Plock
a town of Russian Poland, on the right bank of the Vistula, 60 miles N. W. of Warsaw. Its principal building is the cathedral, built in the 11th century. One of the oldest towns in Poland, Plock was the capital of ancient Masovia, and was severely ravaged by the heathen Prussians, the Lithuanians, and the Swedes. During the World War the town suffered severely by being bombarded and fought over in the struggle between German and Russian forces. Pop. about 40,000.
PLOMBIÈRES, a town in the French department of Vosges, 14 miles S. of Epinal; sprang into fashion through the favor of Napoleon III., though the virtues of its waters were known ever since the times of the Romans. There are nearly 30 springs, ranging in temperature from 66° to 150° F.; their waters are helpful against skin diseases, gout, rheumatism, dyspepsia, female complaints, etc. The permanent population is about 2,000. a PLOTINUS, Greek philosopher, founder of the Neo-Platonic school; was born in Lycopolis, Egypt, A. D. 203. He was trained in the school of Alexandria, under Ammonius Saccas, then visited the East, and about 244 settled at Rome, where he spent the rest of his life as a teacher and writer. Porphyry, his most eminent disciple, wrote his life, and arranged and published his works, divided into six sets of nine books each ("Enneads"). Plotinus was a profound thinker and a deeply religious man, and his system, a sort of mystical idealism, a combination of Platonic with Oriental notions. He died in Campania, in 270. a