Amongvariousrudetribeswefindsurvivalsofaprimitiveideathattheearthisaflattableordisk，ceiled，domed，orcanopiedbythesky，andthattheskyrestsuponthemountainsaspillars。Suchabeliefisentirelynatural；itconformstotheappearanceofthings，andhenceataveryearlyperiodenteredintovarioustheologies。
　　InthecivilizationsofChaldeaandEgyptitwasveryfullydeveloped。TheAssyrianinscriptionsdecipheredintheselatteryearsrepresentthegodMardukasinthebeginningcreatingtheheavensandtheearth：theearthrestsuponthewaters；withinitistherealmofthedead；aboveitisspread“thefirmament“——asoliddomecomingdowntothehorizononallsidesandrestinguponfoundationslaidinthe“greatwaters“whichextendaroundtheearth。
　　Ontheeastandwestsidesofthisdomedfirmamentaredoors，throughwhichthesunentersinthemorninganddepartsatnight；
　　aboveitextendsanotherocean，whichgoesdowntotheoceansurroundingtheearthatthehorizononallsides，andwhichissupportedandkeptawayfromtheearthbythefirmament。Abovethefirmamentandtheupperoceanwhichitsupportsistheinteriorofheaven。
　　TheEgyptiansconsideredtheearthasatable，flatandoblong，theskybeingitsceiling——ahuge“firmament“ofmetal。Atthefourcornersoftheearthwerethepillarssupportingthisfirmament，andonthissolidskywerethe“watersabovetheheavens。”Theybelievedthat，whenchaoswastakingform，oneofthegodsbymainforceraisedthewatersonhighandspreadthemoutoverthefirmament；thatontheundersideofthissolidvault，orceiling，orfirmament，thestarsweresuspendedtolighttheearth，andthattherainswerecausedbythelettingdownofthewatersthroughitswindows。ThisideaandothersconnectedwithitseemtohavetakenstrongholdoftheEgyptianpriestlycaste，enteringintotheirtheologyandsacredscience：
　　ceilingsofgreattemples，withstars，constellations，planets，andsignsofthezodiacfigureduponthem，remainto-dayasstrikingevidencesofthis。
　　InPersiawehavetheoriesofgeographybaseduponsimilarconceptionsandembalmedinsacredtexts。
　　FromtheseanddoubtlessfromearliersourcescommontothemallcamegeographicallegaciestotheHebrews。Variouspassagesintheirsacredbooks，manyofthemnobleinconceptionandbeautifulinform，regarding“thefoundationoftheearthuponthewaters。”“thefountainsofthegreatdeep。”“thecompassuponthefaceofthedepth。”the“firmament。”the“cornersoftheearth。”the“pillarsofheaven。”the“watersabovethefirmament。”the“windowsofheaven。”and“doorsofheaven。”pointusbacktoboththeseancientspringsofthought。[25]
　　[25]Forsurvivalsoftheearlyidea，amongtheEskimos，oftheskyassupportedbymountains，and，amongsundryPacificislanders，oftheskyasafirmamentorvaultofstone，seeTylor，EarlyHistoryofMankind，secondedition，London，1870，chap。xi；Spencer，Sociology，vol。i，chapvii，alsoAndrewLang，LaMythologie，Paris，1886，pp。68-73。FortheBabyloniantheories，seeGeorgeSmith’sChaldeanGenesis，andespeciallytheGermantranslationbyDelitzsch，Leipsic，1876；also，Jensen，DieKosmogonienderBabylonier，Strasburg，1890；seeespeciallyintheappendices，pp。9and10，adrawingrepresentingthewholeBabylonianschemesocloselyfollowedintheHebrewbookGenesis。
　　SeealsoLukas，DieGrundbegriffeindenKosmogonienderaltenVolker，Leipsic，1893，foramostthoroughsummingupofthewholesubject，withtextsshowingthedevelopmentofHebrewoutofChaldeanandEgyptianconceptions，pp。44，etc。；alsopp。127
　　etseq。FortheearlyviewinIndiaandPersia，seecitationsfromtheVedasandtheZend-AvestainLethaby，Architecture，Mysticism，andMyth，chap。i。FortheEgyptianview，seeChampollion；alsoLenormant，HistoireAncienne，Maspero，andothers。AstothefiguresoftheheavensupontheceilingsofEgyptiantemples，seeMaspero，ArcheologieEgyptienne，Paris，1890；andforengravingsofthem，seeLepsius，Denkmaler，vol。i，Bl。41，andvol。ix，Abth。iv，Bl。35；alsotheDescriptiondel’Egypte，publishedbyorderofNapoleon，tomeii，Pl。14；alsoPrissed’Avennes，ArtEgyptien，Atlas，tomei，Pl。35；andespeciallyforasurvivalattheTempleofDenderah，seeDenon，VoyageenEgypte，Planches129，130。FortheEgyptianideaof“pillarsofheaven。”asalludedtoonthesteleofvictoryofThotmesIII，intheCairoMuseum，seeEbers，Uarda，vol。ii，p。
　　175，note，Leipsic，1877。ForasimilarBabylonianbelief，seeSayce’sHerodotus，Appendix，p。403。ForthebeliefofHebrewscripturalwritersinasolid“firmament。”seeespeciallyJob，xxxviii，18；alsoSmith’sBibleDictionary。ForengravingsshowingtheearthandheavenaboveitasconceivedbyEgyptiansandChaldeans，with“pillarsofheaven“and“firmament。”seeMasperoandSayce，DawnofCivilization，London，1894，pp。17and543。
　　But，ascivilizationwasdeveloped，therewereevolved，especiallyamongtheGreeks，ideasoftheearth’ssphericity。
　　ThePythagoreans，Plato，andAristotleespeciallycherishedthem。
　　Theseideaswerevague，theyweremixedwithabsurdities，buttheyweregermideas，andevenamidtheluxuriantgrowthoftheologyintheearlyChristianChurchthesegermsbeganstrugglingintolifeinthemindsofafewthinkingmen，andthesemenrenewedthesuggestionthattheearthisaglobe。[26]
　　[26]TheagencyofthePythagoreansinfirstspreadingthedoctrineoftheearth’ssphericityisgenerallyacknowledged，butthefirstfullandclearutteranceofittotheworldwasbyAristotle。Veryfruitful，too，wasthestatementofthenewtheorygivenbyPlatointheTimaeus；seeJowett’stranslation，62，c。AlsothePhaedo，pp。449etseq。SeealsoGroteonPlato’sdoctrineonthesphericityoftheearth；alsoSirG。C。
　　Lewis’sAstronomyoftheAncients，London，1862，chap。iii，sectioni，andnote。Cicero’smentionoftheantipodes，andhisreferencetothepassageintheTimaeus，areevenmoreremarkablethanthelatter，inthattheymuchmoreclearlyforeshadowthemoderndoctrine。SeehisAcademicQuestions，ii；alsoTusc。
　　Quest。，iandv，24。Foraveryfullsummaryoftheviewsoftheancientsonthesphericityoftheearth，seeKretschmer，DiephysischeErkundeimchristlichenMittelalter，Wien，1889，pp。35
　　etseq。；alsoEiken，GeschichtedermittelalterlichenWeltanschauung，Stuttgart，1887，DritterTheil，chap。vi。Forcitationsandsummaries，seeWhewell，Hist。Induct。Sciences，vol。i，p。189，andSt。Martin，Hist。delaGeog。，Paris，1873，p。96；alsoLeopardi，Saggiosopraglierroripopolaridegliantichi，Firenze，1851，chap。xii，pp。184etseq。
　　Afewofthelarger-mindedfathersoftheChurch，influencedpossiblybyPythagoreantraditions，butcertainlybyAristotleandPlato，werewillingtoacceptthisview，butthemajorityofthemtookfrightatonce。TothemitseemedfraughtwithdangerstoScripture，bywhich，ofcourse，theymeanttheirinterpretationofScripture。AmongthefirstwhotookuparmsagainstitwasEusebius。InviewoftheNewTestamenttextsindicatingtheimmediatelyapproaching，endoftheworld，heendeavouredtoturnoffthisideabybringingscientificstudiesintocontempt。Speakingofinvestigators，hesaid，“Itisnotthroughignoranceofthethingsadmiredbythem，butthroughcontemptoftheiruselesslabour，thatwethinklittleofthesematters，turningoursoulstobetterthings。”BasilofCaesareadeclaredit“amatterofnointeresttouswhethertheearthisasphereoracylinderoradisk，orconcaveinthemiddlelikeafan。”Lactantiusreferredtotheideasofthosestudyingastronomyas“badandsenseless。”andopposedthedoctrineoftheearth’ssphericitybothfromScriptureandreason。St。JohnChrysostomalsoexertedhisinfluenceagainstthisscientificbelief；andEphraemSyrus，thegreatestmanoftheoldSyrianChurch，widelyknownasthe“luteoftheHolyGhost。”opposeditnolessearnestly。
　　Butthestrictlybiblicalmenofscience，sucheminentfathersandbishopsasTheophilusofAntiochinthesecondcentury，andClementofAlexandriainthethird，withothersincenturiesfollowing，werenotcontentwithmerelyopposingwhattheystigmatizedasanoldheathentheory；theydrewfromtheirBiblesanewChristiantheory，towhichoneChurchauthorityaddedoneideaandanother，untilitwasfullydeveloped。Takingthesurvivalofvariousearlytraditions，givenintheseventhverseofthefirstchapterofGenesis，theyinsistedonthecleardeclarationsofScripturethattheearthwas，atcreation，archedoverwithasolidvault，“afirmament。”andtothistheyaddedthepassagesfromIsaiahandthePsalms，inwhichitdeclaredthattheheavensarestretchedout“likeacurtain。”andagain“likeatenttodwellin。”Theuniverse，then，islikeahouse：
　　theearthisitsgroundfloor，thefirmamentitsceiling，underwhichtheAlmightyhangsoutthesuntorulethedayandthemoonandstarstorulethenight。Thisceilingisalsotheflooroftheapartmentabove，andinthisisacistern，shaped，asoneoftheauthoritiessays，“likeabathing-tank。”andcontaining“thewaterswhichareabovethefirmament。”ThesewatersareletdownupontheearthbytheAlmightyandhisangelsthroughthe“windowsofheaven。”Astothemovementofthesun，therewasacitationofvariouspassagesinGenesis，mixedwithmetaphysicsinvariousproportions，andthiswasthoughttogiveampleproofsfromtheBiblethattheearthcouldnotbeasphere。[27]
　　[27]ForEusebius，seetheProep。Ev。，xv，61。ForBasil，seetheHexaemeron，Hom。ix。ForLactantius，seehisInst。Div。，lib。iii，cap。3；alsocitationsinWhewell，Hist。Induct。
　　Sciences，London，1857，vol。i，p。194，andinSt。Martin，HistoiredelaGeographie，pp。216，217。FortheviewsofSt。
　　JohnChrysostom，EphraemSyrus，andothergreatchurchmen，seeKretschmerasabove，chapi。
　　Inthesixthcenturythisdevelopmentculminatedinwhatwasnothinglessthanacompleteanddetailedsystemoftheuniverse，claimingtobebaseduponScripture，itsauthorbeingtheEgyptianmonkCosmasIndicopleustes。Egyptwasagreattreasure-houseoftheologicthoughttovariousreligionsofantiquity，andCosmasappearstohaveurgedupontheearlyChurchthisEgyptianideaoftheconstructionoftheworld，justasanotherEgyptianecclesiastic，Athanasius，urgedupontheChurchtheEgyptianideaofatriunedeityrulingtheworld。AccordingtoCosmas，theearthisaparallelogram，flat，andsurroundedbyfourseas。Itisfourhundreddays’journeylongandtwohundredbroad。Attheouteredgesofthesefourseasarisemassivewallsclosinginthewholestructureandsupportingthefirmamentorvaultoftheheavens，whoseedgesarecementedtothewalls。
　　Thesewallsinclosetheearthandalltheheavenlybodies。
　　Thewholeofthistheologico-scientificstructurewasbuiltmostcarefullyand，aswasthenthought，mostscripturally。StartingwiththeexpressionappliedintheninthchapterofHebrewstothetabernacleinthedesert，Cosmasinsists，withotherinterpretersofhistime，thatitgivesthekeytothewholeconstructionoftheworld。Theuniverseis，therefore，madeontheplanoftheJewishtabernacle——boxlikeandoblong。Goingintodetails，hequotesthesublimewordsofIsaiah：“ItisHethatsittethuponthecircleoftheearth；……thatstretchethouttheheavenslikeacurtain，andspreadeththemoutlikeatenttodwellin“；andthepassageinJobwhichspeaksofthe“pillarsofheaven。”Heworksallthisintohissystem，andreveals，ashethinks，treasuresofscience。
　　Thisvastboxisdividedintotwocompartments，oneabovetheother。Inthefirstofthese，menliveandstarsmove；anditextendsuptothefirstsolidvault，orfirmament，abovewhichlivetheangels，amainpartofwhosebusinessitistopushandpullthesunandplanetstoandfro。Next，hetakesthetext。”Lettherebeafirmamentinthemidstofthewaters，andletitdividethewatersfromthewaters。”andothertextsfromGenesis；
　　totheseheaddsthetextfromthePsalms，“Praisehim，yeheavenofheavens，andyewatersthatbeabovetheheavens“thencastsall，andthesegrowthsofthoughtintohiscrucibletogether，finallybringsoutthetheorythatoverthisfirstvaultisavastcisterncontaining“thewaters。”HethentakestheexpressioninGenesisregardingthe“windowsofheaven“andestablishesadoctrineregardingtheregulationoftherain，totheeffectthattheangelsnotonlypushandpulltheheavenlybodiestolighttheearth，butalsoopenandclosetheheavenlywindowstowaterit。
　　Tounderstandthesurfaceoftheearth，Cosmas，followingthemethodsofinterpretationwhichOrigenandotherearlyfathersoftheChurchhadestablished，studiesthetableofshew-breadintheJewishtabernacle。Thesurfaceofthistableprovestohimthattheearthisflat，anditsdimensionsprovethattheearthistwiceaslongasbroad；itsfourcornerssymbolizethefourseasons；thetwelveloavesofbread，thetwelvemonths；thehollowaboutthetableprovesthattheoceansurroundstheearth。
　　Toaccountforthemovementofthesun，Cosmassuggeststhatatthenorthoftheearthisagreatmountain，andthatatnightthesuniscarriedbehindthis；butsomeofthecommentatorsventuredtoexpressadoubthere：theythoughtthatthesunwaspushedintoapitatnightandpulledoutinthemorning。
　　NothingcanbemoretouchinginitssimplicitythanCosmas’ssummingupofhisgreatargument，Hedeclares，“WesaythereforewithIsaiahthattheheavenembracingtheuniverseisavault，withJobthatitisjoinedtotheearth，andwithMosesthatthelengthoftheearthisgreaterthanitsbreadth。”ThetreatisecloseswithrapturousassertionsthatnotonlyMosesandtheprophets，butalsoangelsandapostles，agreetothetruthofhisdoctrine，andthatatthelastdayGodwillcondemnallwhodonotacceptit。
　　AlthoughthistheorywasdrawnfromScripture，itwasalso，aswehaveseen，theresultofanevolutionoftheologicalthoughtbegunlongbeforethescripturaltextsonwhichitrestedwerewritten。ItwasnotatallstrangethatCosmas，Egyptianashewas，shouldhavereceivedthisoldNile-borndoctrine，asweseeitindicatedto-dayinthestructureofEgyptiantemples，andthatheshouldhavedevelopeditbytheaidoftheJewishScriptures；butthetheologicalworldknewnothingofthismoreremoteevolutionfrompagangerms；itwasreceivedasvirtuallyinspired，andwassoonregardedasafortressofscripturaltruth。SomeoftheforemostmenintheChurchdevotedthemselvestobuttressingitwithnewtextsandthrowingaboutitnewoutworksoftheologicalreasoning；thegreatbodyofthefaithfulconsidereditadirectgiftfromtheAlmighty。EveninthelatercenturiesoftheMiddleAgesJohnofSanGeminianomadeadesperateattempttosaveit。LikeCosmas，hetakestheJewishtabernacleashisstarting-point，andshowshowallthenewerideascanbereconciledwiththebiblicalaccountsofitsshape，dimensions，andfurniture。[28]
　　[28]ForanoticeoftheviewsofCosmasinconnectionwiththoseofLactantius，Augustine，St。JohnChrysostom，andothers，seeSchoell，HistoiredelaLitteratureGrecque，vol。vii，p。37。