Jameson's History of Our Lord in Art, for
illustrations.

[203:1] See King's Gnostics, p. 178. Knight: Ancient Art and Mythology,
p. xxii., and Jameson's History of Our Lord in Art, ii. 340.

[203:2] Jameson: Hist. of Our Lord in Art, p. 340, vol. ii.

[203:3] Quoted in Knight: Ancient Art and Mythology, p. xxii. _note_.

[203:4] Dunlap: Spirit Hist., p. 185.

[203:5] See chapter xvii. and vol. ii. Hist. Hindostan.

[203:6] See Jameson's Hist. of Our Lord in Art, vol. ii. p. 142.

[204:1] "It would be difficult to prove that the cross of Constantine
was of the simple construction as now understood. . . . As regards the
_Labarum_, the coins of the time, in which it is especially set forth,
prove that the so-called cross upon it was nothing else than the same
ever-recurring monogram of Christ" (that is, the XP). (History of Our
Lord in Art, vol. ii. p. 310. See also, Smith's Bible Dictionary, art.
"Labarum.")

[205:1] Deut. xxiv. 16.

[205:2] Num. xxv. 31-34.

[205:3] Matt. v. 17, 18.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE DARKNESS AT THE CRUCIFIXION.

The _Luke_ narrator informs us that at the time of the death of Christ
Jesus, the sun was darkened, and there was darkness over the earth from
the sixth until the ninth hour; also the veil of the temple was rent in
the midst.[206:1]

The _Matthew_ narrator, in addition to this, tells us that:

"The earth did quake, and the rocks were rent, and the graves
were opened, _and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
and came out of their graves_ . . . and went into the holy
city and appeared unto many."[206:2]

"_His star_" having shone at the time of his birth, and his having been
born in a miraculous manner, it was necessary that at the death of
Christ Jesus, something miraculous should happen. Something of an
unusual nature had happened at the time of the death of other
supernatural beings, therefore something must happen at _his_ death;
_the myth would not have been complete without it_. In the words of
Viscount Amberly: "The darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour, the
rending of the temple veil, the earthquake, the rending of the rocks,
_are altogether like the prodigies attending the decease of other great
men_."[206:3]

The Rev. Dr. Geikie, one of the most orthodox writers, says:[206:4]

"It is impossible to explain the _origin_ of this darkness.
The passover moon was then at the full, so that it could not
have been