Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

pilaster

(Encyclopedia)pilaster pĭlăsˈtər [key], in architecture, upright supporting member, attached to and projecting slightly from the face of a wall and equipped with a base and capital like a column; also, a simila...

Selinus

(Encyclopedia)Selinus sĭlīˈnəs [key], ancient city of Sicily. It was founded (628? b.c.) by Dorian Greeks. The constant rival of neighboring Segesta, Selinus got Syracuse to interfere in a quarrel, which led to...

miniature painting

(Encyclopedia)miniature painting [Ital.,=artwork, especially manuscript initial letters, done with the red lead pigment minium; the word originally had no implication as to size]. In a general sense the term denote...

Latrobe, Benjamin Henry

(Encyclopedia)Latrobe, Benjamin Henry (Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe) lətrōbˈ [key], 1764–1820, American architect, b. Yorkshire, England. He is considered the first professional architect in the United State...

stupa

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Stupa stupa sto͞oˈpə [key] [Sanskrit,=mound], Buddhist monument in tumulus, or mound, form, often containing relics. The words tope and dagoba are synonymous, though the latter properly ref...

Vedanta

(Encyclopedia)Vedanta vĭdänˈtə, –dănˈ– [key], one of the six classical systems of Indian philosophy. The term “Vedanta” has the literal meaning “the end of the Veda” and refers both to the teachin...

Stein, Gertrude

(Encyclopedia)Stein, Gertrude, 1874–1946, American author and patron of the arts, b. Allegheny (now part of Pittsburgh), Pa. A celebrated personality, she encouraged, aided, and influenced—through her patronage...

Chihuahua, city, Mexico

(Encyclopedia)Chihuahua, city, capital of Chihuahua state, N Mexico. It lies in a valley almost encircled by hills. Chihuahua is the commercial and processing center ...

Frankfort, Henri

(Encyclopedia)Frankfort, Henri äNrēˈ [key], 1897–1954, American archaeologist, b. the Netherlands. He directed the excavations of the Egypt Exploration Society (1925–29) and the Iraq expeditions (1929–37) ...

Garnier, Jean Louis Charles

(Encyclopedia)Garnier, Jean Louis Charles gärnyāˈ [key], 1825–98, French architect, studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and won the Grand Prix de Rome (1848). He was awarded the commission for the Opéra in ...

Browse by Subject