and _Selene_, the _Egyptians_ used the old Lunisolar year: but in his
Reign, that is, in the Reign of _Ammon_, the father of _Osiris_ or _Sesac_,
and grandfather of _Orus_ and _Bubaste_, the _Thebans_ began to apply
themselves to Navigation and Astronomy, and by the Heliacal Risings and
Settings of the Stars determined the length of the Solar year; and to the
old Calendar year added five days, and dedicated them to his five children
above mentioned, as their birth days: and in the Reign of _Amenophis_, when
by further Observations they had sufficiently determined the time of the
Solstices, they might place the beginning of this new year upon the Vernal
Equinox. This year being at length propagated into _Chaldæa_, gave occasion
to the year of _Nabonassar_; for the years of _Nabonassar_ and those of
_Egypt_ began on one and the same day, called by them _Thoth_, and were
equal and in all respects the same: and the first year of _Nabonassar_
began on the 26th day of _February_ of the old _Roman_ year, seven hundred
forty and seven years before the Vulgar _Æra_ of _Christ_, and thirty and
three days and five hours before the Vernal Equinox, according to the Sun's
mean motion; for it is not likely that the Equation of the Sun's motion
should be known in the infancy of Astronomy. Now reckoning that the year of
365 days wants five hours and 49 minutes of the Equinoctial year; the
beginning of this year will move backwards thirty and three days and five
hours in 137 years: and by consequence this year began at first in _Egypt_
upon the Vernal Equinox, according to the Sun's mean motion, 137 years
before the _Æra_ of _Nabonassar_ began; that is, in the year of the
_Julian_ Period 3830, or 96 years after the death of _Solomon_: and if it
began upon the next day after the Vernal Equinox, it might begin four years
earlier; and about that time ended the Reign of _Amenophis_: for he came
not from _Susa_ to the _Trojan_ war, but died afterwards in _Egypt_. This
year was received by the _Persian_ Empire from the _Babylonian_; and the
_Greeks_ also used it in the _Æra Philippæa_, dated from the Death of
_Alexander_ the great; and _Julius Cæsar_ corrected it, by adding a day in