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.
Thespis
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a Greek author of the sixth century B. C. He was a native of Attica and is regarded as the inventor of tragedy, as he introduced the rhapsode with his recitation at the feasts of Bacchus in the intervals between the performances of the chorus. This was the beginning of dialogue and the drama. See Rhapsode ; Tragedy
1000 Classical Characters: A Greek poet of Attica , supposed to be the inventor of tragedy, в. c. 536. He went from place to place upon a cart, on which he gave performances. Hence the term Thespians, as applied to wandering actors. 2026 Editor's Note: The term Thespian derives from Thespis 's name, not from his wandering performances. He is traditionally recognized as the first actor to portray a character on stage, rather than speaking as himself. In 534 BC, he won the first documented competition for tragedy at the City Dionysia festival in Athens. (Ed: BR 2026-06-04)
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Thetis
1000 Classical Characters: A Roman boxer. A sea deity, daughter of Nereus and Doris . She married Peleus, their son being Achilles , whom she plunged into the Styx, thus rendering him invulnerable in every part A Roman boxer. of his body except the heel by which she held him. 2026 Editor's Note: Thetis is primarily identified as a sea nymph and one of the fifty Nereids, daughters of the sea god Nereus. While this text describes her dipping Achilles into the Styx to grant him invulnerability, this specific detail of the myth originated much later in Statius's first-century epic, the Achilleid. Her wedding to the hero Peleus is traditionally cited as a precipitating event of the Trojan War. (Ed: BR 2026-06-06)
Aiton's Encyclopedia: the mother of Achilles. For the manner in which Thetis dipped her son in the Styx to make him invulnerable, see ACHILLES.
Covered by 1000 Classical Characters and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Thousand Islands
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a group of islands in the St. Lawrence River just below Lake Ontario. Te islands are caused by a belt of gneiss which lies across the course of the river extending from the Adirondacks in New York into Canada. The number of islands is estimated variously at from 1,500 to 1,800. Some are mere points of bare rock. Others have an area of several acres and are clothed with vegetation. The waters run swift and clear. The region is known as Thousand Island Park. The scenery is beautiful. The heat of summer is tempered by the river. The islands, both Canadian and American, have been occupied for summer residences. Alexandria Bay, the largest town in the park, is a noted summer resort. Steamers ply regularly. There are numerous large hotels for the accommodation of transients.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a group of small islands numbering about 1,800 in the St. Lawrence, immediately below Lake Ontario. They belong partly to Canada and partly to the State of New York, and have become a popular summer resort.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Thrasybulus
1000 Classical Characters: A famous general of Athens , who, with the help of a few associates, expelled the Thirty Tyrants, B. C. 401. He was sent with a powerful fleet to recover the Athenian power on the coast of Asia , and after gaining many advantages was killed by the people of Aspendus. 2026 Editor's Note: After Athens's defeat in the Peloponnesian War, Thrasybulus led the democratic resistance to the new oligarchic government, known as the Thirty Tyrants, imposed by the victorious Spartans upon Athens. In 404 BC, he commanded a small force of exiles that invaded the Spartan-ruled Attica and, in successive battles, first defeated a Spartan garrison and then the forces of the oligarchy. In the wake of these victories, democracy was re-established at Athens. (Ed: BR 2026-06-08)
Collier's New Encyclopedia: an Athenian general, who in the time of the Thirty Tyrants, took refuge at Thebes. Having some followers, he marched gained against the usurpers and expelled them. In commemoration of this triumph, a yearly festival was instituted at Athens. Thrasybulus wisely procured the passing of a general amnesty, which decreed that no one but the principals should be punished. He subsequently displayed great valor in Thrace, and slew the Lacedæmonian general with his own hand. Trasybulus fell in a battle with the Aspendians, who were the allies of Sparta, 394 b. c.
Covered by 1000 Classical Characters and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Thunder
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the violent report which follows a flash of lightning. It commences the same moment as the flash; but, as the sound travels only at the rate of about 1,100 feet a second, while light does so at the rate of 190,000 miles, the flash of the lightning is the first to be perceived, and thus a means is afforded of calculating the distance of the lightning. The noise of the thunder arises from the disturbance produced in the air by the electric discharge, but why the sound should be so prolonged has been differently explained. The old hypothesis was that the sound was echoed from every precipice, from every building, and from every cloud in the sky. Another is that the lightning itself is a series of discharges, each producing a particular sound according to the distance at which it commences, and the varying densities of the portions of air which it traverses before reaching the ear. A third conjecture is that the noise arises from the zig-zag movement of the electric fluid, the air at each salient angle being at its maximum compression.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: See Lightning
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Thursday
Aiton's Encyclopedia: the fifth day of the week. It is named in honor of Thor, the Anglo-Saxon god of thunder. The name might, with propriety, be written Thor's Day. The Thursday of Holy Week is known as Ascension Day, the day on which Christ ascended into heaven. The last Thursday of November has been celebrated for many years as the American Thanksgiving. See Thor ; Thanksgiving
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the fifth day of the week. The word was originally Thor's day, i. e., the day of Thor, the god of thunder. The Romans similarly called the day dies Jovis the day of Jove Jupiter, the god corresponding to the Scandinavian Thor.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Ticonderoga
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a village in Essex co., N. Y.; on Lake Champlain, and on the Rutland and the Delaware and Hudson River railroads; 90 miles N. of Albany. Here is the outlet of Lake George which falls 150 feet in 1/2 miles and affords excellent water power. It has manufactories of machinery, paint, air engines, graphite, blank books, pulp, paper, etc., and an assessed property valuation of about $800,000. Ticonderoga figured prominently during the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. volutionary periods. Im 1755 the French erected a fort here and named it Carrillon. Two years later Montcalm started from this place with 9,000 men and captured Fort William Henry on Lake George. In 1758 General Abercrombie endeavored to take the French fort, and was repulsed after losing 2,000 men; but in it fell into the hands of General Amherst together with Crown Point. Both were then enlarged and strengthened at a heavy expense. In 1775 the works were taken by Ethan Allen while weakly garrisoned. Two years later the fort surrendered to General Burgoyne, and after being dis mantled was abandoned. Pop. (1910) 2,475; (1920) 2,102.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Allen
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia