CHAP. X.] AGATHARCHIDES.

epitome of the subject, from the observation of which it was easy
to advance towards the larger problems which presented them-
selves in other portions of the globe. The effect
of these influences on the mind of Aristotle is
especially traceable. The destruction of the cities *em °,n
r ' . Aristotle.
of Helice and Bura on the coast of Achaia by an
earthquake and a simultaneous rising of the sea — an event which
became as famous in the ancient world as the earthquake at
Lisbon has been in modern times — took place during his boyhood,
and seems to have greatly impressed his imagination, for he refers
to it more than once in his Meteorological At Chalcis in Euboea,
where he resided at one period of his life, he interested himself in
the peculiar currents of the Euripus3; and from this circumstance
arose the quaint legend, which is found in several ancient writers,
that he died from vexation at being unable to discover the
explanation of their movement3. Other instances of the im-
pression made by similar objects on the mind of the philosopher
will be presently mentioned. For the study of physical as
well as mathematical geography, however, Aristotle lived several
generations too early, so that in many cases his enquiries resulted
in error owing to the want of sufficient data. It was not until
the latter half of the second century before Christ that this part
of the subject was cultivated in earnest, but from that time until
the Augustan age it was predominant over every other branch.
Before we begin to consider it in detail, it may be well to give
some account of the leading explorers and men of science who
contributed to its development.
The first among these who calls for our notice is Agatharchides
of Cnidos (arc. 170 — 100 B.C.), a learned and
voluminous writer, who, in addition to various
historical treatises, composed a work on the
Erythraean Sea. Considerable portions of this have been pre-
served by Photius, and from these we learn that a number of
1 McteoroL, i. 6. 8; 2. 8. 43. Aristotle was born in 384 B.C., and the
destruction of Helice and Bura took place in 373 B.C.
2 Ibid., i. 8. 9.
8 Procop., Bdh Goth., 4. 6, pp. 485, 486, ed. Bonn, j Dionys.
Anaplus Bosp. TArac., in Mailer's Ceogr. Gr. Min.9 voL 2, p. 16,