II. The idea which the ancient Hebrews had of the figure of the earth can only be conjectured from inci- dental hints occasionlly given in Scripture (Isa. xl, 22; Prov. viii, 27 ; Job xxvi, 10 ; Psa. xxiv, 2 ; cxxxvi, G). From these jjassages, taken together, says Kosenmiiller (AlterthnmsJc. I, i, 133 sq.), we obtain the notion of the earth's disk as circular, rising out of the water, and surrounded with the ocean, the heaven being spread over it as a canopy. Though floating free in the boundless immensity of space, yet, through the Crea- tor's might, it remains firml}' fixed, without moving (1 Chron. xvii, .30 ; Psa. xciii, 1 ; civ, 5 ; cxix, 90). It is rather inconclusive, however, to infer the popular notions of the earth's figure from what may have l)een nothing more than the bold imagery of poets. Some have sup]iosed that so long as the Hebrews were a no- madic race, they conceived of the earth as resembling a round tent, with the expanse as its covering; liut that in later times, when donucilcd in Palestine, they
spoke of it as a splendid palace resting upon its many pillars (2 Sam. xxii, 8; Psa. Ixxv, 3; civ, 5; Prov. viii, 25-29). The Greek and Konian writers (Ilesiod, Theofjn. IIG sq. ; Ovid, Metain. i, 5 sq. ; comp. I'uscl). Preep. Ev. i, 10 [Sanchoniathon, cd. Orelli, p. 9 ?([.] ; Zendavesta, i, 170 sq.) also vary in their re]iresenta- tions on this point, describing the earth sometimes as an ol)long square, sometimes as a cube, sometimes as a pyramid, sometimes as a chlumys, or outspread man- tle. (See Eichhorn, Urgesch. ed. Gabler, Isftrnb. 1790 ; Doderlein Jiel.-Unterr. vii, 59 sq. ; Beck, Weltgesch. i, 99 sq. ; Bauer, Jkbr. Mythol. i, G3 .'q. ; De' Wette, Bibl. Dogm. p. 7G sq. ; Baumgarten-Crusius. BiU. The- olog. p. 2G4 sq. ; Colin, Bibl. Theol. i, ICG; ]\Iignot, in the Memoires de VAcad. des hiscr. xxxiv, 352 sq. ; An- quetil, Oupnekhat, i, 409 sq. ; Johannsen, Die kosmog. Andchlen d. Inder u. Hebr. Altona, 1833; Dornedden, in Eichhorn's Bibl. x, 284 sq., 548 sq. ; Gessner, in the Commentt. Sac. Goett. vol. ii ; Corrodi, Beitr. znm rem. Denken, xviii, 15 sq. ; Link, Uru-elt, i, 268 f q. ; A>'ag- ner, Geschichte d. Urgesch. p. 496 sq. ; Umbreit, in the Stud. u.Kritiken, 1839, p. 189 sq. ; Ballenstedt, Die Ur- welt, 3d ed. Quedlinb. 1819 ; Von Schrank, PhgyJc- theolog. Erklilr. der 6 Srhopfungstage, Augsbui-g, 1829 ; Beke, Researches in Pritneval Bistorg, London, 1834 ; Burton, View of the Creation, London, 1836; Tholuck, Liter ar. Anzeig. 1833, No. 67-78; Keil, apologia Mas. traditionis, Dorpat, 1839 ; Benner, De censura Longini in verba Gen. i, 3, Giess. 1739; Burmeister, Gesch. d. Schdpftmg, Lips. 1843 ; Waterkeyn, Kosmos J/ieros Grimma, 1846 ; Goguet, Urspr. d. Gesetze, ii, 227.) See Cosmogony.
Eartheu Vessel or Earthenware. See Pot- tery.
Earthquake CO"'!', ra'ash, a shaking, (rtiff/.toc). The proximate cause of earthquakes, though by no means accurately defined, seems referable to the action of internal heat or fire. That the earth was once sub- ject to the action of a vast internal power springing probably from the development of subterranean or central heat, the elevations and depressions, and the generally scarred and torn character of its exterior make sufficiently evident. A power similar in kind, but more restricted in degree, is still at work in the Ijowels of the earth, and occasionalh' breaks down all barriers and devastates certain parts of the world. There is good reason for holding that earthquakes are closely connected with volcanic agency. Both proba- bly spring from the same cause, and may be regarded as one mighty influence operating to somewhat dis- similar results. Volcanic agency, therefore, is an in- dication of earthquakes, and traces of the first may be taken as indications of the existence (either present or past, actual or possible) of the latter. (See Hitch- cock's Geology, p. 234 sq.) The manifestation of these awful phenomena is restricted in its range. Accord- inglv, geologists have laid down certain volcanic re- gions or bands within which this manifestation takes place. Over these regions various traces of volcanic agency are found, such as either gaseous vapors, or hot springs, or bituminous substances, and in some instances (occasionally) active volcanoes. Several sources of bitumen arc found on the Tigris, in the Per- sian mountains, near the Kharun, and at Busliire, as well as ailing the Euphrates. At Hit, esjiecially, on the last-mentioned river, it exists on a very large scale, and, having been much used from the earliest times, seems inexhaustible. Abundant traces of it are also to be seen amid the ruins and over the entire vicinity ofHillah, the ancient Babylon. Syria and Palestine abound in volcanic appearances. Between the river Jordan and Damascus lies a volcanic tract. The en- tire country about the Dead Sea presents indubitable token.s. of volcanic agency. Accordingly, these places come within one of the volcanic regions. The chief of these are, (1) that which extends from the Caspian
EARTHQUAKE
9
EARTHQUAKE
Sea to the Azores ; (2) from the Aleutian Isles to the ]MoIuccas ; (3) that of the Andes ; (i) the African ; (5) the Icelandic. Syr'id and Palestine are embraced with- in the first band, and these countries have not inifre- quently been suiiject to earthquakes. (See Stanley, Palest, p. 279, 283, 285, 3G3 ; Volney, Trav. i, 281 ; Ku- segger, Rnsen, p. 205). See Palestine.