Note that 396,099 +2400 + 2700=401,199÷36511098=365 × 3+2. 396,099÷365d.=1085y. (=217 × 5).

892. The artificial construction of this chronography is apparent on the face of it. But some latent proofs may be pointed out. It will be seen, when we come to consider "The Book of Sothis," that these large numbers, having been assumed to stand for months, have been commuted into years at the rate of 9000 to 726, 727, 7274, 7273, and 730; these small variations having been adopted, as we suppose, in order to give out suitable numbers. Now 10,215 at 730 for 9000 = 828 (=414 × 2). 396,099 at 727 =32,000. And, adding the Post-diluvian Period similarly reduced, together with the years to Pul, we find that 36,500 years would end B.C. 440, the 25th of Artaxerxes, in which year Nehemiah's arrival at Jerusalem is placed. The years between the Median conquest and Pul amount to 1501. If, following the received chronology, we place Pul's accession, B. c. 779, there will be 2280 years to the Vulgar Æra. The æra of Nabon. is B. c. 747. Therefore, previous to it, 1533 years (1 Sothiac Cycle). But it is expressly stated that there were 88 years from Pul to Nabucodrossor's accession; and as no years are assigned to Pul, we conclude (from this and similar instances) that it is intended none should be reckoned to him. From Nebuchadnezzar's accession to the destruction of Jerusalem,—which, in some computations, has been dated B. C. 586,- there may be reckoned 17 years complete. Now 1501 +88+17+586=2192 (=1 Sothiac Cycle). Perhaps, however, the computation may have been made to the birth of Christ, reckoning 1501 +88+17+584=2190. In the book of Sothis we shall meet with a (reduced) period of 968 years (=242×4). We suspect that the above period of 975 is a corresponding one, having 7 years intercalated with a view to the formation of a Sothiac Cycle. 975-487 × 2, and 487-1461. 975+486=1461. The next item (the years of the 40 kings) is 526, which exceeds the 486 required to complete the Cycle by 40. 893. With the foregoing a computation by Syncellus, evidently derived from the same sources, and constructed on the same principle, may properly be compared: in fact, it seems to be the same scheme with some of the items inverted and the numbers changed.

The sum-total exceeds 434 x 5 by 6, the unit in the last item. This excess may be accounted for, partly by the formation of the period shewn above, and partly by the wish to make another cyclical number to the Philippine æra of the Astron. Canon, to which may be reckoned 211 years; and 2176 +211 = 2387 (=217 × 11).

=

894. Again, CTESIAS (as reported by Diodorus) states that 30 Assyrian kings reigned, previous to Sardanapalus, during 1300 [1306, 1360] years. The fall of Sardanapalus is placed by some chronologers in B.C. 888; but others make him Esarhaddon, who succeeded Sennacherib (2 Kings, xix.) в.c.712 or 713 (¶ 351). Adopting the latter view, 1306+713=2019. 2019-1460=559, the year B. c. in which the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus is placed. So that it may be supposed that the computation of Ctesias assigned a Sothiac Cycle as the duration of the Assyrian and Median or Chaldæan empires under "39 (40?) kings." But, if we adopt the former view, and date "the Median empire" from B.C. 890, then 1300+890=2190 (=1 Sothiac Cycle).-Another view would give (1300+870=) 2170 (=434 x 5). But Ctesias has 1360+317(=420) × 4-3).

895. To the Chaldæan chronology we shall have occasion to advert again hereafter, when we come to consider the Canon of Ptolemy.

II. EGYPTIAN.

1. 896. THE BOOK OF SOTHIS, which Biot "characterises as the compilation of a Jewish or Christian impostor, executed not earlier than the end of the 3rd century," and which Bunsen believes to be "considerably later," contained, according to Syncellus, the reigns of 7 Gods in 11,985 years. Of these, Hephaestus (Vulcan) was the first, and reigned 9000 years. In the list which follows in Syncellus there are six Gods and 9 Demigods (=15) mentioned. On the hypothesis of some ancient chronographers that the socalled years are in reality lunar months, they have been severally reduced to years. The 9000 of Vulcan have been made 7274 yrs. The reduced numbers of the remaining 5 give 2985 months nearly. Hence, as 9000+2985 the 11,985 predicated of the 7, it may be inferred that the missing God has not been accidentally left out. Moreover, as the reduced numbers of the 5 amount to 241 (making a total for the 6 of 968=242 × 4), and 242 × 3=726, it may be inferred that the theory has been to make Vulcan's years = 3 times those of the remaining 5. The sum of the solar years attributed to the 9 demigods is 214; and 214 × 4+(56 × 2)=968. 214 years will give 2647 months. 11,985+2647=14,632, between

which number and the 12,632 of the LXX. Total Ages (¶ 25, col. 32), it may be suspected that there is some connexion. 12,632-5632(2985+2647)=7000.- Another commutation of the years would make the (supposed) months to have been as follows: Vulcan 9000, 5 Gods 3051 (=12,051), 9 Demigods 2662; total, 14,713. 2662 years is a Josephean duration of the Ante-diluvian period. Between 12,051 and 3051 and the 8551 of the LXX. Ante-diluvian Total Ages there would appear to be a relation. 12051-8551 = 3500. 8551-3051 5500. However, without necessarily excluding these conjectures, the true commutation and explanation is doubtless this. 9000m. of 29d. 15h.=730y. exactly. At the same rate the 4551y. reckoned for the other 14 deities will give 5610m. And 9000+5610=14,610=36,525÷21 That 7274 is found instead of 730 may be accounted for by the cyclical periods, which the first number has been shewn to produce; or it may be a correction made to rectify the error of calculating 29d. 15h. instead of 29d. 12h. to a lunation. The rate of commutation thus demonstrated will probably be found applicable to the reduction of all the large numbers.

897. It appears from another passage in Syncellus, containing a quotation from Panodorus, that the computation of the book of Sothis was brought into connexion with the Scripture account. In the quotation alluded to it is related that before Enoch, 1286 A. M., men were ignorant of the number of days in a month or year; but the Egregori ("Sons of God," Gen. vi. 2) descended in the 1000th year of the world, and in the 1058th they taught their children astronomy (such is supposed to be the meaning); and that thence began, reckoned in 30-day months, the 11985 lunar, =969 solar cycles. The LXX. computation (V. R. 2242) of the Ante-diluvian Period is then arrived at thus:

of

898. It would seem as though small additions had been made to each of the above items in order to make out the number 2242. 899. With regard to the number first mentioned, Scaliger has proposed to read 1288, "which," he says, "is the 1st year Methuselah." But our Table (¶ 25, col. 16) shews 1287 to be the LXX. date of Methuselah's birth. Therefore, possibly, 1286 years complete may have been reckoned previous to it. (Observe that 1286586 (293 × 2)+700). And 586 may, on the same ground, be considered the Sam. date. This view, it will be remarked, requires us to supply, as the words understood in the original "until the procreation by," instead of "until the birth of " Enoch.

900. Noah's birth is placed by the Hebrew computation 1000 solar years (1056 lunar) after the Creation. In this fact we appear to have the best solution of the apparent discrepancy above.

901. But what means the "2 dynasties of 9 Demigods ?"-Note that, according to the Hebrew, the sons of Noah, that is, the Patriarchs of the Post-diluvian or second period, were 9. Note also, that if the years assigned to these 9 be doubled (293 × 2 =586), and added to the Hebrew Ante-diluvian years (1656), the sum will be 2242, coinciding with the above LXX. computation. May not this, then, have been a mystical method (by intending 2 contemporaneous dynasties of 9 each) of indicating a doubling of the years of the Demigods?

902. It is stated that the first two items make 2027. Now 27 is the Heb. and LXX. intercalation to Methuselah; and, when it is taken away, exactly two millennia remain.

903. Again, it is asserted that the 2nd and 3rd items make 1153 years, but their true sum is 1183. Why this discrepancy? The sum-total 2242 (2000+242) shews why it was made 1183. And, if we add the solar instead of the lunar years, we shall probably discover why 1153 has been predicated. 1000+1153 =2153; and 2153 is the Josephean Ante-diluvian duration, according to Brinch.

904. Once more, if we convert 1056 years into months at the rate of 730 to 9000, we find that they amount to 13,022. Adding the 14,610 obtained above as = the 2nd and 3rd items, the sum is 27,632, which exceeds by 15,000 the Total Ages of the LXX. (¶25, col. 32). 15,000m., on the commutation made in the Book of Sothis, would = 1210y. (=242 × 5).

905. On the whole, the following seems to be the exoteric explanation of this esoteric statement. Men knew not that there were 365 days in a year, until Enoch (who lived 365 years) begat Methuselah A. M. 586 Sam., but 1286 LXX. This Methuselah, after living 60 (solar) years, begat Lamech, and died in the year of the Flood, aged 720 Sam., but 969 Heb. and LXX. His grandson, Noah, was born after the Creation 700 (solar) years, Sam., but 1000 (solar) years, 1056 (lunar) years, Heb., the LXX. date may be considered to coincide with the Heb. epoch of the Flood. At the time of Noah's birth, "the Sons of God" descended and taught men astronomy. By an artifice the Hebrew appears to have made the same number of years to the birth of Abram as the LXX. to the Deluge.-The numerical scheme may be constructed thus:

-

9000 for 726= 13,100

26*} (=592 × 2) "

= 12,004
2,655

906. It can scarcely be denied that we have found in this passage a most striking confirmation of our theory of the artificial character of the Jewish chronographies; and, in particular, a conclusive proof of the essential unity of the computations in the three recensions, as well as a strong testimony to our theory of intercalations, and of commutations from one scale to another. Our opinion that the Various Readings have not originated in corruptions is also confirmed by the use made of this LXX. Various Reading.

907. Chev. Bunsen has observed that, if the number (24,925) of "the genuine Manetho," (so he is pleased to designate the version given by Eusebius),—if this, which comprises the reigns of Gods, Heroes, and Manes, be added to the 11,985 of the Book of Sothis, the sum will be 36,910, which is only 385 years more than 36,525. The composition of the numbers tends to shew that there may be something in the conjecture: 11,985 = 385 +11,600 (232 × 50); 1185(730+241 +214)=385+800. Again, 36,910 at 730 for 9000 =2 Sothiac Cycles.

2. 908. THE OLD EGYPTIAN CHRONICLE contained, according to Syncellus, 30 dynasties, 113 generations, and 36,525 years. It was divided under 3 heads :-1st. the Gods; 2d. the Demigods; 3d. Egyptians.*

It is repeated at the end that the whole 30 dynasties contain "3 myriads" and "6525 years." In the manner of recording the fact there appears to be a distinction intimated between the years of Helios and those of the Gods and men that followed.

909. But two apparent discrepancies are observable:-1st, the years after Helios amount to 6341 only; and 2dly, of these no more than 2140 belong to the 30 dynasties of men. With regard to the latter: as to the number of the dynasties; if, following the precedent afforded in the case of the generations of the Sothiac Cycle, we should reckon all the preceding generations included in the 6341 years, as dynasties, there would be 51,-including Helios

*In the passage in Syncellus (Chronogr., p. 51) one Codex inserts the words placed in brackets.

Φέρεται παρ' Αἰγυπτίοις παλαιόν τι χρονογραφεῖον, [ἐξ οὗ καὶ τὸν Μανεθώ πεπλανῆσθαι νομίζω,] περιέχον λ' δυναστειῶν ἐν γενεαῖς πάλιν ριγ χρόνον ἄπειρον, [καὶ οὐ τὸν αὐτὸν, ὃν Μανεθῶ] ἐν μυριάσι τρισὶ καὶ φκε, πρῶτον μὲν τῶν Αὐριτῶν, δεύτερον δὲ τῶν Μεστραίων, τρίτον δὲ Αἰγυπτίων, οὕτω πως ἐπὶ λέξεως ἔχον..