Gervais
Archbishop of Rheims, died in 1067. His death was revealed to a Norman knight, returning from a pilgrimage to Rome , by a hermit whom he met on the way, and who told him that on the previous night he had been disturbed by a vision of demons making a great noise. They had, they said, been carrying the body of Gervais from Rheims, but because of his good deeds he had been taken from them. On his return to Rheims the knight found that Gervais was dead, and that the time of his death corresponded exactly with the time of the hermit's vision.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Geryon
. See Hercules
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Gesta Romanorum
jes-ta ro-ma-no'-rum, literally "Exploits of the Romans," the title of a collection of stories and anecdotes in Latin compiled probably in the thirteenth century. It is the oldest legendary work of the Middle Ages . Stories of western and oriental as well as of classical origin are included. Until the sixteenth century the Gesta Romanorum was one of the most widely read books among the learned. It was printed in many editions and translated into French, English, German, and Dutch. For a long time it was believed that the author was Pierre Bercheur, or Petrus Berchorius (as his name appears in the Latin form), of Poitou, but later critics believe that Bercheur simply added certain moralizing remarks and observations. The compilation has also been ascribed to Elinandus or Helinandus, but there is little more than conjecture on which to base such a claim. The stories are devoid of dialogue or dramatic interest. The style is poor. An evident moral purpose serves as a unifying element and suggests the idea that the work was originally designed for the use of the clergy. The various manuscript copies show considerable difference, owing probably to the fact that any transcriber could easily add a story or omit one to suit his own needs and desires. The chief interest of the Gesta Romanorum in recent times is the use that has been made of the stories as literary material by Shakespeare and other great writers.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Geta
SEPTIMUS, second son of the Emperor Severus; born A. D. 189, and was brother of the infamous Caracalla, with whom he was associated in the empire on the death of his father. Caracalla, who envied his virtues and was jealous of his popularity, after having endeavored to effect his death by poison, murdered him, and wounded their mother, who was attempting to save him, A. D. 211. GETÆ (jētē), a people of Thracian extraction, first mentioned as dwelling on the right bank of the Danube, but in the middle of the 4th century B. C. they crossed the river and settled in Transylvania and Wallachia. They were conquered by Darius Hystaspes in 515 b. c., and then accompanied him in his campaign against the Scythians. Both Alexander the Great, in 335, and Lysimachus, in 292, made unsuccessful attempts to subdue them. The Getæ, as distinct from the Dacians, sided with Octavius against Antony, and during the greater part of the 1st century after Christ continued to harass the Roman legions. In 106 A. D. the Dacians and Getæ were subdued by Trajan, their country being added to the empire. Subsequently the Getæ became fused with the Goths, who invaded their lands, and afterward carried many of them with them in their W. migrations. See JATS.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Geyser
gi'ser, a violent outburst of hot water. The term is Icelandic and was applied to the hot springs of Iceland, the first known. There are about one hundred of these in a plain thirty miles west of Mt. Hecla. The largest is the Great Geyser. It issues from a funnel-shaped orifice ten feet wide at the bottom and seventy feet wide at the top. The rim is covered with a coating of silicious deposit sixteen feet thick, arguing a great age. At intervals of six hours a column of water shoots up for about five minutes, rising to a height of 212 feet, equal to that of three tall trees. Other geysers are found in New Zealand and California. The largest geyser known is in New Zealand. It sends up a black, boiling mass of mud, stones, and water to a height of 1,000 feet. The most celebrated group of geysers, however, are in the Yellowstone National Park in a corner of Wyoming. There are over 1,500 geysers in this district. The largest, the Grand Geyser, throws water to a height of 250 feet. The most noted is Old Faithful. Without doubt geysers are connected with volcanic action. Vast quantities of steam are formed by the contact of water with heated rocks. An explosion follows,--the geyser is the vent; the hot water that lies above the steam is blown out into the upper world. See Yellowstone Park
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Ghazipur
a city, capital of the district of Ghazipur, India, on the left bank of the Ganges, 44 miles N. E. of Benares. The city, which stretches along the Ganges for about 2 miles, contains the ruins of the palace of Forty Pillars, and a marble statue by Flaxman to Lord Cornwallis, who died here in 1805. Ghazipur is the headquarters of the Government Opium Department for the Northwest provinces, all the opium from these provinces being manufactured here, and there is some trade in sugar, tobacco, rosewater, and cloth. Pop. about 23,000.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Ghent
TREATY OF. A treaty between the United States and Great Britain, concluded at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814, which terminated the War of 1812.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Ghent
UNIVERSITY OF, a Flemish university of Belgium, supported by and under the control of the State. It was founded in 1816 by by King William I of Holland. As a result of the revolution of 1830 the activities of the University were temporarily curtailed, two of its four faculties being suppressed. Its full curriculum, however, was restored in 1835. From time to time special schools have been absorbed and it has now four faculties; philoso phy, science, law, and medicine. The library of the University is especially noteworthy, containing some 400,000 volumes and numerous valuable manuscripts. It is especially strong on the history and literature of the Low Countries. In 1918-1919 there were 1,006 students.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia