(Encyclopedia) amphictyonyamphictyonyămfĭkˈtēōˌnē, –ŏˌnē, –ənēˌ [key], in ancient Greece, a league connected with maintaining a temple or shrine. There were a number of these, but by far the most…
(Encyclopedia) choragic monumentschoragic monumentskərăjˈĭk, –rājˈ–, kō– [key] [Gr.,=of the choragus, the chorus leader], small decorative structures erected in ancient Greece to commemorate the…
(Encyclopedia) MesseneMessenemĕsēˈnē [key], ancient city, central Messenia (now Messinías prov.), Greece. It was founded (c.369 b.c.) under Theban auspices to be a capital and fort for the Messenians…
(Encyclopedia) PaphosPaphospāˈfŏs [key], two ancient cities, SW Cyprus, on the coast. Old Paphos was probably founded in the Mycenaean period by colonists from Greece or Phoenicia. Modern excavations…
(Encyclopedia) PendelikónPendelikónpĕntĕlĭkônˈ [key] or PentelicusPentelicuspĕntĕˈlĭkəs [key], mountain, c.3,670 ft (1,120 m) high, central Greece, NE of Athens. The white marble quarried there was…
(Encyclopedia) MarathonMarathonmârˈəthŏn [key], village and plain, ancient Greece, 20 mi (32 km) NE of Athens. Here the Athenians and Plataeans under Miltiades defeated a Persian army in 490 b.c. (…
(Encyclopedia) AetoliaAetoliaētōlˈyə [key], region of ancient Greece, N of the Gulf of Corinth and the Gulf of Calydon, E of the Achelous River (separating it from Acarnania). Little is known of the…
(Encyclopedia) Pythian gamesPythian gamespĭthˈēən [key], in ancient Greece, games held at Delphi every four years (the third of each Olympiad). They included musical, literary, and athletic contests…
(Encyclopedia) SífnosSífnossĭfˈnôs [key] or SiphnosSífnossĭfˈnəs [key], island, c.32 sq mi (83 sq km), SE Greece, in the Aegean Sea; one of the Cyclades. It is a resort area and produces olive oil.…
(Encyclopedia) Great Mother Goddess, in ancient Middle Eastern religions, mother goddess, the great symbol of the earth's fertility. She was worshiped under many names and attributes. Similar figures…
