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Lysanias

(Encyclopedia)Lysanias līsāˈnēəs [key], tetrarch of Abilene. He is mentioned in the Gospel of St. Luke. A rock inscription mentioning his name was found on the site of ancient Abila. ...

Cephas

(Encyclopedia)Cephas sēˈfəs [key], in the Gospels, Jesus' name for St. Peter. It is a transliteration of the Aramaic word for rock, and identical in meaning with “Peter” in Greek. ...

cave art

(Encyclopedia)cave art: see Paleolithic art; rock carvings and paintings. ...

Etam

(Encyclopedia)Etam ēˈtəm [key], in the Bible. 1 Village, S ancient Palestine. 2 Town of Judah, SW of Bethlehem. 3 Cleft rock, where Samson hid. These may be the same. ...

water table

(Encyclopedia)water table, the top zone of soil and rock in which all voids are saturated with water. The level of the water table varies with topography and climate, and depends on the degree to which the groundwa...

Devils Tower National Monument

(Encyclopedia)Devils Tower National Monument, 1,347 acres (546 hectares), overlooking the Belle Fourche River, NE Wyo.; it was the first designated U.S. national monument (1906). Devils Tower, 865 ft (264 m) high a...

Behistun Inscription

(Encyclopedia)Behistun Inscription bēso͞oto͞onˈ, bēsə– [key], cuneiform text, the decipherment of which was the key to all cuneiform script and opened to scholars the study of the written works of ancient M...

pumice

(Encyclopedia)pumice pŭmˈĭs [key], volcanic glass formed by the solidification of lava that is permeated with gas bubbles. Usually found at the surface of a lava flow, it is colorless or light gray and has the g...

squill

(Encyclopedia)squill, common name for two genera of Old World bulbous plants of the family Liliaceae (lily family). The horticulturists' squill is any plant of the genus Scilla, mostly spring-blooming low herbs wit...

Grateful Dead, The

(Encyclopedia)Grateful Dead, The, American rock music group formed in 1965 by guitarists Jerry Garcia, 1942–95, and Bob Weir, 1947–, harmonica player Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, 1945–73, bassist Phil Lesh, 194...