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Hallaj, Hussein ibn Mansur al-

(Encyclopedia)Hallaj, Hussein ibn Mansur al- ho͞osānˈ ĭbn mänso͝orˈ [key], 857–922, Arabic-speaking Persian Muslim mystic and poet popularly known among Muslims as “the martyr of mystical love.” Born a...

Gordium

(Encyclopedia)Gordium gôrˈdēəm [key], ancient city of Asia Minor, in Phrygia and later Galatia, now in Turkey, 50 mi (80 km) SW of Ankara. It was the capital of Phrygia from c.1000 to 800 b.c. Excavations condu...

Jovian

(Encyclopedia)Jovian (Flavius Claudius Jovianus) jōˈvēən [key], c.331–364, Roman emperor (363–64). The commander of the imperial guard under Julian the Apostate in his Persian campaign, Jovian was proclaime...

Critius

(Encyclopedia)Critius nēshēōˈtēz [key], fl. 5th cent. b.c., Greek sculptors, in the time of the Persian Wars. They made statues of the Tyrannicides, Harmodius and Aristogiton, who slew the tyrant Hipparchus. T...

Croesus

(Encyclopedia)Croesus krēˈsəs [key], d. c.547 b.c., king of Lydia (560–c.547 b.c.), noted for his great wealth. He was the son of Alyattes. He continued his father's policy of conquering the Ionian cities of A...

Cnidus

(Encyclopedia)Cnidus or Cnidos both: nīˈdəs [key], ancient Greek city of Caria, SW Asia Minor, on Cape Krio, in present SW Asian Turkey. It was partly on the peninsula and partly on an island that had been creat...

Farah

(Encyclopedia)Farah färäˈ [key], town, capital of Farah prov., W Afghanistan, on the Farah River. Surrou...

satrap

(Encyclopedia)satrap sāˈtrăp [key], governor of a province (satrapy) of the ancient Persian Empire. He was nominated by the king and given extensive powers. Darius I reorganized the privileges and duties of his ...

Rückert, Friedrich

(Encyclopedia)Rückert, Friedrich frīˈmo͝ont rīˈmär [key], 1788–1866, German scholar and poet. An editor and professor of Oriental languages, he wrote imitations of Asian and Middle Eastern poetry and made ...

Paskevich, Ivan Feodorovich

(Encyclopedia)Paskevich, Ivan Feodorovich ēvänˈ fyôˈdərəvĭch pəskyĕˈvĭch [key], 1782–1856, Russian army officer and administrator. He fought in the Napoleonic Wars, was created count of Erivan after c...