Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Eratosthenes

(Encyclopedia)Eratosthenes ĕrətŏsˈthənēz [key], c.275–c.195 b.c., Greek scholar, b. Cyrene. A pupil of Callimachus in Athens, he became (c.240 b.c.) head of the library at Alexandria. Known for his versatil...

Thales

(Encyclopedia)Thales thāˈlēz [key], c.636–c.546 b.c., pre-Socratic Greek philosopher of Miletus and reputed founder of the Milesian school of philosophy. He is the first recorded Western philosopher. Thales ta...

Praesepe

(Encyclopedia)Praesepe prēsēˈpē [key] [Lat.,=manger], open star cluster in the constellation Cancer; cataloged as M44 or NGC 2632. It was first recorded by Hipparchus (c.150 b.c.). The cluster is often called t...

Alpheus, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Alpheus ălfēˈəs [key], river god: see Arethusa. ...

Echidna, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Echidna: see Typhon.

Echo, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Echo, in Greek mythology, mountain nymph. She assisted Zeus in one of his amorous adventures by distracting Hera with her chatter. For this Hera made her unable to speak except to repeat another's las...

Daphne, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Daphne dăfˈnē [key], in Greek mythology, a nymph. She was loved by Apollo and by Leucippus, a mortal who disguised himself as a nymph to be near her. When Leucippus betrayed his sex while bathing, ...

Alexander, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Alexander, in Greek mythology: see Paris. ...

chorus, in Greek drama

(Encyclopedia)chorus, in the drama of ancient Greece. Originally the chorus seems to have arisen from the singing of the dithyramb, and the dithyrambic chorus allegedly became a true dramatic chorus when Thespis in...

Europa, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Europa yo͝orōˈpə [key], in Greek mythology, daughter of Agenor and Telephassa. Zeus, enamored of her, appeared as a white bull, enticed her to climb on his back, and swam off with her to Crete. Th...