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two orders must be deferred, but we may here note that different as they are there is a definite relation between them. The week-order is obtained from the normal order by always dropping two. The moon is in the third place from the Sun—then if we go back to the top Mars is in the third place from the Moon, Mercury in the third place from Mars and so on till we finally get back to the Sun. Now the importance of this for our present purpose lies in the fact that when we find the Seven arranged in week-order instead of normal order, we may be fairly sure that those who thus arranged them knew and observed the planetary week.
This being made clear, we may pass on to the evidence[1]. It will be convenient to start from the point when we know the planetary week to have come into general use and then working backwards to see how much earlier we can trace it. This point is found in a passage[2] of Dion Cassius, an eminent and careful historian, who
- ↑ Most of the examples given in the next few pages will be found in an article by Schürer in the Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, 1905, entitled 'Die siebentägige Woche im Gebraucheder Christlichen Kirche der ersten Jahrhunderte.' The title is misleading in a sense, for the article contains a vast amount of facts and references bearing on the week in general. In fact its only inadequacy is that Schürer was not acquainted with the astrological documents edited by Kroll. I should add that I have accepted Schürer's statements with regard to coins, wall paintings and the like. All literary and inscriptional references have been verified.
- ↑ XXXVII, 18.
