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Conon

(Encyclopedia)Conon kōˈnŏn, –nən [key], 3d cent. b.c., Greek astronomer and mathematician of Samos. He traveled in the western part of the Greek world making astronomical observations, then settled at Alexand...

Moschus

(Encyclopedia)Moschus mŏsˈkəs [key], fl. c.150 b.c., Greek bucolic poet of the school of Theocritus. He is called a Syracusan and lived in Alexandria. Among his few extant pieces is an idyl on Europa. Although L...

Hellenistic civilization

(Encyclopedia)Hellenistic civilization. The conquests of Alexander the Great spread Hellenism immediately over the Middle East and far into Asia. After his death in 323 b.c., the influence of Greek civilization con...

Fuga, Ferdinando

(Encyclopedia)Fuga, Ferdinando fārdēnänˈdō fo͞oˈgä [key], 1699–1781, Italian architect. Fuga is best known for his rebuilding of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. He served as papal architect during the ponti...

Paul V

(Encyclopedia)Paul V, 1552–1621, pope (1605–21), a Roman named Camillo Borghese; successor of Leo XI. He was created cardinal (1596) by Clement VIII and was renowned for his knowledge of canon law. On his elect...

Chauliac, Guy de

(Encyclopedia)Chauliac, Guy de gē də shōlyäkˈ [key], c.1300–1368, French surgeon. At Avignon he was physician to Pope Clement VI and to two of his successors. His Chirurgia magna (1363) was used as a manual ...

Soranus

(Encyclopedia)Soranus sərāˈnəs [key], fl. 1st–2d cent. a.d., Greek physician, probably b. Ephesus. He is believed to have practiced in Alexandria and in Rome and was an authority on obstetrics, gynecology, an...

Ptolemy X

(Encyclopedia)Ptolemy X (Ptolemy Alexander), d. 88 b.c., king of ancient Egypt (107 b.c.–88 b.c.), of the Macedonian dynasty, brother of Ptolemy IX. He was governor in Cyprus when called (110 b.c.) by his mother ...

Basilides

(Encyclopedia)Basilides bəsĭlˈĭdēz [key], fl. 120–145, Gnostic teacher of Alexandria. He wrote Exegitica (his personal gospel with 24 books of commentary) and poems. He claimed to possess a secret tradition ...

Aenesidemus

(Encyclopedia)Aenesidemus ēnĕsˌĭdēˈməs [key], Greek skeptic philosopher, fl. probably 1st cent. b.c. Thought to be a native of Knossos, Crete, he taught in Alexandria. Although his writings have been lost, i...