Early Astronomers

It is to the Grecians that we owe the first discoveries that have proved to be of any real worth.

Seven hundred years B. C., a wise man named Thales declared that he no longer believed that the earth was flat, or that it was held on an elephant's back, or on the shoulders of a giant. "This earth," said Thales, "is a great ball swinging in mid-air. The moon, too, is a great ball, and it receives its light from the sun just as our earth does."

He also understood something about eclipses, and could tell when they were going to come.

At one time, when two nations were going to fight against each other, Thales made use of his knowledge by telling the enemy that the gods were going to give sign of their displeasure by taking from them, in the midst of the battle, the light of the sun.

Of course, the enemy were not going to believe any such story as that from Thales. They sneered at it and prepared for battle. The battle raged high; men were falling on either side; blood was flowing, men were dying—when to! darkness began to creep over the field.

Thales had been right! the gods were angry. Awe-struck, the fierce soldiers gave up the battle, threw down their weapons, and, trembling with fear, gladly made terms of peace with the army of Thales.

In later days, when Christopher Columbus had to deal with the ignorant people of America, the same kind of story was repeated.

He found himself reduced to famine by the inhabitants of the country, who kept him and his companions prisoners; and being aware of the approach of the eclipse, he threatened them with bringing upon them great misfortunes, and depriving them of the light of the moon, if they did not instantly bring him provisions.

They cared little for his threats at first; but as soon as they saw the moon disappear, they ran to him with abundance of victuals, and implored pardon.

This was on the 1st of March, 1504, a date which may be tested by the modern tables of the moon, and Columbus's account proved to be correct. The eclipse was indeed recorded in other places by various observers.

Thales had two pupils who were greatly interested in astronomy. They not only eagerly listened to all that Thales could tell them, but studied into the mystery for themselves.

One of them said he believed that the stars were suns, and that the planets (those stars which change their places in relation to the other stars) had people living upon them.

The other declared he believed that the heavens were controlled by one God, and that the Grecian religion of many gods and goddesses, was all foolishness. He explained the causes of eclipses, and said they were not signs of the wrath of the gods at all.

The people were out of all patience with a man who could be so wicked as to say there were no gods and goddesses. "Why," said they, "he will bring down the wrath of the gods on our city by such irreverence. Away with him! Away with him!" and so this wise man and all his family were driven from the city.

These two men were Anaximander and Anaxagoras. Not beautiful names to our ears, are they? Nor very easy to learn, you will say. Still I want you to know them; for they are as familiar in astronomy as George Washington and Bunker Hill are in American History.

Next came Pythagoras. He made many really important discoveries—important because they were correct; but he could not prove they were true, and so they were unnoticed by the scholars of the time.

Among the incorrect theories he sets forth is this: that the planets are set at regular intervals as are tones of the musical scale; and that these planets, therefore, move along in harmony, making the "music of the spheres," as he called it. This heavenly music, however, could only be heard by the gods—the ear of man being far too coarse to catch such fine sounds.