Library Epiphanius On Weights and Measures
The Stars
82. But there are also in Job these things about the position of the stars,[612] where he says: "He that made the Pleiades and the evening star and the North Star and Orion and the chambers of the south."[613] And the Pleiades, with the seven stars in it, is known to many. But some call it the Cluster[614] because of its resemblance to a cluster (of grapes). And the evening star is the star that is seen in the west at evening time, but especially in the autumn season. They call this the long-haired.[615] Moreover, O lover of the good, you have written in Job concerning this: "For thou callest," he says, "the evening star with the voice, and he answers thee; but thou leadest him, taking hold |82 of his hair."[616] But as to the North Star, some say that it is the foremost star in the pole of Charles's Wain,[617] but others say that it is one of the four (constituting) the wagon itself, that is, the corner one at the wagon end of the pole. But as to Orion, they say that it is the one formed in the likeness of a man's image. And it has four (principal) stars forming a rectangle, and three above like a head, and three like a girdle for the loins, and others that descend in the form of a belt or like a sword. But these are called mazuroth [618] in the divine Scripture; they are, however, interpreted "elements." The (term) "chambers of the south" is used because of the storehouses of snow and of hail and dew. These are not on the earth, but between the heavens and the earth, being brought from the inside of the corners of the heavens; and dew and honey especially are drops that have been thus brought from heaven. For it is not true, as some suppose, that the rain is from heaven. Out of the sea and other places the clouds draw up the rain and pour (it) upon the face of the earth. And you have testimony, O lover of the good, in the prophet,[619] where he says: "He that bringeth up the clouds from the end of the earth," and, again: "He that calleth the waters of the sea and poureth them out upon the face of the earth, the Lord God Almighty is his name."[620] And so much, again, for these things.
English translation by James Elmer Dean, Epiphanius’ Treatise on Weights and Measures: The Syriac Version (Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, 1935). Public domain in the United States (copyright not renewed). Digital text via Roger Pearse / tertullian.org.