Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Hirschfeld, Al (Albert Hirschfeld) hûrshˈfĕld [key], 1903–2003, American graphic artist, b. St. Louis. He and his family moved to New York City when he was 12, and he studied art there and in Par...

(Encyclopedia) Minya, Al äl mēˈnyə [key], city (1986 pop. 179,060), capital of Al Minya governorate, N central Egypt, on the Nile River. About half the city's population is Coptic Christian. It is a tourist spot...

(Encyclopedia) Mansurah, Al äl mänso͞orˈä [key], city (1986 pop. 317,508), N Egypt, a port in the Nile River delta. It is an agricultural market and industrial center. Manufactures include ginned cotton, cotton...

(Encyclopedia) Abu al-Ala al-Maarri äˈbo͞o äl-äläˈ äl-mä-är-rēˈ [key], 973–1057, Arab freethinking poet. He was born and lived most of his life in Maara, S of Aleppo. He was blind from childhood. Brill...

(Encyclopedia) Al Karak äl käräkˈ [key], town (1997 est. pop. 19,000), W central Jordan. It is also known as Krak. It is a road junction and an agricultural trade center. The ancient Kir Moab (also mentioned in ...

(Encyclopedia) Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah), 1929–2020, emir of Kuwait (2006–20). He held a number of government posts, including foreign minister (1963–2003) and deputy prime min...

(Encyclopedia) Kuwait, Al- – [key] or Kuwait City, city (1991 pop. 150,1000), capital of Kuwait, on the SE coast of Kuwait Bay, an inlet of the Persian Gulf. The city and its suburbs constitute about a third of Ku...

(Encyclopedia) Qaeda, Al, or Al Qaida: see Al Qaeda. ...

(Encyclopedia) Al Kut äl ko͞ot [key], town, SE Iraq, on the Tigris River. It is a port and a market center for grains, dates, fruit, and vegetables. There is a large barrage on the Tigris there diverting much of i...