This celebrated Roman Era succeeds next in order of time to the Grecian. Its adjustment to the Christian Era is also equally ascertained from History and Astronomy. 1. Censorinus reckoned that the year A.D. 238, in which he wrote his work, was the 991st from the foundation of Rome, by the Varronian computation. But 991-A.D. 238=B.C. 753. See Petav. tom. ii. p. 53, 69. 2. Cicero and Plutarch both relate, that on the day of the foundation of Rome, there was a total eclipse of the sun, which happened, according to the latter, in the third year of the sixth Olympiad, B.C. 754-3. But by astronomical calculation, there was an eclipse of the sun visible at Rome, B.C. 753, July 5, aft. 4, dig. 4, agreeing in every respect except the quantity. This also adjusts the Grecian and Roman eras together. See Cicero de Div. lib. ii. Plutarch in Romulo. 3. Livy records, in the consulate of Livius Salinator and Valerius Messala, U.C. 566, a total eclipse of the sun, which, by astronomical calculation, happened B.C. 188, July 17, morn. 8h. 38m. dig. 10 but the sum of these years gives B.C. 754, complete, or B.C. 753, current. Liry, lib. xxxviii. 36. 4. Liry also records, that in the consulate of Paulus Æmilius and Licinius Crassus, U.C. 586, Sulpitius Gallus, a military tribune, predicted an eclipse of the moon to happen on the ensuing night, from the second to the fourth hour, which accordingly happened the night before the famous battle of Pydna, in which Perseus, king of Macedon, was defeated, and this encouraged the Romans, and dispirited the Macedonians. And by astronomical calculation, there was an eclipse of the moon, B.C. 168, June 21, which began, aft. 6h. 14m. and lasted four hours, 15. dig. The total immersion, or eclipse, began 7h. 32m, or in the second hour of the night, and lasted till the fourth hour, exactly agreeing with the prediction of Gallus, which identifies the eclipses, and shews considerable skill, on his part, at that early age. It also proves, that Liry was incorrect, in assigning the night of the eclipse, pridie nonas Septembris. The context in the preceding chapter shews, that the season of the year was rather about the Summer solstice. Livy, lib. xliv. 37. But the sum of these years gives B.C. 754, complete, or B.C. 753, current, for the date of the foundation of Rome, according to the Varronian computation, which is infallibly established by means of these eclipses. The following Table is continued to near the close of Trajan's reign : 251. 503. P. Postumius Tubertus II. 262. 492. T. Geganius Macerinus. Agrippa Menen. Lanatus. 252. 502. Opiter Virginius Tricostus. Sp. Cassius Viscellinus. 253. 501. Post. Comin. Auruncus. T. Lartius Flavus. P. Minucius Augurinus. 263. 491. M. Min. Augurinus II. A. Sempron. Atratinus II. 264. 490. Q. Sulpicius Camerinus. Sp. Lartius Flavus II. 254. 500. Serv. Sulpitius Camerinus. 265. 489. C. Julius Iulus. Man. Tullius Longus. P. Pinarius Rufus. Refert Censorinus, Primos Ludos Sæculares, exactis Regibus, post Romam conditam annis 245, a Valerio Publicola institutos esse. Cap. 17. U. B. B. C. 266. 488. Sp. Nautius Rutilus. Sex. Furius Fusus. 267. 487. C. Aquilius Tuscus. T. Sicinius Sabinus. CONSULS. 268. 486. Sp. Cassius Viscellinus III. Proc. Virginius Tricostus. 269. 485. Q. Fabius Vibulanus. S. Cornel. Malug. Cossus. 270. 484. L. Æmilius Mamercinus. C. Fabius Vibulanus. 271. 483. M. Fabius Vibulanus. L. Valer. Poplic. Potitus. 272. 482. C. Julius Iulus. Q. Fabius Vibulanus II. 273. 481. C. Fabius Vibulanus II. Sp. Furius Fusus. 274. 480. Cn. Manlius Cincinnatus. M. Fabius Vibulanus II. 275. 479. C. Fabius Vibulanus III. T. Virgin. Tricost. Rutilus. 276. 478. L. Æm. Mamercinus II. C. Serv. Ahala. C. Corn. Lent. Esquilin.} 277. 477. C. Horatius Pulvillus. T. Menenius Lanatus. 278. 476. A. Virg. Tricost. Rutilus. Sp. Servilius Structus. 279. 475. P. Valerius Poplicola. C. Nautius Rutilus. 280. 474. L. Furius Medull. Rufus. A. Manlius Vulso. 281. 473. L. Æmil. Mamercinus III. Vopiscus Julius Iulus. Opiter Virginius. } 282. 472. L. Pinarius Rufus Mamerc. P. Furius Fusus. 283. 471. Ap. Claudius Sabinus. T. Quintius Barbatus. 284. 470. L. Valerius Poplicola II. Tib. Æmilius Mamercinus. U. B. B. C. 285. 469. A. Virgin. Tricostus. T. Numicius Priscus. 286. 468. T. Quintius Barbatus II. Q. Servilius Priscus. 287. 467. Tib. Æmilius Mamerc. II. Q. Vibulanus. 288. 466. Sp. Postumius Albus. Q. Servilius Priscus II. 289. 465. Q. Fabius Vibulanus II. T. Quintius Barbatus III. 290. 464. A. Postumius Albus. Sp. Furius Medullinus. 291. 463. P. Servilius Priscus. L. Æbutius Elva. 292. 462. L. Lucretius Tricipitinus. T. Veturius Geminus. 293. 461. P. Volumn. Amintinus. Serv. Sulpicius Camerinus 294. 460. P. Valerius Poplicola II. L. Quinct. Cincinnatus. C. Claudius Sabinus. 295. 459. Q. Fabius Vibulanus III. L. Cornel. Malug. Cossus. 296. 458. C. Nautius Rutilus II. L. Minucius Augurinus. 297. 457. C. Horatius Pulvillus. Q. Minucius Augurinus. 298. 456. M. Valerius Maximus. Sp. Virginius Tricost. 299. 455. T. Romulius Rocus. C. Veturius Cicurinus. 300. 454. Sp. Tarpeius Montanus. A. Æternius Fontinalis. 301. 453. Sex. Quintilius. P. Horatius Tergeminus. 302. 452. P. Sestius Capitolinus. T. Menenius Lanatus. 303. 451. Appius Claudius Crassinus. T. Genucius Augurinus. DECEMVIRS. Appius Claudius Crassinus. 304. 450. Ap. Claudius Crassinus II. Q. Fabius Vibulanus, &c. 305. 449. Ap. Claud. Crassinus III. Q. Fab. Vibulanus, II. &c. |