Siemens, Karl Wilhelm

see'menz, Karl Wilhelm (1823-1883), a German scientist and inventor. He was a native of Hanover and was educated at Lubeck, Magdeburg, and Gottingen. Among his inventions are a method of electroplating, a governor for steam engines, a gas furnace for metalworking, the Siemens process of making steel, and improvements in making and laying telegraph lines. He visited England repeatedly to patent his inventions. He finally settled in London, where he died. He was knighted by Queen Victoria for his eminent contributions to industrial science. See Steel

Siena,se-a'na, a city of Italy. It is situated about sixty miles south of Florence on the road to Rome. It still retains the massive city walls and architectural features of the Middle Ages. Though now but a city of 30,000 people, dealing chiefly in wheat, wine, olives, and marble, it was formerly a center of culture inferior only to Rome and Florence. The cathedral and town palace are beautiful specimens of the builder's art. A copper bell dating from 1159, the oldest in Europe, hangs in the cathedral. Siena was a cradle of Italian literature, painting, and sculpture. Its tombs, towers, windows, fountains, paintings, statues, and mosaics are the delight of artists. The paintings are noted for brilliant colors and rich costumes. The University of Siena, founded in 1300, is still attended. Annual festivals are held, at which prizes are awarded for skillful horsemanship. The artist's pigment or color known as sienna is a fine clay found in the vicinity. It resembles yellow ocher, but gives a richer, darker, transparent effect. Burnt sienna, or sienna roasted in a furnace, gives a mahogany effect. See Italy