Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Mommsen, Theodor

(Encyclopedia)Mommsen, Theodor tāˈōdōr mômˈsən [key], 1817–1903, German historian. Appointed (1848) professor of civil law at the Univ. of Leipzig, he supported the Revolution of 1848 and lost his chair be...

Mauretania

(Encyclopedia)Mauretania môrˌətāˈnēə [key], ancient district of Africa in Roman times. In a vague sense it meant only “the land of the Moors” and lay W of Numidia, but more specifically it usually includ...

Whitby, Synod of

(Encyclopedia)Whitby, Synod of, called by King Oswy of Northumbria in 663 at Whitby, England. Its purpose was to choose between the usages of the Celtic and Roman churches, primarily in the matter of reckoning the ...

Küng, Hans

(Encyclopedia)Küng, Hans häns küng [key], 1928–, Swiss Roman Catholic theologian and author. Ordained in 1954, he became (1960) professor of theology at Tübingen Univ. and later served (1962–65) as adviser ...

Varro, Caius Terentius

(Encyclopedia)Varro, Caius Terentius kāˈyəs tĭrĕnˈshəs vârˈō [key], fl. 216 b.c., Roman statesman and general. Consul in 216 b.c., he opposed Hannibal at the battle of Cannae, where the Roman army was des...

Liberalia

(Encyclopedia)Liberalia lĭbərāˈlēə [key], in Roman religion, festival of Liber and Libera. The rustic festival of great rejoicing and merrymaking was held on Mar. 17. Roman youths generally first assumed the ...

Baia

(Encyclopedia)Baia bīˈä [key], Lat. Baiae, village, in Campania, S Italy, on the Bay of Naples. In Roman times it was a celebrated spa and a favorite imperial residence, with sumptuous villas (1st cent. b.c.). T...

Scipione

(Encyclopedia)Scipione (Gino Bonichi) shēpyôˈnā; jēˈnō bōnēˈkē [key], 1904–33, Italian painter. Together with Mario Mafai, Scipione was a cofounder of the Roman school, an expressionist movement, in 19...

Aix-les-Bains

(Encyclopedia)Aix-les-Bains ĕks-lā-băNˈ [key], town, Savoie dept., SE France, situated on Lake Bourget at the foot of the Alps. It is a popular resort and spa. The town's alum and s...

Linz

(Encyclopedia)Linz lĭnts [key], city (1991 pop. 203,044), capital of Upper Austria, NW Austria, a major port on the Danube River. It is a commercial and industrial center and a rail junction. Manufactures include ...