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Caudine Forks

(Encyclopedia)Caudine Forks kôˈdīn [key], narrow passes in the Southern Apennines, S Italy, on the road from Capua to Benevento. There, in 321 b.c., the Samnites routed a Roman army. ...

Posillipo

(Encyclopedia)Posillipo pōzēlˈlēpō [key], volcanic ridge, in Campania, S Italy, projecting into the northern part of the Bay of Naples. The town of Posillipo, a picturesque suburb of Naples, has interesting ru...

Diem, Ngo Dinh

(Encyclopedia)Diem, Ngo Dinh nō dĭn dyĕm [key], 1901–63, president of South Vietnam (1955–63). A member of an influential Roman Catholic family, he was a civil servant before World War II and was connected w...

Domenichino

(Encyclopedia)Domenichino dōmāˈnēkō tsämpyĕˈrē [key], 1581–1641, Italian painter, b. Bologna. He was one of the principal pupils of the Carracci, beginning as Ludovico Carracci's assistant in Bologna. In...

Faber, Frederick William

(Encyclopedia)Faber, Frederick William fāˈbər [key], 1814–63, English theologian and hymn writer. A friend of John Henry Newman and an adherent of the Oxford movement, he became (1843) rector of Eton. In 1845 ...

Fens, the

(Encyclopedia)Fens, the, district, E England, a flat lowland, W and S of The Wash. Extending c.70 mi (110 km) from north to south and c.35 mi (60 km) from east to west, it is traversed by numerous streams. The area...

Innocent II

(Encyclopedia)Innocent II, d. 1143, pope (1130–43), a Roman named Gregorio Papareschi; successor of Honorius II. He was created cardinal by Paschal II. On the death of Honorius II, a faction of the cardinals elec...

handkerchief

(Encyclopedia)handkerchief. In classical Greece pieces of fine perfumed cotton, known as mouth or perspiration cloths, were often used by the wealthy. From the 1st cent. b.c., Roman men of rank used an oblong cloth...

Gregoras, Nicephorus

(Encyclopedia)Gregoras, Nicephorus nīsĕfˈərəs grĕgˈərəs [key], c.1295–c.1359, Byzantine historian and theologian, one of the most learned men of his time. Among his scientific and philosophical works is ...

Fritigern

(Encyclopedia)Fritigern frĭtˈĭgûrn [key], d. 380, Visigothic chieftain. An intermittent rival of Athanaric for leadership of the Visigoths, he adopted Arian Christianity (see Arianism) and thus gained the suppo...