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Sierra, Justo

(Encyclopedia)Sierra, Justo ho͞oˈstō syĕˈrä [key], 1848–1912, Mexican educator and historian. He entered the literary life as a romantic poet but later devoted himself wholeheartedly to founding schools, le...

Philoctetes

(Encyclopedia)Philoctetes fĭlŏktēˈtēz [key], in Greek mythology, son of Poias. He acquired, by gift, the bow and arrow of Hercules by lighting the pyre on which the hero was consumed alive. On his way to the T...

Newlands, Francis Griffith

(Encyclopedia)Newlands, Francis Griffith, 1848–1917, American legislator, b. Natchez, Miss. After practicing law in San Francisco from 1870, he moved (1888) to Nevada. He became well known for his interest in irr...

Palm Springs

(Encyclopedia)Palm Springs, city (1990 pop. 40,181), Riverside co., S Calif.; founded 1876, inc. 1938. It is a verdant desert oasis and a resort with classic mid-20th cent. architecture (known as Mid-Century Modern...

Orion, in Greek mythology

(Encyclopedia)Orion ōrīˈən [key], in Greek mythology, Boeotian hunter. When Oenopion delayed giving his daughter Merope to him, Orion, when drunk, violated her. Oenopion then blinded him, but his vision was res...

Wandering Jew, in legend

(Encyclopedia)Wandering Jew, in literary and popular legend, a Jew who mocked or mistreated Jesus while he was on his way to the cross and who was condemned therefore to a life of wandering on earth until Judgment ...

Valdés Leal, Juan de

(Encyclopedia)Valdés Leal, Juan de lāälˈ [key], 1622–90, Spanish baroque painter and etcher, active mainly in Seville and Córdoba. He is especially famous for grimly moralizing subjects, as in Allegory of Va...

Van Curler, Arent

(Encyclopedia)Van Curler or Van Corlaer, Arent ärˈənt văn kûrˈlər, vän kôrˈlär [key], 1619–67, Dutch colonist in New Netherland. He came (1637) to the colony to assist in the management of Rensselaersw...

Casilinum

(Encyclopedia)Casilinum kăsĭlīˈnəm [key], ancient town, Campania, S Italy, 18 mi (29 km) N of present-day Naples. It probably was founded (c.600 b.c.) by the Etruscans. It was captured (215 b.c.) from Carthage...

Wright, Mickey

(Encyclopedia)Wright, Mickey (Mary Kathryn Wright), 1935–2020, American golfer, b. San Diego. After winning the 1954 World Amateur Championship, she turned professional and joined (1955) the Ladies Professional G...