Pelagius
II., Pope; ascended the papal chair, in succession to Benedict I., in 587. He opposed John, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had assumed the title of ecumenic or universal bishop. He died of the plague in 590. PELARGONIC ACID. Nononic Acid. CH8 (CH2)7 COOH. Contained in the oil from Pelargonium roseum, melting point 12.5° C., boiling point 253° C.; specific gravity 0.907. The peculiar odor of the quince is stated to be due to the presence of ethyl pelargonate. It may prepared artificially oxidizing of rue.
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Pelargonium
a large genus of Geraniaceæ, divided into about 15 subgenera. Most of the species are from the Cape of Good Hope, one is from the Canary Islands, one from Asia Minor, and a few from Australia. Extensively cultivated in England in flower pots in houses, in greenhouses, and in the open air. The genus readily forms hybrids, which most of the cultivated species are. They are popularly called geranium.
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Pelasgi
The earliest inhabitants of Greece, who established the worship of the Dodonaean Zeus ( Jupiter ), Hephaestus (Vulcan), the Cabiri, and other divinities belonging to the earliest inhabitants of the country. 2026 Editor's Note: While the text treats the Pelasgians as a specific ethnic group, Classical writers used the name to refer broadly to the predecessors of the Greeks or all pre-Hellenic inhabitants of the Aegean. Modern historians describe the name as a "hold-all term for any ancient, primitive and presumably indigenous people in the Greek world." (Ed: BR 2026-06-21)
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Pelasgian
one of an ancient and widely diffused prehistoric tribe which was the common parent of the Greeks and of the earliest civilized inhabitants of Italy. Most authors agree in representing Arcadia as one of their principal seats. The term Pelasgi was used by the classic poets for the Greeks in general. PELÉE, MONT, an active volcano on the island of Martinique in the French West Indies. Although previously known to be in action, it had not caused much destruction until 1902, when by its eruption it destroyed the city of St. Pierre with its 30,000 people. This occurred on May 8, 1902, and was accompanied by extraordinary electrical disturbances which were recorded at the antipodal region of the earth in less than two minutes' time. On August 30 of the same year the volcano, by another eruption, caused a loss of life estimated at 2,500 people in the villages situated on the neighboring islands.
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Peleus
in Greek legend, the king of the Myrmidons in Thessaly and father of Achilles. He was driven from his kingdom for the murder of his half brother. He went to Phthia and there married the daughter of the king, Eurytion. He was one of the heroes who joined the Calydonian hunt , but was unfortunate enough to kill his father-in-law and became again an exile. Later Peleus, by the advice and aid of Chiron, the centaur, married Thetis, one of the nereids. It was at their wedding that the Apple of Discord was thrown by the slighted Eris into the assembly. Achilles was the son of Peleus and Thetis. See Apple Of Discord ; Achilles ; Meleager
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Pelew Islands
or PALAU, a group in the Pacific formerly belonging to Spain, lying S. E. of the Philippines, at the W. extremity of the Caroline Archipelago, with which they are sometimes classed. There are about 200 islands, mountainous, wooded, and surrounded with coral reefs. Total area, 170 square miles. The principal is Babelthouap or Babeltop. The soil is rich and fertile, and the climate healthy. Bread fruit, cocoanuts, sugar cane, palms, areca nuts, yams, etc., are grown. Turtles, trepang, and fish abound on the coasts. The men go entirely naked and the women nearly so. The islands were discovered by the Spaniards in 1543, and visited again in 1696. In 1899 Spain sold this group, with the Carolines and all of the Ladrones excepting Guam, to Germany.
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Pelion
in ancient geography, the name of a wooded mountain range in Thessaly, extending along the E. coast. Its E. side descends in steep and rugged precipices to the sea. Further to the N., near the mouth of the Peneus, is the steep conical peaks of Ossa, which according to the classic myth, the Titans placed on the summit of Pelion in order to scale Olympus, the abode of the gods. The modern name is Zagoră.
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Pella
the ancient capital of Macedonia, and the birthplace of Philip II. and Alexander the Great; situated in the midst of marshes, a few miles N. W. of Thessalonica, which stood half way between it and the head of what is now the Gulf of Saloniki. Its royal castle had wall paintings by Zeuxis.
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Pellico
SILVIO, an Italian patriot; born in Saluzza, in Piedmont, in 1789. In early life he gained considerable distinction as a writer for the stage; and his tragedy, "Francesca da Rimini," may SILVIO PELLICO still be read with interest. In 1819 he became connected with the press, and in 1820, he was seized as a carbonaro by the Austrians at Milan, and confined in the fortress of Spielberg for 10 years. The volume on which his fame rests tells the story of his imprisonment. His treatment was not distinguished by the most terrible hardships or tortures which other more illustrious persons have undergone, but it tells a tale of solitude, of patient endurance, and of pleasing sentiments. Released by the amnesty of 1830, he found shelter at Turin, and was employed as librarian in the house of the Marchesa Barolo till he died. His imprisonment had ruined his health, and he took no further part in politics. He died in 1854.
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Pelopidas
See page 194. A celebrated general of Thebes , son of Hippoclus. It was owing to his valor and prudence, combined with the ability of Epaminondas , that the famous victory of Leuctra was won. Peloponnesus (Morea). The southern part of Greece, or the peninsula which was connected with Hellas proper by the isthmus of See page 194. Nice (Victoria). Corinth. It is said to have derived its name -Peloponnesus, or the Island of Pelopsfrom the mythical Pelops .
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