Various O

§. 4. The Ancients are much divided in their Opinion concerning the Chronology of thefe Kings; pinions con for Paufanias, Hyginus and Clemens Alexandrinus cerning the difagree with Eufebius, and the Authors he quotes. Chronology Paufanias mentions feveral Kings not named by Eu- of thefe febius, and omits others: And according to the Com- Kings. putation of Clemens Alexandrinus, there are no more than 400 years to be computed from the beginning of this Epocha, till the time of the Deftruction of Troy. Tho' it cannot be denied that Paufanias has been in. duftrious in collecting the Hiftory of the Gracian Kings, yet confidering that his Relation is not free from Fables, and withal uncompleat, the times of the Reigns of each of thefe Kings being left out, we have all the reafon in the World to prefer the Authority of Eufebius in this Cafe. Hyginus's account is plainly full of errors, and that of Clemens feems

to

to admit of a double entendre. In fine, Eufebius has faid well, that all the Gracian Hiftory before the commencement of the Olympiads is uncertain.

CHAP. VIII.

Of the Epocha of Cecrops, the first Founder of the Kingdom of Athens, and his Succeffors.

RULES.

1. For want of more ancient Monuments of Antiquity concerning the Epocha of Cecrops, its Origin must be investigated, partly out of Eufebius, partly out of the Afiatick Chronicle, which came to light but fome years ago, and is known by the Name of Marmora Arundeliana.

2. The time of Cecrops is coincident with that of Mofes according to Eufebius in Chron. and Euchftachius Bishop of Antiocnia in his Hexaemer. 3. According to Eufebius there are 375 years from the beginning of the Reign of Cecrops to the Death of Mneftheus.

4. According to Paufanias, the fame number of years ought to be reckoned from thence to the Destruction of Troy.

5. The Succeffion of thefe Kings ought to be regu lated in fuch a manner as to make the Destruction of Troy coincident with the last times of the Reign of Mneftheus, the faid City being taken by the Greeks in the 22d year of his Reign, according to the Marmora Arundeliana.

8. According to the Computation of Clemens Alexandrinus, Thefeus flourished almost fifty years before the Destruction of Troy.

7. Upon

7. Upon these and fuch like Characters Scaliger has founded his Computation of the beginning of the Government of Athens, which being at first Monarchical, began in the 3158th year of the Julian Period. Cyc. O. 22. . 4.

8. If therefore 3157 years be fubtracted from any To find out certain year of the Julian Period, the Refidue the year fhews the true year fince the beginning of this E- fince the pocha; and if the fame Number 3157 be ad- beginning of this Eded to the years of this Epocha, the Froduct will correfpond to the year of the Julian Period.

S. I. 1.THE

pocha.

HE Athenian Monarchy is commonly diftin- The feveral guished into three feveral Claffes; the first Dynasties being that of their Kings, the fecond of their Archon of the Ates (or Princes) who reigned during Life; the third thenians. of their Decennial Archontes: a Catalogue of all which may be feen in the following Chronological Table, which Scaliger calculated out of Eufebius, and to which we have added Petavins's Corrections.

The first Dynafty or that of the Athenian Kings.

The Names and Or-years of scal.Pe.
der of their Kings. their

Petav.

Ful.

An.Reg. Pe.ful.

Reign.

The Second Dynafty or that of the Athenian Archontes.

this Epo

S. 2. There is a difference of 20 years in the Chro- Difference nological Computation of Eufebius, and that of the in the Arundeliana Marmora, concerning the beginning of Chronology this Epocha; the laft putting the beginning of the concerning Reign of Cecrops fo many years before the other cha which difference betwixt these two ancient Hiftorians is fcarce to be decided in our times. Concerning fome other difficulties in the Chronology of the Athenian Kings, Petavius in Ration. p. 112. may be confulted.

§. 3. There are alfo various Opinions about the The Etymo Etymology of the Word puns, the Sirname of Ce-logy of Dicraps. Some will have him to be a Monster; as Apol- Pyas as the Sirname of Lodorus l. 3. others of a Humane Shape, but a prodigi- Cecrops. ous Bulk. According to Eufebins Chron. Par. prior. he was called Diphyes, either by reafon of his Tallness or because he was born an Egyptian, and understood both that and the Greek Tongue. Demofthenes fays, he was reputed to have been half a Man and half a Drágon, because he was compared for his Prudence to a Man, and for his Strength to a Dragon. Suidas in voce Kengw↓, fays, he was called guns or Biformis, because he taught the People to diftinguith their Father and Mother, by inftituting publick Matrimony, and prohibiting promifcuous Imbraces.

9. 4. After the Decennial Princes, annual Govern- The Annunours were introduced at Athens, according to Eu al Magi febius and Paufanias. Nine of the principal Men offtrates of the City were elected yearly to have the Adminiftra- Athens. tion of the Government. He that was the Governour in chief, and in whofe Name all Affairs of Moment were tranfacted, was called Archon Eponymus; the fix following, Thefmodetha, the eighth King, the ninth Polemarchus; of which Poftellas de Rep. Athen, may be confulted.

CHAP