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Farnese Bull

(Encyclopedia)Farnese Bull, sculptured group representing Zethus and Amphion, sons of Antiope, tying Dirce (who had ill-treated their mother) to an enraged bull. The sculpture is generally considered to have been e...

Hemings, Sally

(Encyclopedia)Hemings, Sally, 1773–1835, African-American slave owned by Thomas Jefferson, b. Charles City co., Va.; her original name was probably Sarah. Her father was John Wayles, Jefferson's father-in-law; he...

Wergeland, Henrik

(Encyclopedia)Wergeland, Henrik hĕnˈrĭk vĕrˈgəlän [key], 1808–45, Norwegian writer and patriot. A champion of liberty, democracy, and international cooperation, he worked zealously for popular education an...

Francis, Sir Philip

(Encyclopedia)Francis, Sir Philip, 1740–1818, British statesman and pamphleteer. He may have been the author known as Junius. He held several minor posts in government offices before being appointed to the counci...

Tayma

(Encyclopedia)Tayma tāˈmä [key], large oasis, SW Saudi Arabia. Cuneiform inscriptions possibly dating from the 6th cent. b.c. have been recovered from Tayma. In ancient Arabic tradition the oasis was noted as a ...

Scribner, Charles

(Encyclopedia)Scribner, Charles, 1821–71, American publisher, b. New York City. He founded in 1846 the publishing house that in 1878 became Charles Scribner's Sons and in 1870 he began Scribner's Monthly, which i...

Creon

(Encyclopedia)Creon krēˈŏn [key], a name given to several minor legendary Greek kings. In the legend of Oedipus, Creon is the brother of Jocasta and after the death of Oedipus' sons becomes king of Thebes. In Eu...

Jehiel

(Encyclopedia)Jehiel jēhīˈəl [key], in the Bible. 1 Ancestor of Saul. 2 One of David's mighty men. 3 Musician of David. 4 Son of Jehoshaphat. 5 Levite under David. An alternate form is Jehieli. 6 Tutor of David...

Nephilim

(Encyclopedia)Nephilim nēfĭlˈĭm [key], in the Bible, Hebrew word of no known meaning, denoting peoples of gigantic stature with superhuman strength. The term is translated as “giants” in the Authorized Vers...

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