however, in one year was so small that they were obliged to
extend their observations over immense periods. Jones informs us
that the Hindoos first supposed that the precession took place at
the rate of 60 years in a degree, or 1800 in a Zodiacal sign, and
of 21,600 in a revolution of the entire circle. They afterwards
came to think that the precession was at the rate of 60 years and
a fraction of a year, and thus that the precession for a sign was
in 1824 years, and for the circle in 21,888 years. Subsequently
they discovered, or thought they had discovered, the Soli-Lunar
period of 608 years, hence they attempted to make the two go
together. Both, however, proved to be erroneous.
In referring to the fact that among the ancient Romans existed
the story of the twelve vultures and the twelve ages of 120 years
each, Higgins remarks:
"This arose from the following cause: They came from the East
before the supposition that the precession took place a degree in
about 60 years, and 1824 years in a sign had been discovered to
be erroneous; and as they supposed the Neros made a correct cycle
in 608 years, and believed the precessional cycle to be completed
in 21,888, they of course made their ages into twelve. As both
numbers were erroneous, they would not long answer their intended
purpose, and their meaning was soon lost, though the sacred
periods of twelve ages and of 608 remained."
According to Hipparchus and Ptolemy, the equinoxes preceded at
the rate of a degree in 100 years, or 36,000 hundred years in 360
degrees. This constituted a great year, at the end of which the
regeneration of all things takes place. This is thought to be a
remnant of the most ancient Hindoo speculations, and not the
result of observation among the Greeks. Some time after the
arrival of the sun in Aries,
"at the vernal equinox, the Indians probably discovered their
mistake, in giving about 60 years to a degree; that they ought to
give 50" to a year, about 72 years to a degree, and about 2160
years to a sign; and that the Luni-Solar cycle, called the Neros,
did not require 608 years, but 600 years only, to complete its
period. Hence arose the more perfect Neros."
It is thought by various writers that the knowledge of the
