Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

263 results found

Neoptolemus

(Encyclopedia)Neoptolemus nēˌŏptŏlˈĭməs [key], in Greek legend, son of Achilles. In the Trojan War he proved himself brave but cruel. He killed Priam at the altar of Zeus and threw Astyanax, son of Hector, f...

Odoacer

(Encyclopedia)Odoacer –vāˈkər [key], c.435–493, chieftain of the Heruli, the Sciri, and the Rugii (see Germans). He and his troops were mercenaries in the service of Rome, but in 476 the Heruli revolted and ...

Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius

(Encyclopedia)Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius əgrĭpˈə [key], c.63 b.c.–12 b.c., Roman general. A close friend of Octavian (later Emperor Augustus), he won a name in the wars in Gaul before becoming consul in 37 b....

Stanislaus I

(Encyclopedia)Stanislaus I, 1677–1766, king of Poland (1704–1709, 1733–35) and duke of Lorraine (1735–66). He was born Stanislaus Leszczynski. Early in the Northern War (1700–1721), Charles XII of Sweden ...

Tiberius

(Encyclopedia)Tiberius (Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus) tībērˈēəs [key], 42 b.c.–a.d. 37, second Roman emperor (a.d. 14–a.d. 37). He was the son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla and was origin...

Iphigenia

(Encyclopedia)Iphigenia ĭfˌəjənīˈə [key], in Greek legend, daughter of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon. When the Greek ships were delayed by contrary winds at Aulis en route to the Trojan War, Calchas informed Ag...

Patkul, Johann Reinhold von

(Encyclopedia)Patkul, Johann Reinhold von yōˈhän rīnˈhôlt fən pätˈko͝ol [key], 1660–1707, Livonian nobleman. He incurred the wrath of Charles XI of Sweden by championing the rights of the Livonian gentr...

Julia

(Encyclopedia)Julia, feminine name in the Julian gens. 1 Died 54 b.c., daughter of Julius Caesar and wife of Pompey. By her grace and tact she maintained the bond between her father and her husband. After her death...

Livia Drusilla

(Encyclopedia)Livia Drusilla lĭvˈēə dro͞osĭlˈə [key], c.55 b.c.–a.d. 29, Roman matron; mother of the Roman emperor Tiberius. She first married Tiberius Claudius Nero. Tiberius was his son. In 38 b.c., Aug...

Varus

(Encyclopedia)Varus (Publius Quinctilius Varus) vârˈəs [key], d. a.d. 9, Roman general. In 13 b.c. he was consul with Tiberius Claudius Nero (later emperor as Tiberius) and later was governor of Syria. Although ...