Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Jattir jătˈər [key], in the Bible, town, S ancient Palestine, the modern Horbat Yattir, Israel, S of Hebron. ...

(Encyclopedia) Beth-nimrah bĕth-nĭmˈrə [key], in the Bible, town of ancient Palestine. Also called Nimrah. ...

(Encyclopedia) Beth-rehob bĕth-rēˈhŏb [key], in the Bible, Aramaean principality or town of N ancient Palestine. ...

(Encyclopedia) Adadah ădˈədə [key], in the Bible, town of Judah in the southernmost part of ancient Palestine. ...

(Encyclopedia) armor, apparatus for defense of persons, horses, and such objects as vehicles, naval vessels, and aircraft. Body armor developed early as protective suits made of such materials as leather, shells, wo...

(Encyclopedia) Asia Minor, great peninsula, c.250,000 sq mi (647,500 sq km), extreme W Asia, generally coterminous with Asian Turkey, also called Anatolia. It is washed by the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterrane...

(Encyclopedia) Aśoka əshōˈkə, –sōˈk– [key] or Ashoka, d. c.232 b.c., Indian emperor (c.273–c.232 b.c.) of the Maurya dynasty; grandson of Chandragupta. One of the greatest rulers of ancient India, he br...

(Encyclopedia) Cornwall, county, SW England, administratively (since 2009) a unitary authority. Bodmin was the county seat, but the local government is now based in Tr...

(Encyclopedia) Firdausi or Ferdowsi both: fərdouˈsē [key], c.940–1020, principal Persian poet, author of the Shah Namah [the book of kings], the great Persian epic. His original name was Abul Kasim Mansur; he i...

(Encyclopedia) aquarium, name for any supervised exhibit of aquatic animals and plants. Aquariums are known to have been constructed in ancient Rome, Egypt, and Asia. Goldfish have been bred in China for several hun...