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Levites

(Encyclopedia)Levites lēˈvīts [key], a religious caste among the ancient Hebrews, descended from Jacob's son Levi and figuring prominently in the Bible. There were three divisions of Levites—Kohathites, Merari...

Sabatier, Auguste

(Encyclopedia)Sabatier, Auguste ôgo͞ostˈ säbätyāˈ [key], 1839–1901, French Protestant theologian. He was professor (1867–72) of reformed dogmatics at Strasbourg, and from 1877 until his death he was a me...

Colonna, Vittoria, marchesa di Pescara

(Encyclopedia)Colonna, Vittoria, marchesa di Pescara vētôˈrēä kōlônˈnä märkāˈzä dē pāskäˈrä [key], 1492–1547, Italian poet; daughter of Fabrizio Colonna (see under Colonna). Her love for her hus...

Denis, Maurice

(Encyclopedia)Denis, Maurice môrēsˈ dənēˈ [key], 1870–1943, French painter and writer on art. His paintings, usually on religious themes, have not proved so influential as his art theories. As the spokesman...

Oña, Pedro de

(Encyclopedia)Oña, Pedro de pāˈᵺrō ᵺā ōˈnyä [key], 1570?–1643, Chilean poet. Having been born in Latin America, he is considered Chile's first national poet. His poetry is both epic and religious. Ins...

Handsome Lake

(Encyclopedia)Handsome Lake, 1735?–1815, Seneca religious prophet; half-brother of Cornplanter. After a long illness he had a vision (c.1800) and began to preach new religious beliefs. His moral teachings showed ...

Backus, Isaac

(Encyclopedia)Backus, Isaac băkˈəs [key], 1724–1806, American clergyman, leader among New England Baptists and a champion of religious freedom, b. Norwich, Conn. Converted in the Great Awakening, he joined the...

Teotihuacán

(Encyclopedia)Teotihuacán tāōtēwäkänˈ [key], ancient commercial and religious center in the central valley of Mexico, c.30 mi (48 km) NE of Mexico City. Once thought to be the great religious center of the T...

Khomeini, Ayatollah Ruhollah

(Encyclopedia)Khomeini, Ayatollah Ruhollah khōmāˈnē [key], 1900–1989, Iranian Shiite religious leader. Educated in Islam at home and in theological schools, in the 1950s he was designated ayatollah, a supreme...

Philips, Katherine (Fowler)

(Encyclopedia)Philips, Katherine (Fowler), 1631–64, English poet. Conductor of several literary salons in London, she began the Society of Friendship under the pseudonym “Matchless Orinda.” The first collecte...