient writer, provided we can reconcile it with pieces. Ptolemy had been king of Macedonia only the surname Al Feludi, which the Arabians have given eighteen months. (Justin, 24, &c. - Pausan., 10, to Ptolemy. This surname has only thus far been 10.-XVI. An illegitimate son of Ptolemy Soter II., found in the Latin translations in the Arabic books or Lathyrus, king of Cyprus, of which he was tyran- Ptolemy is sometimes named Bathalmius, el Kaludi nically dispossessed by the Romans. Cato was at the (Abulpharagi Hist., p. 73, 1. 5; p. 105, 1. 3; p. 123, head of the forces which were sent against Ptolemy by 1. antep.-Casiri, Biblioth. Anab. Hist., vol. 1, p. 348. the senate, and the Roman general proposed to the -Memoires sur l'Egypte, p. 389, where an extract is monarch to retire from the throne, and to pass the rest given from Abderaschid el Bakin, who calls Ptolemy of his days in the obscure office of high-priest in the Barthalmyous el Qloudy). Kaludi is expressed by temple of Venus at Paphos. This offer was rejected Claudius in the Latin versions. The change from Kawith the indignation which it merited, and the monarch ludi to Faludi is extremely simple, since in Arabic the poisoned himself at the approach of the enemy. The letter K is distinguished from F only by an additional treasures found in the island amounted to the enor-point. Thus Pheludianus is merely corrupted from mous sum of £1,356,250 sterling, which were carried Claudius, and ought not to be rendered by Pensiamus. to Rome by the conquerors.-XVII. A son of Pyr-Thus, too, Bathalmius al Kaludi is only an Arabic rhus, king of Epirus, by Antigone, the daughter of version of ПIroλeμaios ó Kλaúdios, as Suidas writes Berenice. He was left governor of Epirus when Pyr- the name, the prænomen being mistaken by the Arabirhus went to Italy to assist the Tarentines against the an translators for an appellative. Another point, of Romans, where he presided with great prudence and more importance, is to ascertain the place where Ptolmoderation. He was killed, bravely fighting, in the emy made his observations, because on this depends the expedition which Pyrrhus undertook against Sparta degree of precision of which his observations on latiand Argos.-XVIII. Claudius, a celebrated astron- tude were susceptible. The astronomer states postomer, chronologer, musical writer, and geographer of tively that he made these observations under the parantiquity, born in Egypt, and who flourished about the | allel of Alexandrea; while, on the other hand, there

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exists a scholam of Olympiodorus (in Phæd., Plat.- those of Aristyllus, Timochares, Meton, Euctemon, Bouilland, Testimonia de Ptolemæo, p. 205), which in- and, above all, of Hipparchus. After the example of forms us that Ptolemy passed 40 years of his life ev all his predecessors, excepting Aristarchus, Ptolemy πгεроis тov Kavíbov ("in the wings of Canobus"), regards the earth as the centre of the universe, and occupied with astronomical observations, and that he makes the stars to revolve around it. This system placed columns there on which he caused to be cut the was that of all succeeding astronomers until the days theorems of which he had been the author. An in- of Copernicus. Ptolemy is the inventor of epicycles, scription has come down to us which illustrates this as they are called, an erroneous but-ingenious system, remark of Olympiodorus: Θεῷ Σωτῆρι Κλαύδιος Πτολ. and the only one that can explain the irregular revoluεμαῖος ἀρχὰς καὶ ὑποθέσεις μαθηματικὰς, κ. τ. λ., tions of the planets, if we deny the sun to be the cen"Claudius Ptolemy dedicates to the God, the Preserver, tre of our system. He inserted into his work, with his mathematical principles and theses," &c. Combi- additions, the catalogue of the stars made by Hipparning this dedication with the scholium of Olympiodorus, chus; the list, however, contains only 1022 stars, dithe Abbé Halma states, that he would be inclined to vided into 48 catasterisms. He corrected the theory of believe the deity alluded to in the inscription to be Ca- the lunar revolutions, by determining the equation in nobus, if the inscription did not expressly declare, far- the mean distances between the new and full moon; he ther on, that the monument containing it was placed reduced to a more regular system the parallax of the in the city of Canobus (ev Kavúby), whence he infers moon, though he has, in fact, traced it too large; he dethat the protecting deity is Serapis, and that Ptolemy termined that of the sun by the size of the shadow made his observations in the side-buildings connected which the earth casts on the moon in eclipses; he taught with the temple of this god. He thinks that this posi- the mode of finding the diameter of the moon, and of tion is not in contradiction with the passage in which calculating lunar and solar eclipses. "Ptolemy," says Ptolemy informs us that he made them under the par- Delambre, "was not, indeed, a great astronomer, since allel of Alexandrea; for, according to Halma, the city he observed nothing, or, rather, has transmitted to us no of Alexandrea was gradually extended to Canopus, observation on which we can rely with the least confi. which became a kind of suburbs to it, so that Ptole-dence; but he was a learned and laborious man, and a my, though residing at Canopus, may nevertheless be distinguished mathematician. He has collected tosaid to have observed at Alexandrea, or that, observ-gether into one body all the learning that lay scattering at Canopus, he had no need of reducing his ob- ed in the separate works of his predecessors; though, servations to the parallel of Alexandrea, by reason of at the same time, it must be acknowledged, that he the trifling difference of latitude. A difficulty here might have been more sober in his details, and more presents itself, of which the Abbé Halma is aware, and communicative respecting certain observations which which he proposes to remedy by an alteration of the are now lost to us for ever." The same modern text. If Ptolemy had made his observations in the writer, after complaining of the little reliance that temple of Serapis at Canopus, Olympiodorus, in place can be placed on the calculations of Ptolemy, praisof saying ἐν πτεροῖς τοῦ Κανώβου, in the wings of es the trigonometrical portion of the Terpábibлos, and (the temple of) Canobus," would have had ev Tepois the mathematical theory of eclipses; adding, howTns Kavibov, "the side-buildings of (the city of) Ca- ever, the remark, that here Ptolemy would seem only nobus." Halma therefore proposes to substitute the to have copied from Hipparchus, who had resolved all latter reading for the former, or else to regard Canobus these problems before him. Indeed, it ought to be as the same divinity with Serapis, and to suppose that borne in mind, as a general remark, that Ptolemy Ptolemy observed in the temple of Canobus at Cano- owed a part of his great reputation to the circumpus. This reasoning of Halma's has been attacked stance of the writings of Hipparchus being extremely by Letronne, and ably refuted. The latter shows, rare, and having been, soon after Ptolemy's time, that Canopus, situate at the distance of 120 stadia, or completely lost.-An analysis of the Meydan Evvmore than two and a half geographical miles, northeast rasis is given by Halma in the preface of his edition. of Alexandrea, never made part of that capital, since This work of Ptolemy's was commented upon by there were several places, such as Nicopolis and Ta- Theon of Alexandrea, Pappus, and Ammonius. Of posiris Parva, between the two cities; that, conse- these commentaries we have remaining only that of quently, the Serapeum, in which Ptolemy observed, Theon, and some notes of Pappus We have, howcould not have belonged to Canopus; and, finally, that ever, the labours of Nilus (or Nicolaus) Cabasilas, a Ptolemy knew the difference in latitude between Ca- mathematician of the thirteenth century, on the third nopus and Alexandrea, and could not confound them book. The Mɛyúλn Zúvrağıç of Ptolemy was transtogether in one point. It is more probable, as Letronne lated into Arabic in the 9th century. The Arabians remarks (Journal des Savans, 1818, p. 202), that gave it the title of Tahrir al magesthi, the last word Olympiodorus was mistaken as to the place where being corrupted from the Greek péyioros (“the greatPtolemy observed. It is ascertained that there was a est"), and this title is intended to express the admiratemple of Serapis at Canopus as well as at Alexan-tion with which the work had inspired them. From drea. (Strabo, 801.) Olympiodorus, therefore, must have supposed that the word Serapeum, in the author from whom he copied his remark, belonged exclusively to the first of these cities, when it referred, in fact, in this particular instance, to Alexandrea the capital. The error of Olympiodorus, moreover, is the easier to be explained, from the circumstance of the Serapeum at Canopus having become at one time a celebrated seat of the New-Platonists, and having acquired great distinction on this account among the last apostles of paganism. A commentator on Plato, therefore, would be very ready to suppose that this last asylum of true light, as he believed it, was the place where the great Ptolemy also made his observations and discoveries. -We will now proceed to the works of this distinguished writer. 1. Meyáλn Zúvrağıç ("Great Construction"), in thirteen books. This work contains all the astronomical observations of the ancients, such as

the Arabic words just given was formed the appellation of Almagest, under which name the work is still frequently cited; for the knowledge of this production was brought into Europe by the Arabians, who, during the middle ages, were the sole depositaries of all the sciences. The first Arabic translation was made about 827 A.D., by Al-Hacer-ben-Jusef and the Christian Sergius. The Caliph Almamoun himself also lent his literary aid to the undertaking. The second version is that of Honain or Ishac-ben-Honaïn, a Christian physician, who had fled to the court of the Caliph Motawakl. It was on these Arabic translations that a Spanish one was made by Isaac-ben-Sid-elHaza. The Emperor Frederic II., a member of that Suabian house under which Germany began to emerge from barbarism, and to enjoy a dawning of national literature before any other of the countries of Europe, directed Egidius Tebuldinus to turn this Spanish

version into Latin. Another translation was made dered the diatonic octave more conformable to harfrom the Arabic text into Latin by Gerard of Cremo- mony. Some critics, however, are inclined to asna, an astronomer of the twelfth century, who estab-cribe this improvement rather to the New-Pythagelished himself for some time at Toledo, in order to rean Didymus, whom Ptolemy has frequently critilearn the Arabic language. He did not understand it cised, though he obtained from his writings a large perfectly, and was therefore unable to translate cer- portion of his own work. The best edition is that of tain technical terms, which he was consequently com- Wallis, Oxon., 1682, 4to.-10. 'Onтikh прaypareia pelled to leave in the original language. His classical (“A treatise on Optics"), cited by Heliodorus of Laerudition could not have been very profound, since he rissa, and frequently also by the Arabians, but now was unacquainted with Hipparchus, whom he every- lost. A Latin translation, from two Arabian MSS.,. where calls Abrachir, as the Arabic translator had exists in an unedited state in the Royal Library at done. It was not until the fifteenth century that a Paris. It contains, however, only four books of the manuscript of the original Greek was discovered, from five which composed the original. In this work Ptolwhich the astronomer, John Müller, better known by emy gives the most complete idea of astronomic rethe name of Regiomontanus, made his Latin abridg- fraction of any writer down to the time of Kepler.— ment. About the same period, George of Trebisond 11. Kavòv Baoiλéwv (“ Canon, or Table, of Kings"), made a Latin translation from this original, but a very a part, properly, of the IIpóxeipot Kavóveç. This table unfaithful one.-The Alexandreans called the work of contains fifty-five reigns, twenty of which belong to Ptolemy which we have just been considering the kings of Babylon subsequent to Nabonassar, ten to Great Astronomer, Meyaç áoтpоvóuoc, in contradis- kings of Persia, thirteen to kings of Egypt of the line of tinction to another collection which they called the the Ptolemies, and the remainder to Roman emperors Little Astronomer, Mikpòs áoтpovóμoc, and which was after the time of Augustus. This canon was not precomposed of the works of Theodosius of Tripolis; the pared with an historical view, but was intended for asData, Optics, Catoptrics, &c., of Euclid; the works tronomers, to facilitate the calculation of intervals of of Autolycus, Aristarchus of Samos, Hypsicles, &c.-time that may have elapsed between different astronomThe best and most useful edition of the Almagest is ical observations. As, however, the years of each that of Halma, Paris, 1813-1828, 2 vols. 4to. It monarch's reign are indicated in it with great exactcontains a new French version, and notes by Delam-ness, it becomes, consequently, of great value and inbre.-2. The second work of Ptolemy, as we have terest in historical chronology. It must be remarkarranged it, is the IIpóxɛipoi Kavóveç. This is a col-ed, at the same time, that all the dates of this canon lection of Manual Tables intended for makers of al- are given in Egyptian years, an arrangement very well manacs, to facilitate their calculations, and which adapted to the object in view, but productive of some are often only extracts from the Almagest. Halma inconvenience for chronology. Thus, for example, gave the editio princeps of this work in the first vol- the reigns of the Babylonian, Persian, and Roman ume of his edition of Theon's Commentary, which he monarchs, calculated according to the method of their published in 1822.-3. Teтpúbibλoç, ǹ Lúvrağıç μao- respective countries, ought to be in advance of, or benμariký (“Tetramblus, or Mathematical Syntaxis”), | hind, the years numbered in Ptolemy's canon, by some in four books, consisting of astronomical predictions. days, or even months. In the case of the Roman em It is commonly cited under the title of Quadripartitum.perors, the difference, in Ptolemy's time, amounted Some critics consider this work as unworthy of Ptole- to forty days, and the variation must have been still my, and supposititious. Proclus has made a para- more marked as regarded the Babylonian and Persian phrase of it. The latest edition is that of Melancthon, reigns. The only exact part is that which relates to Basil, 1553, 8vo.-4. Kapróç (“Fruit"), that is, one the line of the Ptolemies. Halma gave the latest hundred astrological propositions collected from the edition of this work in 1820, Paris, 4to.-12. Te works of Ptolemy. It is usually cited under the title yрaçıkǹ 'Aphynois ("Geographical Narration," or of Centum Dicta. It is published with the Quadri-"System of Geography"). This work is in eight partitum.5. Φάσεις ἀπλανῶν ἀστέρων καὶ συναγωγὴ books, and during nearly fourteen centuries was the Enionμaoiν (“Appearances of the fixed stars, and a only known manual of systematic geography. It stil collection of the things indicated by them"). This is a remains for us one of the principal sources whence species of almanac, giving the rising and setting of we derive our information respecting the geography the stars, the prognostics of the principal changes of of the ancients. Pursuing the plan traced out by temperature, &c. The work is intended for all cli- Marinus of Tyre, Ptolemy undertook to perfect the mates; and, to make it answer this end, and prove labours of that geographer. The map of Marinus and useful to all the Greeks spread over the surface of the Ptolemy was covered, as it were, with a species of globe, Ptolemy gives the appearance of the stars for network; the meridians were traced on it for every five parallels at once, namely, Syene, Lower Egypt, five degrees; the degrees of latitude were marked by Rhodes, the Hellespont, and the Pontus Euxinus. lines running parallel to the equator, and passed The best edition is that of Halma, Paris, 1820, 4to. through the principal cities, such as Syene, AlexanIt was preceded by the edition of Ideler, Berol., 1819. drea, Rhodes, Byzantium, and, consequently, were at —6. ПIɛpì 'Avaλńμμaros (“ Of the Analemma"). The unequal distances from each other. In this network Analemma was a species of sundial, and in this work were marked the points, the height of which had we have an exposition of the whole gnomonic theory been taken according to their true latitude; but, in orof the Greeks.-7. 'Yπódεσię Twv πhavшμévwv (“ Hy-der to determine their longitude, and the positions, pothesis of the Planets"). The latest edition is that also, of other places, which were only known by the of Halma, Paris, 1820, 4to.-8. "Anλwσiç knipaveias geometric distance, it was necessary to fix the length opaipas ("Planisphere"). This work exists only in of a degree on one of the great circles of the globe. an Arabic version, by Maslem, and a Latin translation Marinus and Ptolemy, without themselves measuring made from this. It is a treatise on what is called ste- any great distances, took the most accurate measurereographic projections. The work is probably one of ments existing in their day, and gave 500 stadia as Hipparchus's. The latest edition is that of Comman- the length of a degree. This was one sixth less than dinus, from the press of Paulus Manutius, Venet., the truth, and from this error must necessarily have 1558, 4to.-9. 'Apuoviká (“Elements of Harmony"), resulted many faults and erroneous deductions. Piolin three books. Ptolemy has the merit of having re-emy determined the length, from west to east, of all duced the thirteen or fifteen tones of the ancients to the known part of the globe, under the parallel of It is generally supposed, also, that he determin- Rhodes, at 72,000 stadia, following geometrical meas ed the true relations of certain intervals, and thus ren-urements. These 72,000 stadia make, according to his

seven.