apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

692 EPISTLE OF S. POLYCARP.
commemoration :
or, if not by him, at least by some one else at a
comparatively early date, as for instance by the spurious Pionius the
author of the Life.
But it is essential to the validity of this theory to prove that the
original date {aavOLKov Sevrepa laTafjJvov) is
according to the lunar
reckoning, either because it bears evidence of this on its face, or because
the lunar calendar can be shown to have still
prevailed at the time,
or for both reasons. We have already seen that Wieseler maintained
this position, though he did not make any adequate use of Salmon
it.
follows in the same line, and even employs the same arguments (though
apparently without any knowledge that Wieseler had anticipated him);
but he has turned the result to a much better account, if only the arguments
could be accepted.
The reasons urged in favour of a lunar calendar at Smyrna at this
time are as follows.
(i)
It is maintained that the statement of Galen quoted above
(p. 682), if correctly interpreted, implies this. He places among those
who still use the lunar calendar in his time 'most of the Greek
cities'. Smyrna is claimed as belonging to this category.
Doubtless Smyrna, as a Greek colony and the reputed birth-place
and so in fact
of Homer, might be called in some sense a Greek city';
the Smyrnjeans are sometimes designated (e.g. Pausan. ix. 11. 7 17 Srj
Koi 1tjxvpva.iov