pse of the sun comes to us from a Grecian
source. This eclipse took place in 585 B.C., and has been the subject of
much investigation. Herodotus, to whom we are indebted for the account,
tells us that it occurred during a battle in a war which had been waging
for some years between the Lydians and Medes. The sudden coming on of
darkness led to a termination of the contest, and peace was afterwards
made between the combatants. The historian goes on to state that the
eclipse had been foretold by Thales, who is looked upon as the Founder
of Grecian astronomy. This eclipse is in consequence known as the
"Eclipse of Thales." It would seem as if that philosopher were
acquainted with the Chaldean saros.

The next solar eclipse worthy of note was an annular one, and occurred
in 431 B.C., the first year of the Peloponnesian War. Plutarch relates
that the pilot of the ship, which was about to convey Pericles to the
Peloponnesus, was very much frightened by it; but Pericles calmed him by
holding up a cloak before his eyes, and saying that the only difference
between this and the eclipse was that something larger than the cloak
prevented his seeing the sun for the time being.

An eclipse of great historical interest is that known as the "Eclipse of
Agathocles," which occurred on the morning of the 15th of August, 310
B.C. Agathocles, Tyrant of Syracuse, had been blockaded in the harbour
of that town by the Carthaginian fleet, but effected the escape of his
squadron under cover of night, and sailed for Africa in order to invade
the enemy's territory. During the following day he and his vessels
experienced a total eclipse, in which "day wholly put on the appearance
of night, and the stars were seen in all parts of the sky."

A few solar eclipses are supposed to be referred to in early Roman
history, but their identity is very doubtful in comparison with those
which the Greeks have recorded. Additional doubt is cast upon them by
the fact that they are usually associated with famous events. The birth
and death of Romulus, and the Passage of the Rubicon by Julius Caesar,
are stated indeed to have been accompanied by these marks of the
approval or disapproval of the gods!

Reference to our subject in the Bible is scanty. Amos viii. 9 is thought
to refer to the Nineveh eclipse of 763 B.C., to which allusion has
already been made; while the famous episode of Hezekiah and the shadow
on the dial of Ahaz has been connected with an eclipse