Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Cenchrea

(Encyclopedia)Cenchrea –krē-ēˌ [key], port of ancient Greece, on the Saronic Gulf, ESE of Corinth. It is mentioned in the New Testament. ...

Mycenae

(Encyclopedia)Mycenae mīsēˈnē [key], ancient city of Greece, in Argolis. In historical times it had little importance and was usually dependent on Argos. Its significance is in its remote past as a center of My...

Pillars of Hercules

(Encyclopedia)Pillars of Hercules, ancient mythological name for promontories flanking the east entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. They are usually identified with Gibraltar in Europe and with Mt. Acha at Ceuta i...

Kíthira

(Encyclopedia)Kíthira sĭthērˈə [key], island (1991 pop. 3,021), c.109 sq mi (282 sq km), S Greece, in the Mediterranean Sea, southernmost of the Ionian Islands, off the S Peloponnesus. Mostly rocky with many s...

Véroia

(Encyclopedia)Véroia or Veria both: vĕˈrēä [key], town (1991 pop. 38,713), capital of Imathía prefecture, N Greece, in Macedonia. It is a lignite-mining and textile-milling center. In ancient times the town w...

Perseus, king of Macedon

(Encyclopedia)Perseus, c.212–166 b.c., last king of Macedon (179–168 b.c.), son and successor of Philip V. He intrigued against his younger brother, Demetrius, eventually bringing about the latter's execution b...

Heiden, Eric

(Encyclopedia)Heiden, Eric hīˈdən [key], 1958–, American speed skater, b. Madison, Wis. After competing in the 1976 Winter Olympics, he won three consecutive World Speedskating Championships (1977–79). In 19...

Dean, Forest of

(Encyclopedia)Dean, Forest of, ancient royal forest (c.30,000 acres/12,141 hectares), Gloucestershire, W England, between the Severn estuary and the gorges of the Wye River. It was the first (1938) of the National ...

Berenice, b. c.340 b.c., d. 281 or 271 b.c., consort and half-sister of Ptolemy I, king of ancient Egypt

(Encyclopedia)Berenice bĕrənīˈsē [key], b. c.340 b.c., d. 281 or 271 b.c., consort and half-sister of Ptolemy I, king of ancient Egypt. A Macedonian, she was the widow of Philip, one of the officers of Alexand...

Onassis, Aristotle Socrates

(Encyclopedia)Onassis, Aristotle Socrates ârˌĭstŏtˈəl sŏkˈrətēz ōnăsˈĭs [key], 1906?–75, Greek shipowner and financier, b. Turkey. Leaving Turkey after the Turkish defeat of Greek forces at Smyrna (...