Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

78 results found

Pylos

(Encyclopedia)Pylos pīˈlŏs [key], ancient harbor, Messenia, SW Greece, on a bay of the Ionian Sea. Excavations have revealed a great Mycenaean palace of the 13th cent. b.c., perhaps the dwelling of King Nestor. ...

Helen

(Encyclopedia)Helen, in Greek mythology, the most beautiful of women; daughter of Leda and Zeus, and sister of Castor and Pollux and Clytemnestra. While still a young girl Helen was abducted to Attica by Theseus an...

Dorians

(Encyclopedia)Dorians, people of ancient Greece. Their name was mythologically derived from Dorus, son of Hellen. Originating in the northwestern mountainous region of Epirus and SW Macedonia, they migrated through...

Philopoemen

(Encyclopedia)Philopoemen fĭləpēˈmən [key], c.252–183 b.c., Greek statesman and general, b. Megalopolis. For years he fought as a mercenary in Crete. In 209 he became commander of the Achaean cavalry, with w...

Thrasybulus

(Encyclopedia)Thrasybulus thrăsˌəbyo͞oˈləs [key], d. c.389 b.c., Athenian statesman. A strong supporter of the democratic and anti-Spartan party, he successfully opposed (411 b.c.) the oligarchical Four Hundr...

Corinth, city, Greece

(Encyclopedia)Corinth kôˈrĭnthôs [key], city, capital of Corinth prefecture, S Greece, in the NE Pelopo...

infanticide

(Encyclopedia)infanticide ĭnfănˈtəsīd [key] [Lat.,=child murder], the putting to death of the newborn with the consent of the parent, family, or community. Infanticide often occurs among peoples whose food sup...

Paris, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Paris or Alexander, in Greek mythology, son of Priam and Hecuba and brother of Hector. Because it was prophesied that he would cause the destruction of Troy, Paris was abandoned on Mt. Ida, but there ...

Callias, fl. 449 b.c., Athenian statesman

(Encyclopedia)Callias kălˈēəs [key], fl. 449 b.c., Athenian statesman; he was related to Cimon and also to Aristides. He distinguished himself at the battle of Marathon (490 b.c.) and was a three-time winner of...

Tissaphernes

(Encyclopedia)Tissaphernes tĭsˌəfûrˈnēz [key], d. 395 b.c., Persian satrap of coastal Asia Minor (c.413–395 b.c.). He was encouraged by Alcibiades (412) to intervene in the Peloponnesian War in support of S...

Browse by Subject