[489] The commentators suppose that the star or constellation here referred to cannot be the same with what bears this name on the modern celestial atlas; vide Hardouin _in loco_, also Marc. in Ajasson, _ut supra_. The constellation of Berenice’s hair forms the subject of Catullus’s 67th poem. [490] In Troglodytice and in Egypt. [491] The first watch of the night was from 6 P.M. to 9; the second from 9 to midnight. [492] According to Columella, xi. 2. 369, this was 9 Calend. Mart., corresponding to the 21st of February. [493] “In alia adverso, in alia prono mari.” I have adopted the opinion of Alexandre, who explains the terms “adverso” and “prono,” “ascendenti ad polum,” and “ad austrum devexo;” a similar sense is given to the passage by Poinsinet and Ajasson, in their translations. [494] “Anfractu pilæ.” See Manilius, i. 206 _et seq._ for a similar mode of expression. [495] “Aut;” as Poinsinet remarks, “_aut_ est ici pour _alioqui_;” and he quotes another passage from our author, xix. 3, where the word is employed in a similar manner. [496] We may presume that the author meant to convey the idea, that the eclipses which are visible in any one country are not so in those which are situated under a different meridian. The terms “vespertinos,” “matutinos,” and “meridianos,” refer not to the time of the day, but to the situation of the eclipse, whether recurring in the western, eastern, or southern parts of the heavens. [497] Brewster, in the art. “Chronology,” p. 415, mentions this eclipse as having taken place Sept. 21st, U.C. 331, eleven days before the battle of Arbela; while, in the same art. p. 423, the battle is said to have taken place on Oct. 2nd, eleven days after a total eclipse of the moon. [498] It took place on the 30th of April, in the year of the City 811, A.D. 59; see Brewster, _ubi supra_. It is simply mentioned by Tacitus, Ann. xiv. 12, as having occurred among other prodigies which took place at this period. [499] We have an account of Corbulo’s expedition to Armenia in Dion Cassius, lx. 19-24, but there is no mention of the eclipse or of any peculiar celestial phænomenon. [500] The terms employed in the original are “oppositu” and “ambitu.” Alexandre’s explanation of the first is, “quum globi terraquei crassitudo interposita solis arcet radios;” and of the second, “quum nostra hujus globi pars a sole ambitur.” Lemaire, i. 389. [501] One of these towers is mentioned by Livy, xxxiii. 48; it is said to have been situated between Acholla and Thapsus, on the sea-coast.