Evidence of Antiquity--Pyramids and Temples--Arithmetic--Decimal and Duodecimal Scales--Astronomy--Geometry reached in Egypt at earliest Dates--Great Pyramid--Piazzi Smyth and Pyramid-Religion--Pyramids formerly Royal Tombs, but built on Scientific Plans--Exact Orientation on Meridian--Centre in 30° N. Latitude--Tunnel points to Pole--Possible use as an Observatory--Procter--Probably Astrological--Planetary Influences--Signs of the Zodiac--Mathematical Coincidences of Great Pyramid--Chaldæan Astronomy--Ziggurats--Tower of Babel--Different Orientation from Egyptian Pyramids--Astronomical Treatise from Library of Sargon I., 3800 B.C.--Eclipses and Phases of Venus--Measures of Time from Old Chaldæan--Moon and Sun--Found among so many distant Races--Implies Commerce and Intercourse--Art and Industry--Embankment of Menes--Sphynx--Industrial Arts--Fine Arts--Sculpture and Painting--The Oldest Art the best--Chaldæan Art--De Sarzec's Find at Sirgalla--Statues and Works of Art--Imply long use of Bronze--Whence came the Copper and Tin--Phoenician and Etruscan Commerce--Bronze known 200 years earlier--Same Alloy everywhere--Possible Sources of Supply--Age of Copper--Names of Copper and Tin--Domestic Animals--Horse--Ox and Ass--Agriculture--All proves Extreme Antiquity 134 CHAPTER VI. PREHISTORIC TRADITIONS. Short Duration of Tradition--No Recollection of Stone Age--Celts taken for Thunderbolts--Stone Age in Egypt--Palæolithic Implements--Earliest Egyptian Traditions--Extinct Animals forgotten--Their Bones attributed to Giants--Chinese and American Traditions--Traditions of Origin of Man--Philosophical Myths--Cruder Myths from Stones, Trees, and Animals--Totems--Recent Events soon forgotten--Autochthonous Nations--Wide Diffusion of Prehistoric Myths--The Deluge--Importance of, as Test of Inspiration--More Definite than Legend of Creation--What the Account of the Deluge in Genesis really says--Date--Extent--Duration--All Life destroyed except Pairs preserved in the Ark--Such a Deluge impossible--Contradicted by Physical Science--By Geology--By Zoology--By Ethnology--By History--How Deluge Myths arise--Local Floods--Sea Shells on Mountains--Solar Myths--Deluge of Hasisadra--Noah's Deluge copied from it--Revised in a Monotheistic Sense at a comparatively Late Period--Conclusion--Rational View of Inspiration 178 CHAPTER VII. THE HISTORICAL ELEMENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.