Jan.14] PROCEEDINGS. [1890.
Gula,"in the next " the Star of the Goat," and in the next Dilgan
(" Messenger-of-light," Capelld).
StarNo. XXIX, Nunki,I would identifywith Aliair{Al Tayr,
"theBird,"a Aquilct), a star of the first magnitudewhichmounts
with the Goat* andproclaims the coming of the vast wateryspace
whichextendsin the south fromthe Eagleto Orion, and is occupied by
the Dolphin, the Sea-goat, Aquarius,the three Fish,the Sea-monster,
and the River Eridanus. Aratos,who,as I have shown,t constantly
preservesarchaicobservationsandideas,thusspeaksof this celestial
locality:—
" Beneath the Goat, belowthe southern blasts,
Turnedtowardsthe Monster hangson high a Fish
The Southern called,distinctfromthoseforenamed.
Andothersscattered'neaththe Waterpourer,
In midst betweenthe Monsterand the Fish, •
Are seen in ether, dim and nameless ; near
The right handof the famous Waterpourer,
Likea slight flow of water hereand there
Scatteredaround,brightstarsrevolvebut small,
Moreclearly'midthemmovea pair of orbs,
Not very far away nor very near,
One % large and bright by both the Pouref's feet,
The other§'neaththe dusky Monster'stail,
Andall are called. the Water." ||
IV.
I do not find anysatisfactoryAryanetymology of Afakara, the
Indian name for Capricorn. It is explained as (1) a fabulous
animal,emblem of the god of love; (2) a dolphin, and (3) a sea-
monster; and the.ocean is styled " the receptacle of Makaras."
The Bab.-TtT tgj = the As. tffl ^ ^ ■ tyflf = Ak. ma, As.
<lippu,' ship ' : ^ f|= has severalphonetic values, Mar,gttr, ur,
and several meanings, amongstwhich are ' bond,' and ' bracelet,'
as that whichbinds. Makharmighttherefore mean"the-Ship-of-
the-bond" (rope). Now the Akkadian Okeanos, which in idea
* Aratos, Phainomena,682-91.
t Vide Robt. Brown,Jun., ThePhainomena or ' Heavenly Display' of
Aratos:done into English verse,1885.
X Fomalhaui.
§ Diphda (" the Frog," /3 Celi).
II Aratos, Phainomena, 386-99. " Cunctis nomenAqua est " (Avienus,
Aratea,841).
149