Eleusinian Mysteries
festivals held annually at Eleusis, a town of Attica, in honor of the goddess Deme- INDIAN ELEPHANT ter. The usual opinion is that they were begun by Eumolpus, the first hierophant, 1356 b. c. Great secrecy was observed in the celebration of the festivals, consisting of the greater and lesser mysteries; and it was a capital offense to reveal any of the rites. They existed about 18 centuries, and ceased during the invasion of Alaric I., in 396.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Eleusis
a decayed village of Attica, but in ancient times a city of Greece, 12 miles from Athens. It was celebrated as the chief seat of the worship of Ceres, whose temple here was the largest sacred edifice in Greece.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Eleusis, Mysteries of
(See Mysteries .) flints, Belemnites, which are found in many countries, but notably in Scotland. It was believed that these stones were arrows shot by the elves, which prove fatol to cattle, -the cure being to touch them with the arrow with which they have been hit, and give them to drink of water in which the arrow has been dipped. It is even on record that an Irish bishop was thus shot at by an evil spirit; and it is said that they are manufactured by the Devil with the help of attendant imps who roughhew them, while the Archfiend finishes the work. Cases are on record where they have been known to be made and used by the witches of Scotland within historic times. Similar superstitions regarding these remnants of the stone age prevail in Italy, Africa, and Turkey.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Elf
a little sprite supposed to inhabit wild and desolate places, and to exercise a mysterious power over man; a fairy, a goblin.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Elf Arrows
ELF BOLTS, and ELF- SHOT, popular names in Great Britain for stone arrow-heads, and other similar ancient barbarian weapons. They are superstitiously worn as charms against lightning. They are said to appear in great quantities where the day before there were none.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Elf-Fire
The Ignis fatuus , or "foolish fire." This is the name given to fire obtained by rubbing two pieces of wood together, and which is used in superstitious ways. Amongst the Russian peasantry it is believed that these wandering lights are the souls of still-born children, who do not desire to lure people from the path, but who get no rest until they find their bodies.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Elgar
SIR EDWARD, an English composer. He was born at Broadheath, Worcestershire, in 1857, and was educated at Littleton House and privately. He acted as organist for a time, but organist soon engaged in musical composition, and since 1896 has produced many musical publications. His works include: "King Olaf," "Caractacus," "Variations," "Sea-pictures," "Dream of Gerontius," "The Coronation Ode." "Gerontius" was produced in Düsseldorf in 1901, and repeated at the Niederrheinische Musik-Fest in 1902. "The Apostles" was produced at the Birmingham Festival in 1903; the concert overture, "In the South," Elgar Festival, Covent Garden, 1904; the oratorio, "The Kingdom," Birmingham Festival, 1906. "The Apostles" was also produced in German at the Niederrheinische Musik- Fest in Cologne, 1904. Other of his works include: Symphonies, violin concerto; "The Coronation March" (1911); "Masque, The Crown of India" (1912). Elgar received many distinctions, including the Order of Merit; Associate, Académie des Beaux-Arts, Belgium; Hon. Academician, Royal Swedish Academy, Stockholm; Hon. Member Société des Compositeurs, Paris; Member Maatschaapij tot Bevordering der Toonkunst, Holland.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Elginshire
MORAYSHIRE, or MURRAYSHIRE, a county of Scotland, in the N. E. part, with an area of 475.75 square miles. In the S. are high mountains. The soil is fertile in the N. part, and agriculture is an important industry. There are also salmon and salt-water fisheries. The chief industry of the county is the distilling of whiskey. Pop., about 45,000. The principal town is Elgin.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Elias
SAINT, a lofty mountain on the N. W. coast of America. It rises about 18,000 feet above the sea, being visible to mariners at a distance of 50 leagues. Physically, it marks pretty nearly the point where the shore, after trending in a N. W. drection, turns due W.; politically it divides itself between the Territory of Alaska and the Dominion of Canada.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Elijah
the most distinguished of the prophets of Israel, flourished in the 9th century B. c., during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah, and until the beginning of the reign of Jehoram, his special function being to denounce vengeance on the kings of Israel for their apostasy. He incurred the anger of Jezebel, wife of Ahab, for slaying the prophets of Baal, but escaped to Horeb, afterward returning to Samaria to denounce Ahab for the murder of Naboth. Elijah at length ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire, Elisha his successor, being witness. See I Kings xvii. to xxi. and II Kings i. and ii.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Eliot, John
John (1604-1690), the apostle of the Indians of North America . He was educated at the University of Cambridge, England. He emigrated to Massachusetts Bay with the family of Rev. Thomas Hooker. He became interested in the Massachusetts Indians and set himself at work to learn their language, residing, for the purpose, among them. He wrote a catechism for their use, the first book ever published in an Indian language. No copy of it exists. He translated the Bible into the Indian language. It was printed at Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was the first Bible printed in America. Eliot's Bible, as it is now called, is a rare book and fetches almost any price. Writer and readers have passed away. It is said that no one now living can read more than the title page. Eliot was a man of simple habits and unassuming manners. He lived to the age of eighty-six. John Eliot, a grandson of the former, was the pastor of Killingworth, Connecticut. He wrote a collection of essays upon Field Industry, the first volume of agricultural writing published in America. See Puritans
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Elis
a maritime state of ancient Greece in the W. of the Peloponnesus, bordering on Achaia, Arcadia, and Messenia, and watered by the rivers Alpheus and Peneus. Of its capital Elis (now Kaloskopi) there are few traces. Olympia, where the famous games were held. was near the Alpheus. Elis and Achaia now form a monarchy of Greece.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia