More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Ambrosia
Aiton's Encyclopedia: am-bro'zha or zh1-a, in classical mythology, the food of the gods, capable of imparting immortality to any who partook of it. It is also represented as a richly perfumed unguent. Hence, in literature, the word is used to express the idea of divine beauty or excellence. See Nectar His dewy locks distill'd ambrosia.--Milton. 2026 Editor's Note: The 'food of the gods' has come down in the world: 'ambrosia' now labels a homely American salad of canned fruit, coconut and marshmallows — and, more cruelly, the botanical genus Ambrosia, the ragweeds , whose pollen is the great cause of autumn hay fever. (Ed: BR 2026-06-23)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: in Greek mythology, the food of the gods, as nectar was their drink.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Ammonite
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a fossil shell belonging to an extensive genus of extinct mollusks. They were allied to the chambered nautilus. The shells were lined with pearl and furnished with partitions. The fossils vary in size from a pin head to shells four feet in diameter. All are curled up like flat snail shells. Ammonites have a fancied resemblance to a ram's horn, or the horn of Jupiter Ammon, whence the name. In Scott's Marmion, Whitby's nuns tell their hosts of Lindisfarne: How, of thousand snakes, each one Was changed into a coil of stone When holy Hilda prayed; Themselves, within their holy bound Their stony folds had often found. Ammonites 2026 Editor's Note: Ammonites died out with the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, and their coiled shells are now prize fossils and precise markers for dating rock layers. The Whitby legend the entry quotes — that they were coiled snakes turned to stone — led locals to carve snake heads onto them and sell them as 'snakestones.' (Ed: BR 2026-06-17)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a large genus of fossil chambered shells, belonging to the class cephalopoda, the order tetrabranchiata, and the family ammonitidæ. The shell is discoidal, the inner whorls more or less concealed, the septa undulated, the sutures lobed and foliated, and the siphuncle dorsal. The ancients venerated them, as the Hindus still do. About 700 so-called species have been described, ranging rang from the trias to the chalk.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Amphiaraus
An Encyclopaedia of Occultism: A famous soothsayer of ancient times, who hid himself so that he might not have to go to the war of Thebes, because he had foreseen that he should die there. This, indeed happened, but he came to life again. A temple was raised to him in Attica, near a sacred fountain by which he had left Hades. He healed the sick by showing them in a dream the remedies they must use. He also founded many oracles. After sacrifice, those who consulted the oracle slept under a sheep skin, and dreamed a dream which usually found plenty of interpreters after the event. Amphiaraus himself was an adept in the art of explaining dreams. Some prophecies in verse, which are no longer extant, are attributed to him.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Seven Against Thebes
Covered by An Encyclopaedia of Occultism and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Amphitrite
Aiton's Encyclopedia: am-fi-tri'te, in Greek mythology, a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, or possibly of Nereus and Doris. Poseidon wished to make Amphitrite his wife. She hid from him, and he sent a dolphin to find her. The dolphin was successful, and as a reward received a place among the stars, where he may still be seen in the constellation Delphinus. In other accounts Poseidon is represented as seeking Amphitrite himself, but riding on the dolphin. Poseidon and Amphitrite succeeded Oceanus and Tethys as rulers of the waters. In art Amphitrite is represented as drawn by tritons in a chariot of shells, or as riding on a dolphin, bearing the trident of Poseidon in her hand. See Poseidon ; Tritons O'er the green waves which gently bend and swell, Fair Amphitrite steers her silver shell; Her playful dolphins stretch the silken rein, Hear her sweet voice, and glide along the main.--Darwin.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, or of Nereus and Doris. Neptune wished to make her his wife, and, as she hid herself from him, he sent a dolphin to find her, which brought her to him, and received as a reward a place among the stars.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Amphora
Aiton's Encyclopedia: am'fo-ra, a large, twohandled jug-like vessel of hard-baked, unglazed clay, much used by the ancients. The name is Greek, meaning to carry with both, referring to the use of two hands, one on each handle. The amphora was a slender affair half as tall as a person. It had a narrow neck and ended in a sharp point below, that might be placed in a hole in a table or thrust into the ground to hold the jug upright. It was used to store grain, pulse, wine, honey, and olive oil, and often as an urn in which to keep the ashes of cremated relatives. As a measure of capacity, the Greek amphora contained about nine English gallons; the Roman, six. Ornamental amphorae provided with bases were made of precious metals, bronze, alabaster, and marble. Such vases were highly decorated and were given often as prizes in athletic games. See Pottery 2026 Editor's Note: Amphorae became underwater archaeology 's greatest gift: ancient shipwrecks carpeted with them let researchers map the wine and oil trade of the whole Mediterranean, each jar's shape and stamp revealing where and when it was made. (Ed: BR 2026-06-23)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a two-handled vessel, generally made of clay, and used for holding wine, oil, honey, or even the skeletons or ashes of the dead. It is also a liquid measure, containing 48 sectari, or nearly six gallons. The Greek amphoreus held nearly nine. The capacity of the Saxon ambra is unknown.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Anchovy
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a small, silvery fish, four to five inches long, resembling the herring, the shad, the sprat, and the sardine. Anchovies have pointed heads and projecting upper jaws. In early summer shoals visit the shores of southern Europe to spawn. Immense numbers are taken with nets in the Mediterranean Sea . The fishermen toil at night, using bright headlights to attract the fish. The fish are salted and dried for winter use, or else pickled in small barrels for the export trade. Treated with vinegar they dissolve into what is known as anchovy sauce. See Fish 2026 Editor's Note: Anchovies hide in more food than most people realize — they are the umami secret of Worcestershire sauce and Caesar dressing, heirs to the ancient Roman fish sauce garum . The Peruvian anchoveta is also among the largest fisheries on earth, though its catch crashes whenever El Niño warms the sea. (Ed: BR 2026-06-21)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a fish, the engraulis encrasicolus of Fleming; the engraulis vulgaris of Cuvier. It belongs to the herring family. In general, its length is from 4 to 5 inches. Shoals of anchovies annually enter the Mediterranean, and various fisheries exist along its northern shores, the most celebrated being at Gorgona, a small island W. of Leghorn.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia