The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

Sect. 3. Of Eclipses.

HE was the first (saith Laertius) that foretold Eclipses, as Eudemus affirmes in his Astrologick history; for which Zenophanes and Herodotus admire him; attested also by Heraclitus and Democri∣tus. Theon, Smyrnaeus, and Clemens Alexandrinus cite the same place of Eudemus; the scope of whose book was the History of Astrologers, and what every one found out. Thus likewise Pliny, Amongst the Grecians, the first that search'd into Eclipses, was Thales, the Milesian.

* 1.1 Plutarch affirmes, that he was the first that observed the Eclipse of of the Sun, and said, that it was occasion'd by the Moon, comming in a direct line underneath him, which may be seen in a bason of water, or loo∣king glass.* 1.2 That the Eclipse of the Moon is caused by the shadow of the earth, which being placed betwixt these two starres, darkens the lesser.

The testimony of Herodotus, alledg'd by Laertius is this:* 1.3 A five years war was raised between the Ly••ians and the Medes, in which, sometimes the Medes had the better of the Lydians, sometimes the Lydians of the Medes, and one battle was fought by night: The war being thus equall on both sides, in the sixth year, the Armies being joyned, it hap∣ned that as they were ••ighting, the day on a sudden became night; which alteration of that day, Thales a Milesian had fortold the Ionians, designing the year wherein it should happen. The Lydians and Mea••s seeing the day turned to night, left off fighting, and laboured to conclude a mutuall peace, which by the mediation of Syennenses King of Cilicia, and Labnitus King of Babylon (whom Scaliger conceives to be Nebuchadnezzar) was concluded, with the marriage of Ary∣aena daughter of Alyattes, with Astyages, son of Cyaxares, rati∣fi'd by drinking blood.

This is the story of that memorable Eclipse, the time where∣of is uncertain:* 1.4 Pliny placeth it in the fourth year of the for∣tie eight Olympiad, before the building of Rome 170 years: * 1.5 Solinus in the 49 Olympiad, the 604 year after the destruction of ••roy; which falls upon the first year of that Olympiad.* 1.6 Cle∣mens Alexandrinus (citing Eudemus) about the fiftieth Olympi∣ad, at what time Cyaxares father of Astyages raigned in Media: Alyattes father of C••oesus in Lydia. Eusebius in the second year of the fortie eight Olympiad, 1430 years after Abraham. Cleomedes saith, it was totall in Hellespont in Alexandria, but of ten digits.

* 1.7 Iohannes Antiochenus saith, it continued many hours; but they could, not exceed three.

Of latter writers differing accounts thereof are delivered by these.

Ricciolus placeth it before the incarnation 585 years, May 28. about 6 a clock in the afternoon, the digits eclipsed 12. 56.

Calvisius before the incarnation 607 years. Olymp. 43. 4. dif∣fering from Pliny 18. years.

The learned Bishop of Armagh, in the raign of Cyaxares O∣lymp. 44. 4. the 147 year of Nabonassar, the fourth day of the Egyptian Month Pachon, according to the Julian accompt Sep∣temb. 20. feria 1. begining after Sun-rise 1••. 3••••. 25••. digits e∣clipsed 9. continuing almost two howers.

Petavius Olympiad 45. 4. Julian period 4117. before the in∣carnation 597, after the building of Rome 157. Iuly 9. feria 3 beginning after midnight 4•• 45•• digits eclipsed 9. 22••. con∣tinuance full two howers.

Kocca confutes Petavius, because that eclips suits not with the circumstances of the story, as beginning too early in the morn∣ing, and being defective as to the quantity in Pontus and lesser Asia.

Lansbergius, Olympiad 48. 3. the 163 year of Nabonassar, the 12 day of Tybi, which is May 28. digits eclipsed 12. 2•••• in Hel∣lespont: 10. 12•• in Alexandria.

Kepler, Scaliger, Buntingus, and Salianus, follow Pliny: digits eclipsed (according to Buntingus) 11. 30••.

Neither is it easie to determine whether this variety arise from the incertainty of the Astronomers, or of the Chrono∣logers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  De placit. phil. 2. ••.
• * 1.2

  Plut. de plac. phil. 2. 28.
• * 1.3

  Lib. 1.
• * 1.4

  Lib. ••. cap. 12.
• * 1.5

  cap. 20.
• * 1.6

  Strom. 1.
• * 1.7

  Lib. 6. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the M. S. pre∣pared for the Presse in the hands of my honoured friend Edward Byshe Esq.