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Porphyry, Greek scholar

(Encyclopedia)Porphyry pôrˈfĭrē [key], c.232–c.304, Greek scholar and Neoplatonic philosopher. He studied rhetoric under Cassius Longinus and philosophy under Plotinus. He later lectured in Rome on the philos...

Timaeus , Greek historian

(Encyclopedia)Timaeus tīmēˈəs [key], c.356–c.260 b.c., Greek historian of Tauromenium (now Taormina), Sicily. Son of the tyrant of the city, he was banished by Agathocles either in 317 or 312 b.c. and lived f...

Bias, Greek sage

(Encyclopedia)Bias bīˈəs [key], fl. 6th cent. b.c., Greek sage, b. Priene. He is at best semilegendary but was called one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece. Many epigrams were attributed to him by ancient writers....

Ypsilanti, Greek family

(Encyclopedia)Ypsilanti or Hypsilanti both: ĭpˌsĭlănˈtē [key], prominent Greek family of Phanariots (see under Phanar). An early distinguished member, Alexander Ypsilanti, c.1725–c.1807, was dragoman (minis...

Mafra

(Encyclopedia)Mafra mäˈfrə [key], town (1991 est. pop. 9,800), Lisboa dist., W central Portugal, in Estremadura. It is noted for its huge 18th-century palace and monastery, built by John V in imitation of Spain'...

Hatra

(Encyclopedia)Hatra hăˈtrə [key], Arab. Al Hadr, ancient city and fortress, in modern-day Iraq, 68 mi (110 km) SW of Mosul. It flourished from the 1st cent. b.c. to the 2nd cent. a.d. under the Parthian Empire (...

Rhoecus

(Encyclopedia)Rhoecus rēˈkəs [key] Gr. Rhoikos, fl. 6th cent. b.c., Greek sculptor of Samos. He and Theodorus, another Samian, are said to have introduced better methods of casting bronze for sculpture. Rhoecus ...

Constitutions, Apostolic

(Encyclopedia)Constitutions, Apostolic, late-4th-century compilation, in eight books, of administrative canons for the clergy and the laity and of guides for worship. They were supposed to be works of the apostles,...

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