Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Kalamata

(Encyclopedia)Kalamata käläˈmā [key], city (1991 pop. 44,052), capital of Messinia prefecture, S Greece, in the Peloponnesus; a port on the Gulf of Messinia. It is an agricultural trade center and ships olive o...

Tutankhamen

(Encyclopedia)Tutankhamen or Tutenkhamon to͞otˌängkäˈmən, –ĕngk– [key], fl. c.1350 b.c., king of ancient Egypt, of the XVIII dynasty. He was the son-in-law of Ikhnaton and succeeded to the throne after a...

ephors

(Encyclopedia)ephors ĕfˈərz [key] [Gr.,=overseers], in ancient Greece, magistrates in several Dorian states. In Sparta they comprised an executive, legislative, and judicial board of five Spartan citizens. This ...

pentathlon

(Encyclopedia)pentathlon pĕntăthˈlən [key], composite athletic event. In ancient Greece it comprised leaping, foot racing, wrestling, discus throwing, and casting the javelin. The modern pentathlon, an Olympic ...

Thutmose III

(Encyclopedia)Thutmose III thŏthˈmēz, tōtˈmĕs [key], d. 1436 b.c., king of ancient Egypt, of the XVIII dynasty; the successor of Thutmose II. After the death of Thutmose II, his wife Hatshepsut became regent ...

Aëdon

(Encyclopedia)Aëdon āēˈdən [key], in Greek legend, the wife of Zethus, king of Thebes. She had only one son, while her sister-in-law, Niobe, had many. Her jealousy increased until, in trying to murder Niobe's ...

poison hemlock

(Encyclopedia)poison hemlock, lethally poisonous herbaceous plant (Conium maculatum) of the family Umbelliferae (parsley family). It has rank, finely divided foliage, flat-topped clusters of small white flowers, an...

crown

(Encyclopedia)crown, circular head ornament, symbolizing sovereign dignity. (For crowns worn by nobles, see coronet.) The use of the crown as a symbol of royal rank is of ancient tradition in Egypt and the Middle E...

Ancona

(Encyclopedia)Ancona ängkôˈnä [key], city, capital of Ancona prov., chief city of Marche region, central Italy, on a promontory in the Adriatic Sea. It is a leading Adriatic naval a...

felt

(Encyclopedia)felt, fabric made by matting or felting together wool, hair, or fur, most of which have a natural tendency to snarl or cling together owing to their notched or scaly surfaces. Processes of manufacture...