Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Shuayb sho͞ohāyb [key], Qur'anic non-biblical prophet, appeared later than Hud and Salih among “the people of the thicket.” His preaching is said to have consisted of a call to monotheism and so...

(Encyclopedia) Basilikon Doron bəsĭˈlĭkən dôˈrən [key] [Gr.,=royal gift], book written by James VI of Scotland (subsequently James I of England) as a guide for the conduct of his son Henry when he became kin...

(Encyclopedia) Walpole, Sir Spencer, 1839–1907, English historian. He held a number of minor public offices and served as private secretary in the home office to his father, Sir Spencer Horatio Walpole, whose biog...

(Encyclopedia) Uranus, in Greek religion and mythology, the heaven, first ruler of the universe, son of Gaea (the earth). He was the father of Gaea's children, the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Hundred-handed Ones (...

(Encyclopedia) Bessenyei, György dyörˈdyə bĕˈshĕnyā [key], 1747–1811, Hungarian dramatist and writer. In Vienna he came in contact with French rationalism and was an ardent follower of Voltaire and the Enc...

(Encyclopedia) Rimmon rĭmˈən [key], in the Bible. 1 Syrian god. 2 Father of the murderers of Ish-bosheth. 3 Rock, E of Bethel. There the remnants of the Benjamites took refuge after the battle of Gibeah. 4 See En...

(Encyclopedia) Round Table, in Arthurian legend, the table at which King Arthur and his knights held court. It was allegedly fashioned at the behest of Arthur to prevent quarrels among the knights over precedence. A...

(Encyclopedia) Eliab ēlīˈăb [key], in the Bible. 1 Chief of the tribe of Zebulun. 2 Father of Dathan. 3 Brother of David. 4 Musician of David. 5 A follower of David. 6 The same as Elihu (1.) ...

(Encyclopedia) Gatti-Casazza, Giulio jo͞oˈlyō gätˈtē-käzätˈsä [key], 1869–1940, Italian operatic manager. In 1893 he succeeded his father as director of the municipal theater at Ferrara. After directing ...

(Encyclopedia) Anak āˈnăk [key], according to a folk tradition in the Bible, an ancestor of the Anakim, a tribe of giants inhabiting Hebron and its vicinity at the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. Arba i...