Chaldean theory of the moon (6)

Text
Lucretius, De Rerum Natura 5.715-730:
There is also a way by which she (= the moon) can roll on with her own light, and yet show changing phases of brightness. For there may be another body (besides the sun), which is borne on and glides together with her, in every way obstructing and obscuring her; yet it cannot be seen, because it is borne on without light. Or she may turn round, just like, if it so chance, the sphere of a ball, tinged over half its surface with gleaming light, and so by turning round the sphere produce changing phases, until she turns to our sight and open eyes that side, whichever it be, that is endowed with fires; and then little by little she twists back again and carries away from us the light-giving part of the round mass of the ball; as the teaching of the Chaldeans of Babylon, denying the science of the astronomers, essays to prove in opposition; just as if what each of them fights for may not be truth, or there were any cause why you should venture to adopt the one less than the other.

Source (list of abbreviations) (source links will open in a new browser window)
Lucretius, De Rerum Natura 5.715-730

Bibliography

Amar Annus

URL for this entry: http://www.aakkl.helsinki.fi/melammu/database/gen_html/a0000100.php