[107] _The wintry tropic._] The winter solstice, according to the table of Petavius, happened in Hesiod’s time on the 30th of December. The acronychal rising of Arcturus took place in the 14th degree of Pisces, which corresponds in the calendar with the 5th of March. LE CLERC. The acronychal rising of a star is when it rises at the beginning of night: the acronychal setting is when it sets at the end of night. But there are two acronychal risings and settings: the one when the star rises exactly as the sun sets, and sets exactly as the sun rises. This is the _true_ acronychal rising and setting, but it is invisible by reason of the day-light. The other is the visible or _apparent_ acronychal rising and setting; which is, when the star is actually seen in the horizon. [108] _The green artichoke._] Σκολυμος is not the thistle, as has been commonly supposed. Pliny says of it, lib. xxii. c. 22, “The scolymos is also received for food in the East. The stalk is never more than a cubit in height, with scaly leaves, and a black root of a sweet taste.” It is, therefore, the artichoke. [109] _The loud cicada._] The interpreters translate ηχετα _canora_, and λιγυρην _dulcem_; and hence an idea is prevalent that Hesiod speaks of the cicada as having a sweet note; but of these epithets the first is properly _vocal_ or _sonorous_, and the second _shrill_ or _stridulous_. Anacreon calls the insect “wise in music,” but he seems to think the note musical from its cheerful association with summer: Mortals honour thee with praise, Prophet sweet of summer days. Virgil applies to it the characteristics of _hoarse_ and _querulous_. Ecl. ii. Georgic. iii.