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The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6): CHAP. 9. (12.)—AN ACCOUNT OF THE OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE HEAVENS BY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)
CHAP. 9. (12.)—AN ACCOUNT OF THE OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE HEAVENS BY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

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table of contents
  1. THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PLINY.
  2. PREFACE
  3. THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF PLINY.
  4. CONTENTS. OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
  5. BOOK I.34 DEDICATION. C. PLINIUS SECUNDUS TO HIS FRIEND TITUS VESPASIAN.
  6. BOOK II. AN ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD AND THE ELEMENTS.
    1. CHAP. 1. (1.)—WHETHER THE WORLD BE FINITE, AND WHETHER THERE BE MORE THAN ONE WORLD.
    2. CHAP. 2. (2.)—OF THE FORM OF THE WORLD91.
    3. CHAP. 3. (3.)—OF ITS NATURE; WHENCE THE NAME IS DERIVED.
    4. CHAP. 4. (5.)—OF THE ELEMENTS100 AND THE PLANETS101.
    5. CHAP. 5. (7.)—OF GOD109.
    6. CHAP. 6. (8.)—OF THE NATURE OF THE STARS; OF THE MOTION OF THE PLANETS.
    7. CHAP. 7.—OF THE ECLIPSES OF THE MOON AND THE SUN.
    8. CHAP. 8. (11.)—OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE STARS.
    9. CHAP. 9. (12.)—AN ACCOUNT OF THE OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE HEAVENS BY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.
    10. CHAP. 10. (13.)—ON THE RECURRENCE OF THE ECLIPSES OF THE SUN AND THE MOON.
    11. CHAP. 11. (14.)—OF THE MOTION OF THE MOON.
    12. CHAP. 12. (15.)—OF THE MOTIONS OF THE PLANETS AND THE GENERAL LAWS OF THEIR ASPECTS204.
    13. CHAP. 13.—WHY THE SAME STARS APPEAR AT SOME TIMES MORE LOFTY AND AT OTHER TIMES MORE NEAR.
    14. CHAP. 14. (17.)—WHY THE SAME STARS HAVE DIFFERENT MOTIONS.
    15. CHAP. 15.—GENERAL LAWS240 OF THE PLANETS.
    16. CHAP. 16. (18.)—THE REASON WHY THE STARS ARE OF DIFFERENT COLOURS.
    17. CHAP. 17. (19.)—OF THE MOTION OF THE SUN AND THE CAUSE OF THE IRREGULARITY OF THE DAYS.
    18. CHAP. 18. (20.)—WHY THUNDER IS ASCRIBED TO JUPITER.
    19. CHAP. 19. (21.)—OF THE DISTANCES OF THE STARS.
    20. CHAP. 20. (22.)—OF THE HARMONY OF THE STARS.
    21. CHAP. 21. (23.)—OF THE DIMENSIONS OF THE WORLD.
    22. CHAP. 22. (24.)—OF THE STARS WHICH APPEAR SUDDENLY, OR OF COMETS270.
    23. CHAP. 23.—THEIR NATURE, SITUATION, AND SPECIES.
    24. CHAP. 24. (26.)—THE DOCTRINE OF HIPPARCHUS293 ABOUT THE STARS.
    25. CHAP. 25.—EXAMPLES FROM HISTORY OF CELESTIAL PRODIGIES; FACES, LAMPADES, AND BOLIDES295.
    26. CHAP. 26.—TRABES CELESTES; CHASMA CŒLI.
    27. CHAP. 27. (27.)—OF THE COLOURS OF THE SKY AND OF CELESTIAL FLAME.
    28. CHAP. 28. (28.)—OF CELESTIAL CORONÆ.
    29. CHAP. 29.—OF SUDDEN CIRCLES.
    30. CHAP. 30.—OF UNUSUALLY LONG ECLIPSES OF THE SUN.
    31. CHAP. 31. (31.)—MANY SUNS.
    32. CHAP. 32. (32.)—MANY MOONS.
    33. CHAP. 33. (33.)—DAYLIGHT IN THE NIGHT.
    34. CHAP. 34. (34.)—BURNING SHIELDS311.
    35. CHAP. 35. (35.)—AN OMINOUS APPEARANCE IN THE HEAVENS, THAT WAS SEEN ONCE ONLY.
    36. CHAP. 36. (36.)—OF STARS WHICH MOVE ABOUT IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS.
    37. CHAP. 37. (37.)—OF THE STARS WHICH ARE NAMED CASTOR AND POLLUX316.
    38. CHAP. 38. (38.)—OF THE AIR AND ON THE CAUSE OF THE SHOWERS OF STONES.
    39. CHAP. 39. (39.)—OF THE STATED SEASONS.
    40. CHAP. 40. (40.)—OF THE RISING OF THE DOG-STAR.
    41. CHAP. 41. (41.)—OF THE REGULAR INFLUENCE OF THE DIFFERENT SEASONS.
    42. CHAP. 42. (42.)—OF UNCERTAIN STATES OF THE WEATHER.
    43. CHAP. 43. (43.)—OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
    44. CHAP. 44.—THE ORIGIN OF WINDS.
    45. CHAP. 45.—VARIOUS OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING WINDS.
    46. CHAP. 46. (47.)—THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF WINDS349.
    47. CHAP. 47.—THE PERIODS OF THE WINDS360.
    48. CHAP. 48.—NATURE OF THE WINDS376.
    49. CHAP. 49. (48.)—ECNEPHIAS AND TYPHON.
    50. CHAP. 50.—TORNADOES; BLASTING WINDS; WHIRLWINDS389, AND OTHER WONDERFUL KINDS OF TEMPESTS.
    51. CHAP. 51. (50.)—OF THUNDER393; IN WHAT COUNTRIES IT DOES NOT FALL, AND FOR WHAT REASON.
    52. CHAP. 52. (51.)—OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIGHTNING395 AND THEIR WONDERFUL EFFECTS.
    53. CHAP. 53. (52.)—THE ETRURIAN400 AND THE ROMAN OBSERVATIONS ON THESE POINTS.
    54. CHAP. 54. (53.)—OF CONJURING UP THUNDER.
    55. CHAP. 55. (54.)—GENERAL LAWS OF LIGHTNING.
    56. CHAP. 56. (55.)—OBJECTS WHICH ARE NEVER STRUCK.
    57. CHAP. 57. (56.)—SHOWERS OF MILK, BLOOD, FLESH, IRON, WOOL, AND BAKED TILES422.
    58. CHAP. 58. (57.)—RATTLING OF ARMS AND THE SOUND OF TRUMPETS HEARD IN THE SKY.
    59. CHAP. 59. (58.)—OF STONES THAT HAVE FALLEN FROM THE CLOUDS429. THE OPINION OF ANAXAGORAS RESPECTING THEM.
    60. CHAP. 60. (59.)—THE RAINBOW.
    61. CHAP. 61.—THE NATURE OF HAIL, SNOW, HOAR, MIST, DEW; THE FORMS OF CLOUDS.
    62. CHAP. 62. (62.)—THE PECULIARITIES OF THE WEATHER IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
    63. CHAP. 63. (63.)—NATURE OF THE EARTH.
    64. CHAP. 64. (64.)—OF THE FORM OF THE EARTH.
    65. CHAP. 65. (65.)—WHETHER THERE BE ANTIPODES?
    66. CHAP. 66.—HOW THE WATER IS CONNECTED WITH THE EARTH. OF THE NAVIGATION OF THE SEA AND THE RIVERS.
    67. CHAP. 67. (67.)—WHETHER THE OCEAN SURROUNDS THE EARTH.
    68. CHAP. 68. (68.)—WHAT PART OF THE EARTH IS INHABITED.
    69. CHAP. 69. (69.)—THAT THE EARTH IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD.
    70. CHAP. 70. (70.)—OF THE OBLIQUITY OF THE ZONES484.
    71. CHAP. 71.—OF THE INEQUALITY OF CLIMATES.
    72. CHAP. 72.—IN WHAT PLACES ECLIPSES ARE INVISIBLE, AND WHY THIS IS THE CASE.
    73. CHAP. 73. (71.)—WHAT REGULATES THE DAYLIGHT ON THE EARTH.
    74. CHAP. 74. (72.)—REMARKS ON DIALS, AS CONNECTED WITH THIS SUBJECT.
    75. CHAP. 75. (73.)—WHEN AND WHERE THERE ARE NO SHADOWS.
    76. CHAP. 76. (74.)—-WHERE THIS TAKES PLACE TWICE IN THE YEAR AND WHERE THE SHADOWS FALL IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.
    77. CHAP. 77. (75.)—WHERE THE DAYS ARE THE LONGEST AND WHERE THE SHORTEST.
    78. CHAP. 78. (76.)—OF THE FIRST DIAL.
    79. CHAP. 79. (77.)—OF THE MODE IN WHICH THE DAYS ARE COMPUTED.
    80. CHAP. 80. (78.)—OF THE DIFFERENCE OF NATIONS AS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE WORLD.
    81. CHAP. 81. (79.)—OF EARTHQUAKES.
    82. CHAP. 82. (80.)—OF CLEFTS OF THE EARTH.
    83. CHAP. 83. (81.)—SIGNS OF AN APPROACHING EARTHQUAKE.
    84. CHAP. 84. (82.)—PRESERVATIVES AGAINST FUTURE EARTHQUAKES.
    85. CHAP. 85. (83.)—PRODIGIES OF THE EARTH WHICH HAVE OCCURRED ONCE ONLY.
    86. CHAP. 86. (84.)—WONDERFUL CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING EARTHQUAKES.
    87. CHAP. 87. (85.)—IN WHAT PLACES THE SEA HAS RECEDED.
    88. CHAP. 88. (86.)—THE MODE IN WHICH ISLANDS RISE UP.
    89. CHAP. 89. (87.)—WHAT ISLANDS HAVE BEEN FORMED, AND AT WHAT PERIODS.
    90. CHAP 90.—LANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SEPARATED BY THE SEA.
    91. CHAP. 91. (89.)—ISLANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN UNITED TO THE MAIN LAND.
    92. CHAP. 92. (90.)—LANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN TOTALLY CHANGED INTO SEAS.
    93. CHAP. 93. (91.)—LANDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SWALLOWED UP.
    94. CHAP. 94. (92.)—CITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN ABSORBED BY THE SEA.
    95. CHAP. 95. (93.)—OF VENTS587 IN THE EARTH.
    96. CHAP. 96. (94.)—OF CERTAIN LANDS WHICH ARE ALWAYS SHAKING, AND OF FLOATING ISLANDS.
    97. CHAP. 97. (96.)—PLACES IN WHICH IT NEVER RAINS.
    98. CHAP. 98.—THE WONDERS OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES COLLECTED TOGETHER.
    99. CHAP. 99. (97.)—CONCERNING THE CAUSE OF THE FLOWING AND EBBING OF THE SEA.
    100. CHAP. 100.—WHERE THE TIDES RISE AND FALL IN AN UNUSUAL MANNER.
    101. CHAP. 101. (98.)—WONDERS OF THE SEA.
    102. CHAP. 102. (99.)—THE POWER OF THE MOON OVER THE LAND AND THE SEA.
    103. CHAP. 103. (100.)—THE POWER OF THE SUN.
    104. CHAP. 104.—WHY THE SEA IS SALT.
    105. CHAP. 105. (102.)—WHERE THE SEA IS THE DEEPEST.
    106. CHAP. 106. (103.)—THE WONDERS OF FOUNTAINS AND RIVERS.
    107. CHAP. 107.—THE WONDERS OF FIRE AND WATER UNITED.
    108. CHAP. 108. (104.)—OF MALTHA.
    109. CHAP. 109. (105.)—OF NAPHTHA.
    110. CHAP. 110. (106.)—PLACES WHICH ARE ALWAYS BURNING.
    111. CHAP. 111. (107.)—WONDERS OF FIRE ALONE.
    112. CHAP. 112. (108.)—THE DIMENSIONS OF THE EARTH.
    113. CHAP. 113.—THE HARMONICAL PROPORTION OF THE UNIVERSE.
  7. BOOK III. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED. INTRODUCTION.
    1. CHAP. 1. (1.)—THE BOUNDARIES AND GULFS OF EUROPE FIRST SET FORTH IN A GENERAL WAY.
    2. CHAP. 2.—OF SPAIN GENERALLY.
    3. CHAP. 3.—OF BÆTICA.
    4. CHAP. 4. (3.)—OF NEARER SPAIN.
    5. CHAP. 5. (4.)—OF THE PROVINCE OF GALLIA NARBONENSIS.
    6. CHAP. 6. (5.)—OF ITALY.
    7. CHAP. 7.—OF THE NINTH1167 REGION OF ITALY.
    8. CHAP. 8.—THE SEVENTH REGION OF ITALY.
    9. CHAP. 9.—THE FIRST REGION OF ITALY1264; THE TIBER; ROME.
    10. CHAP. 10.—THE THIRD REGION OF ITALY.
    11. CHAP. 11.—SIXTY-FOUR ISLANDS, AMONG WHICH ARE THE BALEARES.
    12. CHAP. 12. (6.)—CORSICA.
    13. CHAP. 13.—SARDINIA.
    14. CHAP. 14. (8.)—SICILY.
    15. CHAP. 15. (10.)—MAGNA GRÆCIA, BEGINNING AT LOCRI.
    16. CHAP. 16.—THE SECOND REGION OF ITALY.
    17. CHAP. 17. (12.)—THE FOURTH REGION OF ITALY.
    18. CHAP. 18. (13.)—THE FIFTH REGION OF ITALY.
    19. CHAP. 19. (14.)—THE SIXTH REGION OF ITALY.
    20. CHAP. 20. (15.)—THE EIGHTH REGION OF ITALY; THE PADUS.
    21. CHAP. 21. (17.)—THE ELEVENTH REGION OF ITALY; ITALIA TRANSPADANA.
    22. CHAP. 22. (18.)—THE TENTH REGION OF ITALY.
    23. CHAP. 23. (19.)—ISTRIA, ITS PEOPLE AND LOCALITY.
    24. CHAP. 24. (20.)—THE ALPS, AND THE ALPINE NATIONS.
    25. CHAP. 25. (21.)—LIBURNIA AND ILLYRICUM.
    26. CHAP. 26. (22.)—DALMATIA.
    27. CHAP. 27. (24.)—THE NORICI.
    28. CHAP. 28. (25.)—PANNONIA.
    29. CHAP. 29. (26.)—MŒSIA.
    30. CHAP. 30.—ISLANDS OF THE IONIAN SEA AND THE ADRIATIC.
  8. BOOK IV. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED.
    1. CHAP. 1. (1.)—EPIRUS.
    2. CHAP. 2.—ACARNANIA.
    3. CHAP. 3. (2.)—ÆTOLIA.
    4. CHAP. 4. (3.)—LOCRIS AND PHOCIS.
    5. CHAP. 5. (4.)—THE PELOPONNESUS.
    6. CHAP. 6. (5.)—ACHAIA.
    7. CHAP. 7.—MESSENIA.
    8. CHAP. 8.—LACONIA.
    9. CHAP. 9.—ARGOLIS.
    10. CHAP. 10. (6.)—ARCADIA.
    11. CHAP. 11. (7.)—ATTICA.
    12. CHAP. 12.—BŒOTIA.
    13. CHAP. 13.—DORIS.
    14. CHAP. 14.—PHTHIOTIS.
    15. CHAP. 15. (8.)—THESSALY PROPER.
    16. CHAP. 16. (9.)—MAGNESIA.
    17. CHAP. 17. (10.)—MACEDONIA.
    18. CHAP. 18. (11.)—THRACE; THE ÆGEAN SEA.
    19. CHAP. 19. (12.)—THE ISLANDS WHICH LIE BEFORE THE LANDS ALREADY MENTIONED.
    20. CHAP. 20.—CRETE.
    21. CHAP. 21.—EUBŒA.
    22. CHAP. 22.—THE CYCLADES.
    23. CHAP. 23.—THE SPORADES.
    24. CHAP. 24.—THE HELLESPONT.—THE LAKE MÆOTIS.
    25. CHAP. 25.—DACIA, SARMATIA.
    26. CHAP. 26.—SCYTHIA.
    27. CHAP. 27.—THE ISLANDS OF THE EUXINE. THE ISLANDS OF THE NORTHERN OCEAN.
    28. CHAP. 28.—GERMANY.
    29. CHAP. 29. (15.)—NINETY-SIX ISLANDS OF THE GALLIC OCEAN.
    30. CHAP. 30. (16.)—BRITANNIA.
    31. CHAP. 31. (17.)—GALLIA BELGICA.
    32. CHAP. 32. (18.)—GALLIA LUGDUNENSIS.
    33. CHAP. 33. (19.)—GALLIA AQUITANICA.
    34. CHAP. 34. (20.)—NEARER SPAIN, ITS COAST ALONG THE GALLIC OCEAN.
    35. CHAP. 35. (21.)—LUSITANIA.
    36. CHAP. 36.—THE ISLANDS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
    37. CHAP. 37. (23.)—THE GENERAL MEASUREMENT OF EUROPE.
  9. BOOK V. AN ACCOUNT OF COUNTRIES, NATIONS, SEAS, TOWNS, HAVENS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, DISTANCES, AND PEOPLES WHO NOW EXIST OR FORMERLY EXISTED.
    1. CHAP. 1.—THE TWO MAURITANIAS.
    2. CHAP. 2. (3.)—NUMIDIA.
    3. CHAP. 3. (4.)—AFRICA.
    4. CHAP. 4.—THE SYRTES.
    5. CHAP. 5. (5.)—CYRENAICA.
    6. CHAP. 6. (6.)—LIBYA MAREOTIS.
    7. CHAP. 7. (7.)—THE ISLANDS IN THE VICINITY OF AFRICA.
    8. CHAP. 8. (8.)—COUNTRIES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF AFRICA.
    9. CHAP. 9. (9.)—EGYPT AND THEBAIS.
    10. CHAP. 10.—THE RIVER NILE.
    11. CHAP. 11.—THE CITIES OF EGYPT.
    12. CHAP. 12. (11.)—THE COASTS OF ARABIA, SITUATE ON THE EGYPTIAN SEA.
    13. CHAP. 13. (12.)—SYRIA.
    14. CHAP. 14.—IDUMÆA, PALÆSTINA, AND SAMARIA.
    15. CHAP. 15. (14.)—JUDÆA.
    16. CHAP. 16. (18.)—DECAPOLIS.
    17. CHAP. 17. (19.)—PHŒNICE.
    18. CHAP. 18.—SYRIA ANTIOCHIA.
    19. CHAP. 19. (23.)—THE REMAINING PARTS OF SYRIA.
    20. CHAP. 20. (24.)—THE EUPHRATES.
    21. CHAP. 21.—SYRIA UPON THE EUPHRATES.
    22. CHAP. 22. (27.)—CILICIA AND THE ADJOINING NATIONS.
    23. CHAP. 23.—ISAURIA AND THE HOMONADES.
    24. CHAP. 24.—PISIDIA.
    25. CHAP. 25.—LYCAONIA.
    26. CHAP. 26.—PAMPHYLIA.
    27. CHAP. 27.—MOUNT TAURUS.
    28. CHAP. 28.—LYCIA.
    29. CHAP. 29.—CARIA.
    30. CHAP. 30.—LYDIA.
    31. CHAP. 31.—IONIA.
    32. CHAP. 32. (30.)—ÆOLIS.
    33. CHAP. 33.—TROAS AND THE ADJOINING NATIONS.
    34. CHAP. 34. (31.)—THE ISLANDS WHICH LIE IN FRONT OF ASIA.
    35. CHAP. 35.—CYPRUS.
    36. CHAP. 36.—RHODES.
    37. CHAP. 37.—SAMOS.
    38. CHAP. 38.—CHIOS.
    39. CHAP. 39.—LESBOS.
    40. CHAP. 40. (32.)—THE HELLESPONT AND MYSIA.
    41. CHAP. 41.—PHRYGIA.
    42. CHAP. 42.—GALATIA AND THE ADJOINING NATIONS.
    43. CHAP. 43.—BITHYNIA.
    44. CHAP. 44.—THE ISLANDS OF THE PROPONTIS.
  10. APPENDIX OF CORRECTIONS.
  11. FOOTNOTES:
  12. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE

CHAP. 9. (12.)—AN ACCOUNT OF THE OBSERVATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE HEAVENS BY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.

The first among the Romans, who explained to the people at large the cause of the two kinds of eclipses, was Sulpicius Gallus, who was consul along with Marcellus; and when he was only a military tribune he relieved the army from great anxiety the day before king Perseus was conquered by Paulus187; for he was brought by the general into a public assembly, in order to predict the eclipse, of which he afterwards gave an account in a separate treatise. Among the Greeks, Thales the Milesian first investigated the subject, in the fourth year of the forty-eighth olympiad, predicting the eclipse of the sun which took place in the reign of Alyattes, in the 170th year of the City188. After them Hipparchus calculated the course of both these stars for the term of 600 years189, including the months, days, and hours, the situation of the different places and the aspects adapted to each of them; all this has been confirmed by experience, and could only be acquired by partaking, as it were, in the councils of nature. These were indeed great men, superior to ordinary mortals, who having discovered the laws of these divine bodies, relieved the miserable mind of man from the fear which he had of eclipses, as foretelling some dreadful events or the destruction of the stars. This alarm is freely acknowledged in the sublime strains of Stesichorus and Pindar, as being produced by an eclipse of the sun190. And with respect to the eclipse of the moon, mortals impute it to witchcraft, and therefore endeavour to aid her by producing discordant sounds. In consequence of this kind of terror it was that Nicias, the general of the Athenians, being ignorant of the cause, was afraid to lead out the fleet, and brought great distress on his troops191. Hail to your genius, ye interpreters of heaven! ye who comprehend the nature of things, and who have discovered a mode of reasoning by which ye have conquered both gods and men192! For who is there, in observing these things and seeing the labours193 which the stars are compelled to undergo (since we have chosen to apply this term to them), that would not cheerfully submit to his fate, as one born to die? I shall now, in a brief and summary manner, touch on those points in which we are agreed, giving the reasons where it is necessary to do so; for this is not a work of profound argument, nor is it less wonderful to be able to suggest a probable cause for everything, than to give a complete account of a few of them only.

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