The eclipse of the moon, on the other hand, is due to the shadow the earth casts on it when it is a fifteen days' moon and the sun and moon happen to be at the opposite poles of the highest circle, the sun being under the earth and the moon above the earth. For the earth casts a shadow and the sun's light is prevented from illuminating the moon, and therefore it is then eclipsed.
It should be understood that the moon was made full by the Creator, that is, a fifteen days' moon: for it was fitting that it should be made complete [1733] . But on the fourth day, as we said, the sun was created. Therefore the moon was eleven days in advance of the sun, because from the fourth to the fifteenth day there are eleven days. Hence it happens that in each year the twelve months of the moon contain eleven days fewer than the twelve months of the sun. For the twelve months of the sun contain three hundred and sixty-five and a quarter days, and so because the quarter becomes a whole, in four years an extra day is completed, which is called bis-sextile. And that year has three hundred and sixty-six days. The years of the moon, on the other hand, have three hundred and fifty-four days. For the moon wanes from the time of its origin, or renewal, till it is fourteen and three-quarter days' old, and proceeds to wane till the twenty-ninth and a half day, when it is completely void of light. And then when it is once more connected with the sun it is reproduced and renewed, a memorial of our resurrection. Thus in each year the moon gives away eleven days to the sun, and so in three years the intercalary month of the Hebrews arises, and that year comes to consist of thirteen months, owing to the addition of these eleven days [1734] .
It is evident that both sun and moon and stars are compound and liable to corruption according to the laws of their various natures. But of their nature we are ignorant. Some, indeed, say that fire when deprived of matter is invisible, and thus, that when it is quenched it vanishes altogether. Others, again, say that when it is quenched it is transformed into air [1735] .
The circle of the zodiac has an oblique motion and is divided into twelve sections called zodia, or signs: each sign has three divisions of ten each, i.e. thirty divisions, and each division has sixty very minute subdivisions. The heaven, therefore, has three hundred and sixty-five degrees: the hemisphere above the earth and that below the earth each having one hundred and eighty degrees.
The abodes of the planets.
The Ram and the Scorpion are the abode of Mars: the Bull and the Scales, of Venus [1736] : the Twins and the Virgin, of Mercury: the Crab, of the Moon: the Lion, of the Sun: the Archer and the Fish, of Jupiter: Capricorn and Aquarius, of Saturn.
Their altitudes.
The Ram has the altitude of the Sun: the Bull, of the Moon: the Crab, of Jupiter: the Virgin, of Mars: the Scales, of Saturn: Capricorn, of Mercury: the Fish, of Venus.
The phases of the moon.
It is in conjunction whenever it is in the same degree as the sun: it is born when it is fifteen degrees distant from the sun: it rises when it is crescent-shaped, and this occurs twice [1737] , at which times it is sixty degrees distant from the sun: it is half-full twice, when it is ninety degrees from the sun: twice it is gibbous, when it is one hundred and twenty degrees from the sun: it is twice a full moon, giving full light, when it is a hundred and fifty degrees from the sun: it is a complete moon when it is a hundred and eighty degrees distant from the sun. We say twice, because these phases occur both when the moon waxes and when it wanes. In two and a half days the moon traverses each sign.
[1712] Gen. i. 3.
[1713] Text, huper. Variant, hupo, but this does not agree with the view of the author or the ancients.
[1714] Gen. i. 5.
[1715] Basil, Hom. 2, in Hexaëmeron.
[1716] Gen. i. 5.
[1717] Basil, Hom. 2, in Hexaëmeron.
[1718] Text, exousian: variant. exousias.
[1719] Variant here also, exousias.
[1720] Basil, Hom. 6, in Hexaëmeron.
[1721] Text, ho Demiourgos. Variant, ho demiourgesas.
[1722] Ps. viii. 3.
[1723] Basil, Hom. 6, in Hexaëmeron.
[1724] Text, sunkrouseos. Variants, sunkraseos and sunkriseos.
[1725] Basil, Hom. 6, in Hexaëmeron.
[1726] Nemes., de Nat. Hom., ch. 34.
[1727] Text, poioumene. Variant, poioumenon.
[1728] Basil, Hom. 6, in Hexaëmeron.
[1729] Text, thanaton delounta basileon. Variant, thanaton basileon: also thanaton, e anadeixin semainousi basileon.
[1730] Basil, Christi Nativit.
[1731] Rom. i. 25.
[1732] Text, dianadothenai: variants, diadothenai and dothenai.
[1733] Sever. Gabal., De opif. mundi, III.
[1734] Ibid. De opif. mundi, III.
[1735] Nemes., ch. 5.
[1736] VidePorph., de antro Nymph.
[1737] Text, dis. R. 4 has deuteron.