Each of these 11 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.
a title of honor among Anglo-Saxons, meaning one the who is of noble blood. The title was gradually confined to the princes of the blood royal, and in the 9th and 10th centuries is used exclusively for the sons or brothers of the reigning king. It was first conferred on Edgar by Edward the Confessor, his grand-uncle, who bestowed it when he designed to make him successor to himself on the throne.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
formerly an island in the midst of fens and marshes, now drained and cultivated, in Somersetshire, England, about 7 miles S. E. of Bridgewater. Alfred the Great took refuge in it during a Danish invasion, and afterward founded an abbey there.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
ADELSTAN, ETHEL- STAN, or EALSTAN, an Anglo-Saxon King, the on and successor of Edward the Elder, and grandson of Alfred the Great; born in 895, and on Edward's death, in 925, was chosen king by the people of Mercia and Wessex. Northumbria, Scotland, and the British states of Cumberland, Wales, and Cornwall, acknowledged him as their superior lord, and his alliance was courted by all the princes of western Europe. Louis IV. of France was protected by Athelstan during the usurpation of Raoul, and recovered the throne by his aid. The Emperor Otho the Great married his sister Elgiva. In 937, Constantine of Scotland, and other princes, formed a league against Athelstan, who totally defeated them. He died at Gloucester, A. D. 941.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
or ATHENE, a Greek goddess, identified by the Romans with Minerva. According to the legend, before her birth Zeus swallowed her mother, and Athena afterward sprang from the head of Zeus with a mighty war shout and in complete armor. In her character of a wise and prudent warrior she was contrasted with the fierce Ares (Mars). In the wars of the giants she slew the famed Enceladus. The sculptor, the architect, and the painter, as well as the philosopher, the orator and the poet, considered her their tutelar deity. She is also represented among the healing gods. In the images of the goddess a manly gravity and an air of reflection are united with female beauty in her features. As a warrior she is represented completely armed, her head covered with a gold helmet. As the goddess of peaceful arts she appears in the dress of a Grecian matron. To her insignia belong the ægis, the Gorgon's head, the round argive buckler; and the owl, the cock, the serpent, an olive branch, and a lance were sacred to her. All Attica, particularly Athens, was sacred there. Her most brilliant festival at to her, and she had numerous temples Athens was the Panathenæa, participated in by all the tribes of the city-state.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a-the'ne, or Athena, in Greek mythology, the goddess of knowledge and of righteous war, identified with the Roman Minerva. She personified not only mental acuteness, but also the clear upper air, and was clothed with the aegis, or storm cloud, and armed with lightning. She is often called Pallas Athene. See Minerva
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
a name conferred upon Plato, in allusion to the beauty and sweetness of his style. See Plato
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
a pretty little fish, from five to six inches long, called also the sandsmelt. It is the A. presbyter of Cuvier. It is found along the southern coasts of Europe, occupying a region distinct from that in which the smelt (osmerus eperlanus) occurs. It is used as food. There is an American species, the menidia notata, commonly called silversides. Of the form atherina, a genus of fishes of the order acanthopterygii and the family mugilidæ (mullets). Several species are known in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. The young, which congregate together, are the aphyes of the ancients. Now, in the S. of Europe, they are called nonnat.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
GERTRUDE FRANK- LIN, an American author, born in San Francisco, Cal.; a great-grandniece of Benjamin Franklin; was educated in California and Kentucky, and married the late George H. B. Atherton. She began her literary work while living in San Francisco in 1878, and has made a specialty of describing Spanish life in California as it was previous to 1846. Her publications include "The Doomswoman" (1892); "Before the Gringo Came" (1894); "American Wives and English Husbands" (1898); "The Californians" (1898); "A Daughter of the Vine" (1899); "Senator North" (1900); "Aristocrats" (1901); "Rulers of Kings" (1904); "Rezanov" (1906); "Ancestors" (1907); "The Tower of Ivory" (1910); Perch of the Devil" (1914); "Mrs. Balfame" (1916); etc.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
combatants who took part in the public games of Greece. The profession was an honorable one; tests of birth, position, and character were imposed, and crowns, statues, special privileges, and pensions were among the rewards of success. In April, 1896, the ancient Olympic games were revived at Athens (the 776th Olympiad) under the personal patronage of the King of Greece, who presented crowns of victory to 44 pre contestants, of whom 11 were from the United States, the largest number of victors from any country. The widespread interest in the games led to the formation of an international committee to arrange for future contests, the first one taking place in Paris during the Exposition of 1900. Olympic games were resumed at the Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, 1901. See OLYMPIC GAMES.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a town in Ireland, on both sides of the Shannon, chiefly in Westmeath, 80 miles W. of Dublin by rail. The Shannon is crossed by a fine bowstring and lattice iron bridge of two arches, 175 and 40 feet span. Athlone Castle, founded in the reign of King militars John, was one of the chief military positions in Ireland. In the war of 1688 it was unsuccessfully besieged by William III. in person, but was afterward taken by Gen. Ginkell. The fortifications cover 15 acres, and contain barracks for 1,500 men. Pop. 10,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a town in Worcester co., Mass., on Miller's river, and the Boston and Albany, and the Boston and Maine railroads; 44 miles N. W. of Worcester. It has electric railways connecting with the suburbs, and is principally engaged in the manufacture of cotton warps, shoes, sewing silk, fine mechanical tools, matches, organ cases, pocket-books, billiard tables, and furniture. The town has several National banks, public library, high school, and several weekly and monthly periodicals. Pop. (1910) 8,- 536; (1920) 9,792.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia