A new analysis of chronology

of the varying accounts of Sacred and Profane history. These are now reconciled and adjusted to each other, primarily with the help of Ptolemy's Canon. In that Canon, a slight error of two years too few in the short reigns of Ilverodamus and Niricassolasser (the Evil-merodach and Belshazzar of Scripture) is balanced by an equal and opposite error of two years too many in the reign of Cyrus. By this simple correction, joined with Jackson's fortunate discovery that the death of Belshazzar occurred no less than seventeen years before Cyrus captured Babylon, this complicated and confusing period is explained more clearly and on firmer ground than ever before.

In the Median and Persian chronology that follows, the transition of power from the Medes to the Persians is shown to have happened by peaceful inheritance rather than by the overthrow of Astyages by his grandson, Cyrus the Great, as Herodotus claimed. The crown naturally passed from Cyaxares (the son and successor of Astyages, called "Darius the Mede" in Scripture), who lacked a male heir, to his nephew and son-in-law, Cyrus. The author believes this is satisfactorily proved by the combined testimony of Daniel, Aeschylus, and Xenophon. The complex and confusing Median chronology of Herodotus is also adjusted using the famous Eclipse of Thales, which now appears to have happened in 603 BC, rather than in any of the other years assigned to it by historians and chronologists.

The birth of Cyrus and his succession to the thrones of Persia, Media, and Babylon form the primary dates by which the entire scheme of Sacred and Profane chronology is regulated. They are determined here from the chronology

of eclipses and the previously mentioned correction of Ptolemy's Canon. The seventy years of the Babylonian Captivity—counted from the first invasion by Nebuchadnezzar until the return of the Jews following Cyrus's decree after the fall of Babylon—are determined here with a precision that the author hopes will end further debate on this much-contested subject.

During the discussion of the Persian era, Lydian chronology is introduced because of Cyrus's conquest of the kingdom of Lydia. It is adjusted here using the Eclipse of Thales, an astronomical event of the highest importance that serves to link Babylonian, Median, Lydian, Scythian, Egyptian, and Grecian chronology.

The Macedonian or Grecian dynasty succeeded the Persian when Alexander the Great defeated "Darius the Persian" (or Codomannus) at the decisive Battle of Arbela. The chronology of this period is very important for clarifying Daniel's famous prophecy of the seventy weeks. It shows that "the fourth king" from the start of the prophecy, who was "far richer" than those before him, was none other than the last Darius, whose immense wealth and the treasure seized by Alexander are recorded by Greek and Latin historians.

Egyptian chronology, which has previously been considered impossible to explain, will hopefully be clarified here through a careful comparison of the surviving original records and fragments. These include the Old Egyptian Chronicle; the damaged dynasties of Manetho recorded by Josephus, Julius Africanus, and Eusebius; the incomplete list of Theban or Egyptian kings provided by Eratosthenes; and the complete list of Egyptian kings compiled by Syncellus from documents existing in