29. We turn now to the doxographical tradition concerning the formation of the world and its parts:— He says that, as the air was felted, the earth first came into being. It is very broad and is accordingly supported by the air.—Ps.-Plut. _Strom._ fr. 3 (R. P. 25). In the same way the sun and the moon and the other heavenly bodies, which are of a fiery nature, are supported by the air because of their breadth. The heavenly bodies were produced from the earth by moisture rising from it. When this is rarefied, fire comes into being, and the stars are composed of the fire thus raised aloft. There were also bodies of earthy substance in the region of the stars, revolving along with them. And he says that the heavenly bodies do not move under the earth, as others suppose, but round it, as a cap turns round our head. The sun is hidden from sight, not because it goes under the earth, but because it is concealed by the higher parts of the earth, and because its distance from us becomes greater. The stars give no heat because of the greatness of their distance.—Hipp. _Ref._ i. 7, 4-6 (R. P. 28). Winds are produced when air is condensed and rushes along under propulsion; but when it is concentrated and thickened still more, clouds are generated; and, lastly, it turns to water.[158]—Hipp. _Ref._ i. 7, 7 (Dox. p. 561). The stars are fixed like nails in the crystalline vault of the heavens.—Aet. ii. 14, 3 (_Dox._ p. 344). They do not go under the earth, but turn round it.—_Ib._ 16, 6 (_Dox._ p. 346). The sun is fiery.—_Ib._ 20, 2 (_Dox._ p. 348). It is broad like a leaf.—_Ib._ 22, 1 (_Dox._ p. 352). The heavenly bodies are diverted from their courses by the resistance of compressed air.—_Ib._ 23, 1 (_Dox._ p. 352). The moon is of fire.—_Ib._ 25, 2 (_Dox._ p. 356). Anaximenes explained lightning like Anaximander, adding as an illustration what happens in the case of the sea, which flashes when divided by the oars.—_Ib._ iii. 3, 2 (_Dox._ p. 368). Hail is produced when water freezes in falling; snow, when there is some air imprisoned in the water.—Aet. iii 4, 1 (_Dox._ p. 370). The rainbow is produced when the beams of the sun fall on thick condensed air. Hence the anterior part of it seems red, being burnt by the sun’s rays, while the other part is dark, owing to the predominance of moisture. And he says that a rainbow is produced at night by the moon, but not often, because there is not constantly a full moon, and because the moon’s light is weaker than that of the sun.—_Schol. Arat._[159] (_Dox._ p. 231). The earth was like a table in shape.—Aet. iii. 10, 3 (_Dox._ p. 377). The cause of earthquakes was the dryness and moisture of the earth, occasioned by droughts and heavy rains respectively.—_Ib._ 15, 3 (_Dox._ p. 379). Footnote 158: