k
i: .1
i'tSj .iP
t* ;j λ
f‘ SIJ Iqlrf-
4 -’ ft
3 7 6 CH R O N O LO G IC A L A R R A N G EM E N T
wild on the seashore of Crete and the Peloponnesus, and elsewhere under cultivation. Westward,
Ihe “ lëukôiôn” or “ vasilëiôn ” is identified in Syn. Diosc. with the “ opoula a lv a ” or “ viôla a lv a ”
or “ angustia ” of the Romans ; the “ leucoium ” is mentioned by Columella ix. 4. 4 to x. 97 ; M. iii-
cana is termed “ leucoium rubrum ” by Brunswyck (Spreng.), “ 1. incanuin majus ” by Tournefort inst.
220 ; was observed by Lenz wild in Italy ; is known to grow wild on tlie seashore of Spain and Portugal
(Pers.), also near Bayonne and Teste in France, and on almost inaccessible cliffs around the
Isle of Wight (Laterr., Wats., and A. Dec.). By European colonists, was carried to Northeast
America, wliere it continues a favourite garden flower.
“ 2S3 B. C. r= 40 years ” after the death of Alexander and “ 2 years ” after his own abdication
(I’ olyli., Porphyr., and Clint.), death of Ptolemy Soter. His son Ptolemy II. married Arsinoe daughter
of Lysimachus ; and afterwards another Arsinoe, his own sister (schol. Theocr., and Clint,
iii. p. 379).
In ascending the Nile, the first temple beyond Philæ is at Debod; and presents sculptures of
the Ethiopian king Ergamenes, a cotemporary of Ptolemy II. (Leps. eg. and sin. p. 123 and 243;
the localities in several of ChainpoIIion’s sheets of Nubian temples, having been transposed). On
Philæ also, there is “ a whole chamber containing nothing but Ethiopian representations and inscriptions.”
Philinus of Cos, reputed founder of the medical sect of Empirici, and “ a pupil of Herophilus ”
(Sm. b. d.), hardly later than this date.
Nasturtium officinale of Europe, Northern Asia, and Northwest America. Called in Britain
•water-cress {Bx\ox), in Germany “ brunnenkresse ” (Grieb), in Italy “ crescione ” or “ nasturzio aqua-
tico ” or “ sisembro aquatico ” (Lenz), in Greece “ nërôkarthamôn,” in which we recognize the “ sisymbrium
” growing “ in riguis ” known to Philinus --(according to Pliny .xx. 91), also tlie “ sisumvriön
tô ën töis utliasin” of Zopyrus (Orib. xiv. 62), and “ sisumvriön ëtërôn” an aquatic herb according
to Dioscorides with leaves at first round and as they increase dividing after tlie manner of rocket,
eaten crude, and in the added Synonyms identified with the “ karthaminên ” by some called “ siön : ”
N. officinale was observed by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas in the water of springs everywhere in
Greece. Farther South, the “ sisymbrion ” of Dioscorides, and Galen, is referred by Ebn Baitar to
t l i e “ hurf e im a ;” N. officinale was observed by Hasselquist in Palestine, is enumerated by CIot-
Bey as recently introduced into Egypt, and was received by Richard p. 15 from Abyssinia. Westward,
is described by Anguillara p. 114 (Spreng.) ; is termed “ s. aquaticum ” by Tournefort inst. 226 ;
and is knovvn to grow in Algeria (Munby), Italy, and throughout middle Europe as far as Denmark
(fl. Dan. pl. 6go, and Pers.). Eastward from Greece, is known to grow in Armenia and throughout
Northern Asia as far as Behring’s Straits (Ledeb.) ; was observed by Thunberg in Japan, abounding
in ditches and called “ ta seri : ” and across the Pacific, was observed by Chamisso on St. Paul Island
(Schl.), and by Scouler at the mouth of the Columbia (Hook.). Possibly by European colonists
carried to Tropical Hindustan, where it was observed by Graham “ in gardens,” but no native name
is given ; and to Burmah, where it is enumerated by Mason as “ exotic,” and seems also devoid of
native names. Clearly by European colonists, was carried to Northeast America, where it continues
under cultivation, and was observed by Nuttall naturalized on Long Island ; was also carried to
Madeira, the Canaries, ancl Cape Verd Islands (Bory, Braun, and A. Dec.) ; to the mountains of the
West Indies (Sloane, and Piirsh) ; and to the Mauritius Islands, where according to Bojer it has
become naturalized.
Thymus zygis of the Mediterranean countries. Called in Greece “ smari ; ” the ZYFIAA of Plii-
iinus, — identified by Dioscorides with the “ ërpullôs agriös,” not creeping but erect with narrow
leaves and flowers pungent to the taste, is referred here by writers : T. zygis was observed by Forskal,
and Sibtliorp, from Constantinople to the environs of Athens. Farther South, tlie “ zugitha”
was known to Athenaeus xv. 23 in Egypt. Westward, T . zygis is described by Clu.sius hist. i. 358
(Spreng.); is termed “ thymbra hispánica coridis fo lio ” by Tournefort inst. 197; was observecl by
Forskal on Malta, and is known to grow in Switzerland (Pers.).
F ritillaria Pyrenaica of the mountains of the Mediterranean countries. Called in Greece “ ga-
zouli ” (Fraas); and the A E I P I 0 N and I 0 N, purple-flowered according lo I’ liilinus — (Athen. xv. 27),
may be compared : F. Pyrenaica was observed by Sibthorp, Chaubard, and Fraas, on mountains from
the Peloponnesus to Parnassus ; is known to grow also in Russia and on Caucasus (Pers., and Adam),
and is termed “ f. tulipifolia” by Bieberstein (Bory). Westward, is termed “ t. flore minore ” by
Tournefort inst. 377; and is known to grow in North Italy and on the Pyrenees (All , Gawl., and
Steud.).
“ 282 B. C.” (Sm. b. cl), C. Fabricius Luscinus and Q. Aemilius Papus consuls, the Boii defeated
and peace granted to them. In Southern Italy the Samnites revolting, defeated with the Lucanians
and Bruttians, Thurii relieved, and a Roman fleet attacked by the Tarentines.
“ Nov. 9th, three hours and a half after midnight ” (Blair), another occultation of the star Spica
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 . 3 7 7
Virginis observed at Alexandria by Timochares ; the moon covering the star with the North part
of her disk.
“ 281 B. C.” (Polyb., and Clint.), Lysimachus defeated by Seleucus, and slain.
Pleclranthus crassifolius of Tropical Arabia. Called there “ medan,” and in Egypt “ zatar
hendi ” (Forsk.), equivalent to “ origani indici ” of the letter on preserving health to king Antiochus
— (Hippocrat. c o ll) : tlie “ setargi indi ” is also mentioned by Mesue electuar.: P. crassifolius was
observed in Egypt by Vesling obs., Forskal, and in a greenhouse there by Delile. Farther South,
was observed by Forskal p. 109 under cultivation along the base of the mountains of Yemen.
“ 280, January” (. . . . Clint, iii. p. 346), Seleucus succeeded by Antiochus Soter, second Greek
king of Syria.
Diciamnus frax ine lla of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. The herb according to
Agathon called by tlie barbarians on the Tanais OPYZA, resembling Fl H F A N ii, and giving out
flames if a stepmother is plotting — (Plut. fluv. 14. 5), may be compared: the “ fraxinellam ” of Crescenzio,
Tragus 26 (Spreng.), and Tournefort inst. 430, is referred here by writers : D. fraxinella was
observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, frequent from the Peloponnesus to the woods on mount Hte-
niiis ; and Westward, is known to grow in Italy, Germany, and as far as France (Renealm. pl. 121,
Jacq. austr. pl. 428, and Pers.).
Cynanchum vincetoxicum of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. An upright species
called in Italy “ vincetossico” (Lenz); and the KYO Y P A herb growing according to Agathon along
the Argive river Inachus, resembling Fl H F A N Q, and placed on the umbilicus to induce abortion —
(Plut. fluv. 18), may be compared: the “ asklepias ” growing on mountains according to Dioscorides,
and having long branches, its leaves applied externally in diseases of the matrix and
mammae, and its slender fr.igrant roots an antidote in bites of poisonous animals, identified with the
“ kission ” or “ kissophullon ” in the added Synonyms, is referred here by Fuchsius and others: C.
vincetoxicum was observed by Sibthorp on Parnassus and other high mountains in Greece. Wes tward,
the account of the “ asclepiades ” by Pliny xxvii. 18 seems taken from Dioscorides ; but the
“ vincatossicam ” is mentioned in a medical formula of the time of Charlemagne, and “ vincetoxici ”
by Nicolaus Praepositus: C. vincetoxicum is described by Matthioli p. 129, Lobel, Dalechamp, and
according to Dodoens p. 407 its roots are certainly fragrant (Spreng.); is termed “ asclepias albo
flore” by Tournefort inst, 94, “ vincetoxicum officinarum” by Moench ; was observed by Lenz in
Italy; by Forskal, near Marseilles; is known to grow throughout middle Europe as far as Denmark
(fl. Dan. pl. 849, and Pers.), but not in Britain. According to Lindley, is “ emetic and purgative,”
and is named from having been “ once celebrated as an antidote to poisons.”
“ The same year ” (Polyb., Blair, and Clint.), landing in Southern Italy of an army under Ityrrhus,
to aid the colonists of Tarentum against the Romans; who were now becoming known to the Greeks.
A history of Pyrrhus is given by a contemporary, Hieronymus of Cardia ; one of the first Greeks
who wrote on Roman affairs — (Dionys. ant, i. p. 16).
“ The same y e a r ” (Polyb., and Clint.), tixtt Achaean League or republic, instituted among the
Greek States.
“ In this year ( = 50th of the First Calippic period,” Hipparch., and Sm. b. d.), observation of
the summer solstice by Aristarchus of Samos. Aristarchus maintained. That the Earth not only rotates,
but moves in an oblique circle around the sun : — an opinion advanced also somewhat later by
Seleucus the Babylonian (Humb, cosm. ii.).
“ Before the close of the y e a r ” (Dexipp., and Clint.), in Macedonia, Ptolemy Ceraunus defeated
by an army of Gauls . who next proceeded South, as far as Delphi in Greece ; — but at the end of
two years were repelled, and by invitation of Nicoiiiedes king of Bithynia, entered Asia Minor
(Liv. xxx v iii. 16).
“ 278 B. C.” (Clint.), the epoch in Literature called the “ School of Alexandria.” Philosophy
divided into four recognized Sects, under Strato, Zeno, Epicurus, and Arcesilaus ; and the establishment
of a Library, attracting the seat o f learning from Athens to Alexandria. The “ first regular
body of grammarians or critics ” also formed, and called “ gpibutikoi ” (Blair).
Rumex obtusifoUus of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. Called in Britain dock
(Lin dl), in Greece “ lapatho” (Sibth.) or “ lapato,” in Egypt “ liummid” (F o r sk .); and the “ bula-
pathon” of Solon Smyrnaeus, differing only in length of root and the effect on dysentery— (Plin.
XX. 83 to 86), may be compared : R. obtusifolius was observed by Forskal, Sibthorp, Cliaubard, and
Fraas, frequent in waste places from the Peloponnesus to Constantinople ; by Forskal, as far as Cairo
in Egypt; by Grant on the Coast range of Eastern Africa in “ Lat. 6° 38' S.” Westward, the “ herba
lapathi” called “ paratella” is mentioned by Macer Floridus . . . ; the Anglo-Saxon “ do cca” is transî
i ri
to '"
I
■■ + . 1 ' "
■ 9 , ■ I ' / '
" '' ■■
ro > U -I 9% 1 ’ ' I -fi -,
f• .• V ‘