Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Akhelóos

(Encyclopedia)Akhelóos or Achelous äkhĕlôˈôs [key], river, 137 mi (221 km) long, rising in the Pindus Mts., NW Greece, and flowing generally south, traversing many mountain gorges, and emptying into the Ionia...

Leuctra

(Encyclopedia)Leuctra lo͞okˈtrə [key], village of ancient Greece, in Boeotia, 7 mi (11.3 km) SW of Thebes. There the Spartans were defeated (371 b.c.) by the Thebans under Epaminondas. A brilliant tactical succe...

Philippi

(Encyclopedia)Philippi fĭlĭpˈī [key], ancient city of Macedon and Macedonia, now in Greece, in E Macedonia. Inhabited by Thracians and then Thasians, it was renamed (probably 356 b.c.) by Philip II of Macedon, ...

Aetolia

(Encyclopedia)Aetolia ētōlˈyə [key], region of ancient Greece, N of the Gulf of Corinth and the Gulf of Calydon, E of the Achelous River (separating it from Acarnania). Little is known of the early population o...

choragic monuments

(Encyclopedia)choragic monuments kərăjˈĭk, –rājˈ–, kō– [key] [Gr.,=of the choragus, the chorus leader], small decorative structures erected in ancient Greece to commemorate the victory of the leader of...

Great Mother Goddess

(Encyclopedia)Great Mother Goddess, in ancient Middle Eastern religions, mother goddess, the great symbol of the earth's fertility. She was worshiped under many names and attributes. Similar figures have been known...

Paphos

(Encyclopedia)Paphos pāˈfŏs [key], two ancient cities, SW Cyprus, on the coast. Old Paphos was probably founded in the Mycenaean period by colonists from Greece or Phoenicia. Modern excavations have revealed rui...

Messene

(Encyclopedia)Messene mĕsēˈnē [key], ancient city, central Messenia (now Messinías prov.), Greece. It was founded (c.369 b.c.) under Theban auspices to be a capital and fort for the Messenians, whom the battle...

Pendelikón

(Encyclopedia)Pendelikón pĕntĕˈlĭkəs [key], mountain, c.3,670 ft (1,120 m) high, central Greece, NE of Athens. The white marble quarried there was used for many buildings of ancient Athens. Marble is still ta...

Pythian games

(Encyclopedia)Pythian games pĭthˈēən [key], in ancient Greece, games held at Delphi every four years (the third of each Olympiad). They included musical, literary, and athletic contests. The games honored Apoll...