a term in chronology signifying a fixed point of time, from which
the succeeding years are numbered. Scaliger says it means “a stop,”
because “in epochs stop and terminate the measures of times.” It now
usually denotes a remarkable date; as, the epoch of the destruction of
Troy, B. C. 1183, &c. The first epoch is the creation of the world,
which, according to the Vulgate Bible, Archbishop Usher fixes in the
year 710 of the Julian period, and 4004 years before Jesus Christ. The
second is the deluge, which, according to the Hebrew text, happened in
the year of the world 1656. Six other epochs are commonly reckoned in
sacred history: the building of the tower of Babel, which was, according
to Dr. Hales, B. C. 2554; the calling of Abraham, B. C. 2153; the
departure of the Israelites out of Egypt, B. C. 1648; the dedication of
the temple, B. C. 1027; the end of the Babylonish captivity, B. C. 536;
and the birth of Jesus Christ, A. D. 1. In profane history are reckoned
five epochs: the founding of the Assyrian empire, B. C. 1267; the era of
Nabonassar, or death of Sardanapalus, B. C. 747; the reign of Cyrus at
Babylon, B. C. 556; the reign of Alexander the Great over the Persians,
B. C. 330; and the beginning of the reign of Augustus, in which our
Saviour was born, B. C. 44.
the succeeding years are numbered. Scaliger says it means “a stop,”
because “in epochs stop and terminate the measures of times.” It now
usually denotes a remarkable date; as, the epoch of the destruction of
Troy, B. C. 1183, &c. The first epoch is the creation of the world,
which, according to the Vulgate Bible, Archbishop Usher fixes in the
year 710 of the Julian period, and 4004 years before Jesus Christ. The
second is the deluge, which, according to the Hebrew text, happened in
the year of the world 1656. Six other epochs are commonly reckoned in
sacred history: the building of the tower of Babel, which was, according
to Dr. Hales, B. C. 2554; the calling of Abraham, B. C. 2153; the
departure of the Israelites out of Egypt, B. C. 1648; the dedication of
the temple, B. C. 1027; the end of the Babylonish captivity, B. C. 536;
and the birth of Jesus Christ, A. D. 1. In profane history are reckoned
five epochs: the founding of the Assyrian empire, B. C. 1267; the era of
Nabonassar, or death of Sardanapalus, B. C. 747; the reign of Cyrus at
Babylon, B. C. 556; the reign of Alexander the Great over the Persians,
B. C. 330; and the beginning of the reign of Augustus, in which our
Saviour was born, B. C. 44.