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.
Narwhal
Collier's New Encyclopedia: NARWAL, or NAR- WHALE, a cetacean, called also the seaunicorn; the Monodon monoceros. The name sea-unicorn is given because the male has a horn 6, 7, or even 10 feet long, one of the teeth in the upper jaw extraordinarily prolonged. It is the left tusk which makes the horn, the right being rarely developed. The tusk is spirally furrowed, and is of ivory, like the tusk of an elephant. The length of the narwhal varies from 15 to 20 or 22 feet, the head being one-fourth of the whole, and the horn one-half.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a small whale found in arctic waters with a body possibly fifteen feet in length. It is noted for a peculiar tusk. A straight tooth projects directly forward from the upper jaw to a distance of six or ten feet, giving the animal the name of unicorn whale. The tusk is valuable for ivory, and the blubber yields a superior quality of oil. See Whale
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Nauplia
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a small fortified town and seaport with an excellent roadstead in the Morea, Greece, at the N. extremity of the Gulf of Argos or Nauplia, 25 miles S. of Corinth. It has naval yards and ordnance works. At an early period it was the port and arsenal of Argos. In the 13th century it was occupied by the Venetians (who called it Napoli di Romania), and it was taken by the Turks in 1540. From 1824 to 1835 it was the capital of Greece, and had a population of upward of 12,000; but on the removal of the court to Athens it fell into decay. Pop. about 13,000.
1000 Classical Characters: The port of Argos, situated on the Saronic Gulf, was never a place of importance in antiquity, but is at the present day one of the chief cities in Greece. Neapolis (Naples). A city in Campania , at the head of a beautiful bay and on the western slope of Mount Vesuvius. 2026 Editor's Note: During the late Middle Ages, Nauplia formed part of a lordship granted to Otto de la Roche following the Fourth Crusade conquest of 1211–1212. The city passed through the hands of various Frankish and Venetian rulers before eventually being seized by Venice in 1394. It later served as the first official capital of the modern Greek state, from 1827 to 1834. (Ed: BR 2026-07-04)
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Nebo
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a mountain of Moab, whence Moses had a view of the Promised Land, of and where he died. It is a summit the range Abarium, "over against Jericho." Seetzen, Burckhardt, etc., identify it with Mount Attarus, about 10 do not miles N. of the Arnon. Travelers observe any very prominent pro summit in the range immediately opposite Jericho; but it has not yet been fully explored. In Babylonian mythology, an idol which probably represented the planet Mercury. It was also worshipped by the ancient Arabians.
1000 Classical Characters: A mountain of Palestine, on the eastern side of the Jordan, and in the southern part of the range called Abarim. It was on a 190 IOOO CLASSICAL CHARACTERS summit of this mountain, called Pisgah, that Moses died.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Necropolis
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a Greek term, meaning "the city of the dead," and applied to the cemeteries in the vicinity of ancient cities. It occurs in classical antiquity only as applied to a suburb of Alexandria, lying to the W. of that city, where and embalmed. the corpses were received Here Cleopatra applied the asp to her breast.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a Greek word signifying the city of the dead. It was applied to any city cemetery, but especially to the suburb in Alexandria, Egypt, in which the dead were embalmed and laid away.
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Nectar
Aiton's Encyclopedia: in Greek mythology, the drink of the gods on Mount Olympus. Ambrosia was their food. Homer describes nectar as a fragrant, sweet, red drink, resembling wine. It was tendered by Hebe and conferred immortality. By the botanist and bee-keeper the term is given to the sweet juice secreted by many flowers. It is the material of which bees make honey. It is stored up in glands known as nectaries, found usually at the base of the stamens. Sometimes the nectar seems to ooze from a surface, having no special glands. So far as plants are concerned nectar allures bees, wasps, bumblebees, and other insects. In their search for nectar they become dusted with pollen and carry it to the pistils of near-by flowers of the same kind, effecting what is called cross-fertilization. See Honey
Collier's New Encyclopedia: in Greek mythology, the supposed drink of the gods. It was believed that this nectar, which they never gave to mortals, contributed much toward their eternal existence.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Nemean Games
Collier's New Encyclopedia: in Greek antiquicelebrated ties, public games or festivals at Nemea, most probably triennially, in the Athenian month Boedromion (the the modern August). The Argives were judges at these games, which comprised boxing and athletic contests, as well as chariot-races; and the conquerors were crowned with olive.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Olympic Games
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Nemesis
Aiton's Encyclopedia: in Greek mythology, the goddess of retribution. She was the daughter of Erebus and Night, or, according to some accounts of Zeus and Necessity. She represented the righteous anger of the gods. In case a mortal became insolent or haughty, or puffed up by overweening pride, it was the part of Nemesis to inflict suitable punishment and bring the erring one into a state of due humility. She is represented in art as a woman of majestic bearing, wrapped in a tunic. Sometimes she is seated in a car drawn by dragons. Her figure appears frequently on ancient coins and costly gems. Her worship was widespread.
1000 Classical Characters: One of the infernal deities, daughter of Nox. She was the goddess of vengeance. She is made one of the Parcae by some mythologists, and is represented with a helm and a wheel. The term is sometimes used to signify vengeance itself. 2026 Editor's Note: Nemesis personified retribution for the sin of hubris: arrogance before the gods in ancient Greek religion. This theological specificity—that she punished pride and arrogance rather than serving as a general instrument of vengeance—was central to Greek moral understanding. (Ed: BR 2026-07-06)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: in Greek mythology, one of the infernal deities, daughter of Nox. She was the goddess of vengeance, aland at ways prepared to punish impiety, the same time liberally to reward the good and virtuous.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters and Collier's New Encyclopedia