de la Geog., Paris, 1873, p.

96; also Leopardi, Saggio sopra gli errori popolari degli antichi, Firenze, 1851, chap.

xii, pp.
184 et seq.
A few of the larger-minded fathers of the Church, influenced possibly by Pythagorean traditions, but certainly by Aristotle and Plato, were willing to accept this view, but the majority of them took fright at once.

To them it seemed fraught with dangers to Scripture, by which, of course, they meant their interpretation of Scripture.

Among the first who took up arms against it was Eusebius.