The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)Pliny, the Elder
History
The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 1 (of 6)
Pliny, the Elder
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works
And again, many suns have been seen at the same time[307]; not above
or below the real sun, but in an oblique direction, never near nor
opposite to the earth, nor in the night, but either in the east or
in the west. They are said to have been seen once at noon in the
Bosphorus, and to have continued from morning until sunset. Our
ancestors have frequently seen three suns at the same time[308], as
was the case in the consulship of Sp. Postumius and L. Mucius, of L.
Marcius and M. Portius, that of M. Antony and Dolabella, and that of M.
Lepidus and L. Plancus. And we have ourselves seen one during the reign
of the late Emperor Claudius, when he was consul along with Corn.
Orfitus. We have no account transmitted to us of more than three having
been seen at the same time.
CHAP. 32. (32.)—MANY MOONS.
Three moons have also been seen, as was the case in the consulship of
Cn. Domitius and C. Fannius; they have generally been named nocturnal
suns[309].
CHAP. 33. (33.)—DAYLIGHT IN THE NIGHT.
A bright light has been seen proceeding from the heavens in the
night time, as was the case in the consulship of C. Cæcilius and Cn.
Papirius, and at many other times, so that there has been a kind of
daylight in the night[310].
CHAP. 34. (34.)—BURNING SHIELDS[311].
A burning shield darted across at sunset, from west to east, throwing
out sparks, in the consulship of L. Valerius and C. Marius[312].
CHAP. 35. (35.)—AN OMINOUS APPEARANCE IN THE HEAVENS, THAT WAS SEEN
ONCE ONLY.
We have an account of a spark falling from a star, and increasing as it
approached the earth, until it became of the size of the moon, shining
as through a cloud[313]; it afterwards returned into the heavens and
was converted into a _lampas_; this occurred in the consulship of Cn.
Octavius and C. Scribonius. It was seen by Silanus, the proconsul, and
his attendants[314].
CHAP. 36. (36.)—OF STARS WHICH MOVE ABOUT IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS.
Stars are seen to move about in various directions, but never without
some cause, nor without violent winds proceeding from the same
quarter[315].
CHAP. 37. (37.)—OF THE STARS WHICH ARE NAMED CASTOR AND POLLUX[316].
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