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2 3 2 CH R O N O LO G IC A L A R R A N G EM E N T
The Gauls or French are regarded as having probably learned the art of making iron and glass
from these Greek colonists : the Age of Iron commencing at about this date in France, Switzerland,
and Northern Europe, as shown in the contents of tombs and by various debris (see Troyon p. 326
and 355).
Agrostemma coeli-rosa of the West Mediterranean countries. The “ luhnis a gria ” identified in
Syn. Diosc. with the “ apôkathëniënës tauros” of the prophets, “ sëmôura” of the Egyptians, — and
described by Dioscorides as in every respect resembling the “ ëmërô ” kind (A. coronaria), its seeds
in like manner employed against the sting of scorpions, maybe compared: the “ luhnis a gria ” or
“ tragônôtôn” or “ atokion ” or “ iërakôpôthiën ” or “ lampas” is further identified in Syn. Diosc.
with the “ intivoum agrëstëm” or “ lapatou kaphagouina ” or “ stërithôs ” of the Romans : A. coeli-
rosa is described by Morison v. pl. 22; is termed “ lychnis foliis glabris calyce duriore” by Tournefort
inst. 337; was observed by Boccone sic. pl. 14, and Sibthorp, frequent in grain-fields in Sicily;
is known to occur also in Barbary (Pers.).
Agrostemma flos-jovis of the mountains of Southern Europe. The “ luhnis a gria ” or plant in
question — is however referred here by Gesner hort. germ. f. 266 (Spreng.) : A . flos-jovis, a tomen-
tose species, is described by Boccone mus. pl. 42 ; is termed “ lychnis umbellifera montana helvética ”
by Tournefort inst. 334; is known to grow in Switzerland, Southern France, the Palatinate (Lam. fl.
fr., and Pers.) ; and was observed by Sestini not far from Constantinople (Sibth.).
“ 599 B. C. ( = 135 years after Syracuse,” . . . . Sm. b. d.). Camarina in Sicily founded.
Rhus cotinus of the Mediterranean and Tauro-Caspian countries. The smoke-bush is called in
France “ fustet ” (Fée), in Germany “ perucken-sumach,” in Italy “ scotano ” or “ cotino ” (Lenz),
in Greece “ mpoia” (Fraas) or “ hrusoxulon” (Sibth.) ; in which we recognize the “ hrusôxulôn ” of
schol. Theocr. or “ thapsos” identified with the S KV® I KOfo : S VV OA of Sappho — by Photius ; the
word “ thapsinos” yellow-coloured occurs in Aristophanes vesp. 1404; the “ thapsó” plant is mentioned
in connexion with colouring by Theocritus ii. 88, and Paulus Aegineta iii. 2 ; and the city of
Thapsos was sometimes called Hrusoxulos : the “ k ôkkugëas” of Theophrastus iii. 16. 6, a small
tree with “ anthrahle’’-like leaves and fruit dissipating in pappus (an account copied by Pliny xiii.
41) is referred here by writers : R. cotinus wa.s observed by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas, abounding
on the mountains of Attica and the Peloponnesus and its wood used for dyeing a beautiful orange,
being (according to Daubeny) the sumach of commerce ; is known to grow also in Siberia (Pers.).
Westward, “ in appenino frutex ” in the days of Pliny xvi. 30 was called “ cotinus ad linamenta modo
conchylii colore insignis : ” R. cotinus is described by Dodoens pempt. 780; is termed “ cotinus
coriaria” by Tournefort inst. 610; and is known to grow in Carniolia, Italy, and Southern France
(Jacq. austr. pl. 210, Scop., Hall, helv., and Lenz). Eastward from Siberia, was observed by Nuttall
to all appearance indigenous along the Arkansas river : but clearly by European colonists, was introduced
into our Atlantic States, where it continues under cultivation for ornament.
Anethum graveolens of the Mediterranean countries. Called in Britain anet or dill, in Old
Norse or ancient Danish “ dilla ” (Prior), in Germany “ d ill” (Grieb), in France “ a n e t ” (Nugent),
in Italy “ aneto ” (Lenz), in Egypt “ sjoebet,” in Yemen “ sch ib t” (Forsk.), in Egyptian “ arahou ”
(Syn. Diosc); in which we recognize the A^foHTO of Sappho, — Alcaeus (Athen. xv. 16). Theophrastus
ix. 7. 3, or “ anëthôn” of Aristophanes, Theophrastus i. 11. 2, Theocritus, Moschus, and Dioscorides;
identified in Syn. Diosc. with the “ gônôs kunôkëphalôu ” or “ trihës kunôkëphalôu ” or
“ gônôs ërmôu” of the prophets: A. graveoiens was observed by Forskal, and Sibthorp, in Greece
and at Constantinople both wild and cultivated; by Forskal, Delile, and CIot-Bey, under cultivation
in Egypt ; by Forskal, under cultivation in Yemen ; and the “ sabet ” is enumerated by rabbi Schwarz
as cultivated in Palestine. Westward, the “ anëthôn” or “ anikëtôn ” or “ pôlgithos” is further
identified in Syn. Diosc. with the “ pôlpôum ” of the Dacians, “ sik kiria ” of the Numidians, and
“ anëthôum ” of the Romans : the “ anethum ” is mentioned by Horace, Virgil, Columella, Pliny,
Apicius, Palladius, and Apuleius: A. graveolens is described by Lobel pl. 776; is termed “ a. hortense
” by Tournefort inst. 318 ; and is known to be cultivated throughout middle Europe (fl. Dan.
pl. 1572, and Pers.). Eastward from Syria, is known to occur at Astracán (Lindl.) ; was “ occasionally
se en ” in Burmah by Mason v. p. 496, “ e x o tic ” and called “ sa mwot,” the seeds “ constantly
for sale in the bazars may therefore through native tribes have reached Timor (Lindl.). Clearly
by European colonists, was carried to Austral Africa (Lindl.) ; and before 1669 (Joss.) to Northeast
America, where it continues sparingly cultivated. The fruits according to Lindley are “ carminative
and stimulant, and taken with food may be regarded condimentary.”
598 B. C. ( = 608 y. 322||% d. — “ II y e a r s ” of twelve lunations of 2 K. xxiii. 36, and 2 Chron.
xxxvi. 5), Jehoiakim succeeded at Jerusalem by his son Jehoiachin. But after “ three montlis,” the
city was captured by Nebuchadnezzar ; who plundered the temple and royal palace, carried Jehoiachin
with “ ten thousand” of the principal men “ into captivity” to Babylon, and appointed Mattaniah
ruler of Jerusalem’ under the changed name of “ Zedekiah.” (The same date for these events, is
deduced by Clinton i. p. 319 and 328 from the Babylonian regnal years in the Astronomical canon).
l i
OF A C C O M P A N Y IN G A N IM A L S A N D P L A N T S . 2 3 3
“ 597 B. C. = n th year of Ting-wang” (Chinese chron. table), beginning'of the Thirty-fifth
cycle.
“ 596 B. C.” (Clint., see Cic., P in t, and Diog. Laert.), Epimenides the priestly bard of Crete,
now in old age, visiting Athens.
Ornithogalum Pyrenaicuvi of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in Britain
French sparrow-grass (Prior), in Greece “ agria skulla ” (Fraas) ; and the “ ipimSnithSiou skilles ”
— distinguished by Theophrastus vii. 12. i as esculent, having narrower and smoother leaves than
the others, an account copied by Pliny xix. 30, is referred here by Fraas; O. Pyrenaicum was
observed by him, Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in the Peloponnesus and on the mountains of Crete.
Westward, is termed “ o. angustifolium majus floribus ex albo virescentibus ” by Tournefort inst.
379; and is known to grow in Carniolia and middle Europe as far as Britain (Jacq. austr. pl. 103,
Pers., and Sm. fl, brit. 363).
Ornithogalum stachyoides, given as a distinct species — but also called in Greece “ agri6.skilla ”
(Sibth.) ; the “ asphothSlos ” of Galen fac. alim. ii. p. 652 having a single root rivalling the squill
in shape and bitterness, but in times of scarcity rendered edible by being prepared like lupines, is
referred here by Dodoens pl. 209, and S prengel: 0 . stachyoides was observed by Sibthorp frequent
from the Peloponnesus throughout the Greek islands to Constantinople. Westward, is described by
Renealme pl. 90 ; is termed “ o. majus spicatum alterum” by Tournefort inst. 379 ; and is known to
grow as far as France (Lam. fl. fr., and Steud.).
“ 595 B. C.” (. . . . Clint), commencement of war by the Amphictyons against Cirrha near mount
Parnassus. Called the “ Sacred war,” — and continuing (according to Callisthenes) “ ten ” years.
In this year = “ i6th year of Necho,” death of an Apis or sacred bull — (Birch).
The same year ( = 5 8 9 + “ 6 y e a r s ” o f Herodotus, and the Afr.-Maneth. table),
N6ha6 succeeded by Psammis or Psammouthis or Psammetihos II., sixth king of the
Twenty-sixth dynasty. The name of Psametik II. occurs on stones once part of a
propylon at Memphis, on a sarcophagus at the bottom of the remarkable insulated pit
at Gizeh discovered by Vyse, on stones employed in reparations at Thebes, on the
rocks at Philm, on foundation stones of Diocletian’s column at Alexandria (Leps. eg. and sin. p.
42), on an obelisk (now in Rome), and on various articles (now in the museums of Europe).
His name occurs also in an “ arched tomb ” at Sakara (Glid. analect.) ; in the series with “ stone
vaulted roofs, whose single blocks have the correct concentric c u t ; ” examples of the stone arch, as
early as any in Rome, being “ coeval with the Cloaca Maxima and Career Mamertinus” (Leps. eg.
and sin. 74).
“ 594 B. C .” (Sosicr. and Clint.), the laws o f Solon, archon for this year, adopted at Athens.
Including the Egyptian law on surveying land, by which every one was obliged to declare the amount
of his income; — a law that continued in force in the days of Herodotus ii. 177 (Leps. eg. and sin.).
Defensive measures against the oppressions of the wealthier classes, were also provided in the
laws of Solon ; — and from this time, Athens began to acquire prominence in the affairs of Greece.
Solon, Thales of Miletus, Pittacus of Mytilene, and Bias of Ionia, were universally reckoned
among the “ Seven sa g e s ; ” and with less unanimity, Cleobulus of Lindus, Myson of Chenes, and
Chilon of Laconia: all of them contemporary persons who appear to have been chiefly statesmen.
“ The same y e a r ” ( = 5 5 9 + “ 35 y e a r s ” of Herodot. i. 102, and Clint.), Cyaxares succeeded
by Astyages, fourth Median emperor.
The hieroglyphic oval of king Psametik II. is in one instance accompanied with an inscription in
Assyrian or cuneiform writing.
Inscriptions in demotic or enchorial writing occur also under the Twenty-sixth dynasty. Regarded
by Birch, as “ an outgrowth of the hieratic writing, which it superseded for the legal and
ordinary purposes of life ; ” and as “ an attempt to assimilate the Egyptian system of writing to the
alphabetic Phoenician.” — In the form of the characters, some general resemblance may be remarked
between demotic and the “ Arabic ” writing of the present day.
“ 593 R- F .” (Burm. hist., and Mason 39), the brother of the “ seventeenth ” king of Tagoung
proceeding into the forest to hunt a wild ijoar that had committed ravages. — He ultimately chose
the life of an ascetic ; and his adopted daughter married the son of the king of Tagoung, and became
tlie mother of king Dwattaboung.
The Mergui Archipelago along the coast of Burmah occupied by the Sellings or Salone.s, a Malayan
tribe living in boats, as early probably as this date.*
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* Zalacca edulis of tlie Moluccas. A palm called in Burmah “ yen-gan-khyen ” or “ yen-gan-khyo ”
(Mason) ; and its trunk “ as light and of the consistency of cork ” used perhaps already for making
the “ unequalled ” sea-boats of the Selungs : — Z. edulis was observed by Mason 459 to 544 “ exotic ”
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