Dante and the early astronomers . Fig. 16. The System of Philolaus : night on earth. Only the side turned away from the centre is inhabited: consequently the CentralFire and Autichthou are Fig. 17. Twelve hours later : day on earth. Earth has made half a revolution and her outer side is now lighted by the sun, which has only moved about half a degree forward in its yearly orbit. Antichthon has also made half a revolution, theiefore remains invisible. 74 PYTHAGORAS AND HIS FOLLOWERS. great round ball, a planet among planets, swiftly movingthrough space; the crystal dome that tenderl
Dante and the early astronomers . Fig. 16. The System of Philolaus : night on earth. Only the side turned away from the centre is inhabited: consequently the CentralFire and Autichthou are Fig. 17. Twelve hours later : day on earth. Earth has made half a revolution and her outer side is now lighted by the sun, which has only moved about half a degree forward in its yearly orbit. Antichthon has also made half a revolution, theiefore remains invisible. 74 PYTHAGORAS AND HIS FOLLOWERS. great round ball, a planet among planets, swiftly movingthrough space; the crystal dome that tenderly coveredit like a bell-glass over some fragile flower, has lifted,and the vast sphere is seen, infinitely distant, andstudded with enormous stars. Man himself is now atiny creature on a great earth, and his world but oneamong many, but if he is humiliated by his insignificance,is he not elevated by the vastness of his outlook ? But not even here did the Greeks stop. It wastaking a less startling step than they had already * *
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