Areometry

Same as HYDROMETRY, q. v. Areopagite, Areopagist, n. A member of the Areopagus. Areopagit'ic, a. Relating or pertaining to the Areop IMG:content-0267.png:[blocks in formation] tiquity, and existed as a criminal tribunal long before the time of Solon. Solon enlarged its sphere of jurisdiction, and gave it extensive powers of a censorial and political nature. He caused it to consist of exarch ons who had creditably pa ed the scrutiny to which they were subjected at the termination of their period of office. As a court of justice, it took cognizance of capital crimes, as murder, arson, .; and it also exercised a certain control over the ordinary courts. Its censorial duties were of a very extensive and inquisitorial nature, for the preservation of order and decency. Religion also came within its jurisdiction, which punished impiety in whatsoever form. Pericles succeeded in greatly diminishing the power of this council, and deprived it of many of its old prerogatives. It still, however, seems to have retained a great degree of power; but in later times, when corruption of manners prevailed among the people, it lost its moral influence and authority; yet it continued to exist down to a very late period. Some say that the apostle Paul was taken before this council; but the Scripture does not bear out this idea. It would seem, rather, that the A then i ans had taken him to the hill in order to hear him expound his new doctrines. Are quip a, a province and dep. of S. America, in the republic of Peru; Lat. 16° 30′ S.; Lon. 73° 11′ W. It contains a mountain, and also a city, of the same name, and lies between the western Cordillera of the Andes, and the Pacific ocean. It produces wheat, maize, sugar, gold, silver, copper, sulphur, nitrate of soda, and wine and brandy; all of which are exported via Islay, its trading-port. The mountain called A. is of volcanic formation, and reaches an altitude of 20,320 ft. The entire country around may be said to exist in a chronic state of subterraneous convulsion, having been frequently desolated by earthquakes. Pop . about 150,000, principally composed of Indians. ARE QUIP A, cap. of the above dep., was, previous to 1868, one of the largest, and said to have been the most beautiful, city in Peru. It was solidly built of stone, had a fine cathedral, and many churches and convents; and carried on flourishing manufactures of gold and silver cloths, woollens, and cottons. It was originally founded by Pizarro, and had, until recently, about 50,000 inhabitants. On the 13th August, 1868, this city was almost utterly destroyed by a fearful earthquake, which desolated the entire sea-board of Peru. So complete and terrible were its results, that not a church was left standing, nor a house habitable. The ma ive construction of the buildings was, however, able to resist its earlier shocks, and accordingly permitted the inhabitants to escape into the open air; but this did not altogether suffice to counterbalance its continued violence, about 200 persons losing their lives eventually. After this catastrophe, with the aid tendered by the Chilians and other nations, the people of A. commenced a partial restoration of their city; but in Feb., 1869, it was again visited by shocks of earthquakes, by the last of which many persons were hurt, but, fortunately, none killed. Many citizens, in consequence, resolved to quit A. for ever. Pop . 30,000. Aretæ'us, a Greek physician of the time of Vespas i an. His works are held in great repute. An English translation was published in London, 1837. Arethu'sa. ( Myth .) One of the Hesperides. - A daughter of Nereus and Doris, first a nymph of Diana, then metamorphosed (see ALPHEUS) into a fountain situated in the city of Syracuse. As Theocritus composed his idyls on her banks, she is often made the muse of pastorals. This fountain, mentioned by Cicero (Verr.lib. iv. 537), Pliny (Hist. Nat. lib. ii. 23) and many poets, is now degraded into a sort of public washing utensil for the poor Syracuse ans. ( Bot . ) A gen. of small plants, ord. Orchid ace a. - DIAG. Perianth with its segments cohering at base; lips spurle ; adnate to the column at base, deflected at the end, and bearded inside; pollen angular.- The A. bulbosa is found in wet meadows from Canada to Virginia. At the top is a single, large, fragrant flower, of a rich purple color. IMG:content-0268.png:[blocks in formation]