Asshur

See Ashur. As side ans (as-i-dē'anz). See Chasidim. A ignation, The, or Love in a Nunnery. A comedy by Dryden, performed in 1672. A ing (as's ing), Ludmilla. Born at Hamburg, Feb. 22, 1821: died at Florence, March 25, 1880. A German authore , editor of various works of Varnhagen von Ense (her uncle) and of Alexander von Humboldt. She was sentenced, 1863-64, to imprisonment for libel by the Pru ian government. A ini (äs-sēnē). A small French protectorate on the western coast of Africa, west of the British Gold Coast, on a river of the same name. A in i boi a (as in-i-boi'ä). A provisional district in the Northwest Territories, Canada, formed in 1882. It is bounded by Saskatchewan on the north, Manitoba on the east, the United States on the south, and Alberta on the west. Its chief town is Regina. A in i boi a sends two representatives to the Dominion Parliament. It is traversed by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Area, 89,535 square miles. Population (1891,) 30,285. A iniboin (a-sin'i-boin). [From the Ojibwa asinni, stone, and bwa , the Ojibwa name for the Dakota, the compound meaning 'Stone Dakotas.'] A tribe of North American Indians, an offshoot of the Pabakse gens of the I hank ton wanna: called Hohe (hō'ha) by the Dakota. They number 3,008, and live in the northwest territory of British North America and also in Montana. See Siouan and Sioux . A iniboine, or A iniboin. A river in the southern part of British America, which joins the Red River of the North at Winnipeg, Manitoba. Length, about 500 miles. A inie (äs-se-nē'). [F.] See A ini. A isi, or Asisi (ä-sē sē). A town in the province of Perugia, Italy, 12 miles southeast of Perugia, famous as the birthplace of St. Franeis: the Umbrian A isium. It is also the birthplace of Pro pert i us and Metastasio. Near it are Roman ruins. It contains a temple of Minerva, a fine Roman hexastyle Corinthian prostyle portico, with its low pediment complete, now attached to the Church of Santa Maria dell a Minerva, of which the vaulted cella still forms the chief part. The temple dates from August us, and is good in ita proportions and the details of the ornament. The Church of San Francesco, begun 1228, consists of two parts, the Upper Church and the Lower Church. The former, 225 feet long, consists of a single nave of five bays with a rose-window of great beauty. The walls are covered with frescos, chiefly by Cimabue (story of the Old and New Testaments) and Giotto (life of St. Francis). The latter series is famous, and exhibits in the highest degree the painter's individuality, dramatic quality, and direct ne of conception. The Lower Church is wider than the other, low and crypt-like; it contains interesting tombs, fine painted gla , and many frescos, among them some of Giotto's most admired works. The chief of these are the Virtues and the Glorification of St. Francis, and a beautiful Madonna, on gold ground. A iut, or A iout. See Siut. of Clarendon, i ued at North amp ton in 1176 (22 Hen. II.), drawn up in the form of instructions to the judges. The new articles relate to tenure, reliefs, dower, etc. A mannshausen (äs'mäns-hou-zen). A village in the province of He e-Na au, Pru ia, situated on the Rhine 16 miles west of Mainz, celebrated for its red and white wines. A ociated Counties, The. In English his tory, a name given to the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, E ex, Hertford, Cambridge, Hunting don, and Lincoln, because they combined, 1642-46, to join the Parliamentary side in the civil war, and to keep their territory free from invasion. A ollant, or A olant (ä-so-lon'), Jean Baptiste Alfred. Born at Aubu on, March 20, 1827: died at Paris, March 4, 1886. A French novelist and journalist. He brought a charge of plagiarism against Victorien Sardou, alleging that the latter's play "Oncle, Sam" was taken from A ollant's "Scènes de la Vie des États-Unis." The charge was referred to a commi ion of authors who gave a verdict in favor of M. Sardou. A ommoir (ä-som-mwär'), L'. [F., 'the bludgeon.'] A novel by Zola, published in 1877. A os (as'os). [Gr. Ἄσσος .] In ancient geography, a city situated on the Gulf of Adramyttium, Mysia, in lat. 39° 29′ N., long. 26° 22′ Ε. The site is now occupied by the Turkish village of Behram. It was thoroughly explored and excavated by the Archeo logical Institute of America 1881-82, with the important result of illustrating the architectural and topographical development of a minor Greek city with a completene comparable with the body of information supplied by Pompeii concerning Roman towns under somewhat similar conditions. The remains studied include very extensive fortifications of succe ive periods, temples ranging from the archaic Doric to foundations dating within the Christian era, a theater, baths, porticos, a gymnasium, private dwellings in great variety, a remarkable and highly adorned street of tombs, and a Greek bridge. A ouan. See A uan . A uan, or A wan, or A ouan (äs-swän'). A town in Upper Egypt, situated on the Nile near the first cataract, in lat. 24° 5' N., formerly supposed to be on the tropic of Cancer: the ancient Syene. It is noted for its granite. It was the place of banishment of Juvenal. A uay. See Azuay . A umption. See As unci on . A umption of the Virgin. 1. A masterpiece of Titian in the Accademia, Venice, one of the most renowned of existing paintings. The Virgin ascends toward the throne, wafted on glowing clouds and surrounded by ranks of rejoicing angels. The apostles look up in amazement from the earth below. 2. A powerful painting by Titian, in the cathedral of Verona, splendid and characteristic in coloring.-3. Frescos by Correggio in the dome of the cathedral of Parma, Italy. They occupy the entire octagon, and are famous for their grace and the beauty of their color and golden light. They are now damaged by moisture. is 4. A painting by Rubens, in Antwerp Cathedral, Belgium. The Virgin, surrounded by angels, borne up to heaven in glory; the apostles and women are gathered about the empty tomb below. The coloring is le brilliant than is usual with Rubens. 5. A painting by Perugino, in the Accademia, Florence. The Virgin is in face and form one of Perugino's most beautiful figures; the four saints in the fore ground, too, are admirable. 6. A large and important painting by Guido Reni, in Bridge water House, London. - 7. A fine fresco by Gaudenzio Ferrari, in the Church of San Cristoforo at Vercelli, Italy. The figures of the Father, the Virgin, the angel, and the apostles, especially, are of grand conception. 8. A painting by Murillo, in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. The Virgin floats upward, resting on clouds, with bands of cherubs above and below her. This picture excels in the qualities of grace and purity of expre ion which characterize many of Murillo's works. 9. One of the most admired paintings of Guercino (1623), in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. The Virgin, with face uplifted, is borne upward on a cloud, surrounded by angels. The apostles stand about her tomb below. A ur (äs'ör), or Ashur (ash'er). [See As syria . ] 1. The original name of As syria and of its earliest capital.-2. See Asur . A ize of Clarendon. An English ordinance, i ued in 1166 (12 Hen. II.), which introduced changes into the administration of justice. A ye. See A aye . Jerusalem and in Cyprus. One code had jurisdic. over the nobility, second over the common people. Both were conceived with a wisdom and enlightenment beyond their age, and were based on contemporary French law and customs. A ize of North amp ton. An English ordinance, a rei ue and expansion of the A ize As syria (a-sir'i-ä). [OPers. Athura , Gr. Ασσυρία , L. As syria , F. A yrie , G. A yrien ; in the cu neiform inscriptions Aššur ; in the Old Testament Ašûr .] An ancient Asiatic state, which at the period of its greatest power covered a territory of about 75,000 square miles, bounded by Armenia on the north, the Lower Zab on Asterope the south, the Zagros Mountains on the east, and the Euphrates on the west. In Gen. x. 2 the name is given to a small district about 25 by 17 miles on the left bank of the Tigris. The name of the country was derived from that of the city A ur, situated about 50 miles south of the modern Mosul and marked by the ruins of Kileh-Shergat. This city is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but it survived Nineveh, being still in existence in the time of Cyrus, the conqueror of Babylon. The name, besides being given to the city and country, was also applied to the national god, being always spelled Asur in this connection. The Persians called the city Athura. The Greeks comprised in the name As syria , or its shortened form Syria , the entire territory between Babylonia and the Mediterranean, sometimes applying it even to Babylonia. The northern and eastern portions of the country were mountainous, but the greater part was flat, being an extension of the Babylonian plains. Its principal rivers were the Tigris, the Upper and Lower Zab, the Kurnib, the Khoser, and the western Khabur It was a fertile country, and abounded in all sorts of animals: among others, the stag, roebuck, wild bull, and lion. The hunting of the lion was the favorite sport of the A yrian kings. According to Genesis (x. 8-12, 22) the A yrians were descendants of Shem and emigrants from Babylon. Their Semitic-Babylonian origin is fully attested by their sculptures and inscriptions. Their language is, apart from a few dialectical and orthographical variations, identical with Babylonian, and closely akin to Hebrew. As syria derived its civilization from Babylonia. Its religion was the same as that of the mother-country, with the exception of the paational god Ashur, who was ture was a slavish copy of that of Babylonia. Although stone abounded in the former, bricks continued to be used in imitation of the practice in Babylonia, where no stone existed. The Babylonian emigrants who established As syria probably set out about 2000 B. C. The first A yrian rulers of whom we hear were Belkapkapu, Ismi-Dagan, and his son Samsi-Ramman (1816 B. C.). For the next 300 years nothing is known of the condition of As syria. In the 15th century B. C. As syria was involved in a war with Babylonia, then under the rule of the non-Semitic Kas sites. War continued between the two countries for a long time with varying succe . Finally, however, As syria became supreme and Babylonia the va al state., The chief maker of As syria's glory was Tiglath-Pileser I. (1120-1100 B. C.), who conquered the city of Babylon, other cities of Babylonia, and penetrated as far as the Mediterranean. His more important succe ors were Asur-dan II. (930-911 B. C.); A sur nazir pal (884-860 B. C.); Shalmaneser II. (860824 B. C.), who came in contact with Damascus and Israel; Tiglath-Pileser III. ( Phul in the Old Testament), 745-727 B. c., whose power extended to the confines of Egypt and who put the crown of Babylon on his head; Sargon (722-705 B. C.), the conqueror of Samaria, who defeated the Egyptians at Raphia; Sennacherib (705-681 в. с.); and Esarhaddon (680-668 в. с.). These last two kings mark the height of A yrian power, and Esarhaddon was enabled by his conquests to add to his name the title king of Upper and Lower Egypt and Ethiopia. Under As urban i pal (the Sardana pal us of Greek writers), 668-626 B. C., the decline of the empire began. In some respects this reign was most prosperous and brilliant: it was the golden age of art and literature. Under this reign too Susa was conquered and destroyed. But signs of the approaching break-up were seen in the constant uprisings of the oppre ed nations. The downward course was rapid. Once, about 625, As syria succeeded in repelling the attack of the Medes and Persians under Phraortes, but when his son Cyaxares in union with Nabopola ar of Babylon repeated the attack (608 в. с.), Nineveh fell and the A yrian power entirely disappeared. A yrian Canon. See Eponym Canon. Ast (äst), Georg Anton Fried rich. Born at Gotha, Germany, Dec. 29, 1778: died at Munich, Oct. 31, 1841. A German philologist and philosophical writer. Astacus (as'ta-kus). [Gr. Ἄστακος .] In ancient geography, a Greek colony in Bithynia, Asia Minor, near Nicomedia. Astacus, Gulf of. Same as Gulf of Nicomedia or of Ismid . Astarte (as-tär'tē). See Ashtoreth. Astarte. The woman guiltily beloved by Manfred (in Byron's "Manfred"), and for whom he suffers an undying remorse. Astell (as'tel), Mary. Born at Newcastle up on-Tyne, England, 1668: died 1731. An English writer. She was the author of "A Serious Proposal to Ladies," published anonymously (1694-97). The "proposal" was for the erection of a monastery or home of religious retirement, to be conducted under the rules of the Church of England: a scheme which later brought upon its author considerable abuse, as in the "Tatler" (32), where she appears under the name of Madonella. Aster (äs'ter), Ernst Ludwig von. Born at Dresden, Oct. 5, 1778: died at Berlin, Feb. 10, 1855. A German military engineer. He planned the fortre es of Coblentz and Ehrenbreitstein. Aster a bad. See Astrabad . Asterius (as-tē'ri-us). 1. Lived in the first part of the 4th century A. D. An Arian theologian of Cappadocia.-2. Lived about 400 A. D. A bishop of Amasia, in Pontus, noted as a writer of “Homilies." Asterope (as-ter'ō-pē). [Gr. Ἀστερόπη .] One of the Pleiades, composed of two stars, each of 74 magnitude, and just too faint to be seen by most eyes without telescopic a istance. It is sometimes regarded as the "lost Pleiad," though more usually Pleione is so considered. See Pleiades . Asti Asti (äs'tē). A city in the province of A le and ria, Italy, the ancient Asta Pompeia, situated at the junction of the Borbore and Tanaro 28 miles southeast of Turin. During the middle ages it was a powerful republic. It has important trade, and is noted for the wines produced in its vicinity. It is the birthplace of Alfieri. It has a cathedral chiefly of the 13th century. The fine façade has alternate courses of white stone and red brick, with three trefoil-headed sculptured doorways. There is a handsome lateral porch with statues, an octagonal lantern, and a square, round-arched campanile. The transepts have pentagonal ends, and apses on the east side. Population, about 17,000. Astié (äs-te-a'), Jean Frédéric. Born at Nérac, Lot-et-Garonne, France, Sept. 21, 1822. A French Protestant clergyman, and writer on theological, philosophical, and historical subjects. He was pastor of a French-Swi church in New York 1848-53, removed to Paris, and later (1856) became profe or of theology and philosophy at Lausanne. Among his works is a "His to ire de la république des Etats-Unis (1865). is" Astier (äs-te-a'), Paul. In Daudet's "Struggle for Life," an unscrupulous egoist. Astle (as'l), Thomas. Born Dec. 22, 1735: died at Batter sea Rise, near London, Dec. 1, 1803. An English paleographer and antiquary, appointed keeper of the records in the Tower of London in 1783. He wrote "The Origin and Progre of Writing" (1784), etc. Astley (ast'li), Sir Jacob, afterward Baron Astley. Born 1579: died at Maid stone, England, Feb., 1652. An English royalist general in the first civil war. He served at Edge hill, Gloucester, Naseby, and elsewhere, and was defeated and taken prisoner at Stow in 1646. Astley, Philip. Born at Newcastle-under Lyme, England, 1742: died at Paris, 1814. A well-known horse-tamer. He began as a cabinetmaker; joined Elliott's regiment of light horse in Holland as a rough-rider in 1759; and finally settled in London, and developed a prosperous busine as the proprietor of circuses there and in other cities. The circus and hippodrome, well known as "Astley's," was situated on the Surrey side of the Thames, not far from Westminster Bridge: it is now known as "Sanger's Amphitheater." Astolat (as'to-lat). In the Arthur i an romances, a name of Guild ford, Surrey, England. Astolfo, or Astolpho (as-tol'fo). 1. An important character the Charlemagne Charlemagne romances and in the "Orlando In nam or a to" and "Orlando Furioso." The most notable of his knightly feats and adventures is his journey to the moon, where he enters the Valley of Lost Things, and among a ma of broken resolutions, lovers' tears, days lost by idlers, etc., finds Orlando's lost wits in a ve el larger than all the others. He was permitted to take them back to Orlando. Pope, in the "Rape of the Lock," speaking of the same place, says: "Where the heroes' wits are kept in ponderous vases, And beaux' in snuff boxes and tweezer cases." He was also the po e or of a wonderful horn which spread universal terror when it was sounded. 2. The King of Lombardy in an episode in Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso." He is introduced from the "Tale of Astolpho and Jocundo," two men who, finding their wives false, took a remarkable method to procure a true one. Astolphus. See Aistulf . Aston (as'ton), Antony. Flourished about 1712-31. An English actor, prompter, and dramatic writer. Aston Hall. An old hall in the Elizabeth an style, near Birmingham, England, recently repaired and now a museum, having been sold by the owner, Mr. Charles Holt Brace bridge, to the town of Birmingham. This is said to be the original of Irving's "Brace bridge Hall." Aston Manor. A manufacturing town immediately north of Birmingham, England. Population (1891), 68,639. Astor (as'tor), John Jacob. Born at Walldorf, near Heidelberg, July 17, 1763: died at New York, March 29, 1848. A German-American merchant. He emigrated to the United States in 1783, established himself shortly at New York in the fur trade, became the first regular dealer in musical instruments in the United States, and speculated in New York realty and, during the war of 1812, in government securities. He conceived the scheme of connecting the fur trade with the Pacific by a line of trading-posts extending from the Great Lakes along the Mi ouri and Columbia, at whose mouth he founded Astoria in 1811. At his death his fortune was estimated at $20,000,000. He left $400,000 for founding the Astor Library. Astor, William Backhouse. Born at New York, Sept. 19, 1792: died at New York, Nov. 24, 1875. An American capitalist, son of John Jacob Astor. He gave $550,000 to the library founded by his father. Astor, William Waldorf. Born 1848. A diplomatist and author, grandson of William Backhouse Astor. He was United States minister to Italy 1882-85, and is the author of "Valentino" (1885), "Sforza" (1889). Astor Library. A library in the city of New York, founded by John Jacob Astor, and opened in 1854. It is a reference library only, and contains (1897) 283,207 volumes and 30,000 pamphlets. It has been combined with the Lenox and the proposed Tilden Library as the New York Public Library. Astor Place Riot. A serious riot in New York, May 10, 1849, between the partizans of the actors Edwin For rest and Mac ready. The latter was acting at the time in the Astor Place Opera House. It was suppre ed by the militia. Twenty-two were killed and thirty-six wounded. Astoreth. See Ashtoreth . Astorga (äs-tor'gä). A town in the province of Leon, Spain, the ancient Asturica August a, situated on the Tuerto 29 miles southwest of Leon. The Roman city walls are still in large part perfect, and present a curious spectacle with their long series of projecting semicircular towers which do not rise above the curtains. Population (1887), 5,350. Astorga (as-tor'gä), Baron Emmanuele d'. Born at Naples, Dec. 11, 1681: died in Bohemia, Aug. 21, 1736. An Italian musician, composer of a celebrated "Stabat Mater" (1713), a pastoral opera, "Dafne," etc. Astoria (as-to'ri-ä). The capital of Clatsop County, Oregon, on the Columbia 75 miles northwest of Portland. It was founded as a fur-trading station by John Jacob Astor (for whom it was named) in 1811. Leading industry, salmon-canning. Population (1890), 6,184. Astoria. A former village of Long Island, New York, now a part of Long Island City. A str abacus (as-trab'a-kus). [Gr. Ἀστράβακος .] See the extract. The hero-temple of A str abacus is mentioned by Pausanias in his description of Sparta (III. xvi. § 5). An obscure tradition attaches to him. A str abacus, we are told, Amphisthenes, great-grandsons of Amphicles, and great and Alopecus his brother, sons of Irbus, grandsons of great-grandsons of Agis, found the wooden image of Diana Orthia which Orestes and Iphigenia had conveyed secretly from Tauris to Lacedæmon, and on discovering it were stricken with madne (ib. § 6). The worship of A str abacus at Sparta is mentioned by Clemens (Cohort, ad Gen tes, p. 35). It is conjectured from his name [literally 'a keeper'] that he was "the protecting genius of the stable." Rawlinson, Herod., III. 433, note. Astrabad (äs-trä-bäd'), or Aster a bad (äs-terä-bäd'). A province of northern Persia, Asura Mademoiselle D'Urfé. She confided it to Baro, the secretary of her deceased relative, who published it two years after the death of his master, with a dedication to Mary of Medicis, and made up a fifth part from memoirs and fragments also placed in his hands. The whole was printed at Rouen, 1647, in five volumes. For more than forty years it furnished the subject for nearly all dramatic compositions (Seg rais i an a, p. 144-5), while poets confined their efforts to expre ing in verse what D'Urfé had made the personages of his romance utter in prose. Dunlop, Hist. of Prose Fiction, II. 378, 392, note. Astrolabe (as'tro-lab), The, or The Conclusions of the Astrolabe. An unfinished prose treatise by Chaucer, written by him for the instruction of his son Lewis, then ten years old. It is inferred that it was written in 1391. This is not proved, however; and of the child nothing more is known than that in the introduction to this treatise Chaucer mentions him by name and gives his reasons for the "enditing" of the work for him. It contains some very slight autobiographical allusions, but is e entially a translation of the work of the Arabian astronomer Me ahala (8th century) from a Latin version. Astrolabe Bay. An arm of the Pacific Ocean, on the northeastern coast of Papua. Astroni (äs-tro'nē). The crater of an extinct volcano 5 miles west of Naples. A strop ali a (äs-tro-pä-le-ä'). A modern Greek name of Stamp ali a. Astrophel (astro-fel). 1. The name a umed by Sir Philip Sidney in the series of sonnets entitled "Astrophel and Stella," which is his greatest literary work. These sonnets, 110 in number, chronicle the growth of Sidney's love for Stella (Pe nelope Devereux, sister of E ex, afterward Lady Rich). See Stella . 2. An elegy written by Spenser on the death of Sir Philip Sidney. Astruc (as-trük'), Jean. Born March 19, 1684: died at Paris, March 5, 1766. A French medical writer and profe or. His most celebrated work is "Conjectures sur les mémoires originaux, dont il paroit que Moyse s'est servi pour composer le livre de la Genèse " (Bru els, 1753), in which he divided the book of Genesis into two parts on the basis of the use of Elohim or Yahveh (Jehovah) as the name of God, holding that this difference in usage pointed to the fact that Genesis was made up of two parallel, independent narratives. His memoir formed the starting-point of modern criticism of the Pent a teuch. Astudillo (äs-tö-THēl'yō). A small town in the of Burgos. long. long. 54° 25′ E. It was formerly an important rrant town. It was captured by Timur in 1384. Population (estimated), 5,000 to 15,000. Astrabad Bay, or Gulf of Ashraf (äsh-räf'). The southeasternmost bay of the Caspian Sea. Astræa, or Astrea (as-tre'ä). [Gr. Αστραία, fem. of ἀστραῖος , starry.] thology, the godde of justice, daughter of the Titan Astræus and Eos, or of Zeus and Them is. In the golden age she lived among men, and in the brazen arry.] 1. In cla ical my age was the last of the gods to leave them. She departed 2. An asteroid (the fifth) discovered by Henke at Driesen, Dec. 8, 1845.-3. See Astrée . Astræa, The Divine. A nickname of Mrs. for the sky where she shines as the constellation Virgo. Aphra Behn. Astræa Redux (as-tre'ä re'duks). [L., 'Astræa brought back.'] A poem by Dryden celebrating the restoration of Charles II., first pub lished in 1660. IMG:content-0106.png:[blocks in formation] In imitation of Monte may or and Cervantes, whose romances had been so popular in the peninsula, Honoré D'Urfé (1567-1625), a French nobleman, wrote his Astrée, a work which, under the disguise of pastoral incidents and characters, exhibits the singular history of his own family, and the amours at the court of Henry the Great, The first volume, dedicated to that monarch, appeared, probably in its second edition (no copy of the first edition is known), in 1610, the second part in the same year, and the third, which is addre ed to Louis XIII., was given to the world four or five years subsequent to the publication of the second. The Duke of Savoy was depositary of the fourth part, which remained in manuscript at the death of the author, and was transmitted on that event to Astulphus. See Aistulf . Astura (äs-tö'rä). 1. A small river south of Rome, which rises near Velletri and flows into the Mediterranean. - 2. A small town near the mouth of this river. Asturias (äs-tö're-äs). [L. Asturia , from As tur , pl. Astures , the name of the people.] An ancient province of northwestern Spain, officially called Oviedo since 1833. See Oviedo . It was the nucleus of the Spanish kingdom. The Christian kingdom of Asturias was founded about 718 by Pelayo, and was merged in the kingdom of Leon in the 10th century. Asturias, Prince of. A title of the heir to the Spanish throne, first a umed in 1388. Astyages (as-ti'a-jez). [Gr. Ἀστυάγης ; in the inscriptions Ishturegu according to A by den us, in Eusebius Asdahages , supposed to represent Zend Aj - dahak , the biting snake.] biting snake.] The son and succe or of Cyaxares, king of the Medes 584-549 в. с. In the latter year Cyrus the Great dethroned him and united Media with Persia. According to Hero dot us, Astyages was the grandfather of Cyrus. Astyanax (as-ti'a-naks). In Greek legend, the son of Hector and And rom ache. Also called Scamandrius. Astypalea (as ti-pa-lē'ä). The ancient name of Stamp ali a. As unci on (ä-sön-the-on'), or A umption (a-sump's hon). [Sp. As unci on , A umption (se. of the Virgin).] The capital of Paraguay, situated on the Paraguay in lat. 25° 16′ 29 S., long. 57° 42′ W., founded by Juan de Ayolas Sept., 1536. It was taken by the Brazil i ans Jan. 5, 1869. Population (1887), 34,072, Asur (as'er). The ancient national god of As syria. Also A ur . The form of religion prevalent in As syria is wholly Babylonian, with one important exception. Supreme over the old Babylonian Pantheon rises the figure of a new god, the national deity of As syria, its impersonation A ur. A ur is not merely primus inter pares, merely the president of the divine a embly, like Merodach: he is their lord and master in another and more autocratic sense. Like the Yahveh of Israel, he claims to be "king above all gods," that "among all gods" there is none like unto himself. Sayce, Anc. Babylonians, p. 122. Asura (a'sö-rä). [Skt., from asu , spirit, and so spiritual.'] A word designating especially the difference between celestial and mundane existence, and then a spirit of life, God; later, a demon, as if a - sura , a not-god, whence by popular etymology sura , god. As urban i pal As urban i pal (ä-sör-bäʼni-päl). [A yrian Aš ur- bani - pal , the god Ashur creates or makes the son.] King of As syria 668-626 B. c., son of Esarhaddon and grandson of Sennacherib, the last of the great kings of the vigorous Sargon ide dynasty. The Greeks called him Sardana pal us: in the Old Testament (Ezra iv. 10) he is mentioned under the name Asenappar (which see), 'the great and majestic.' His reign was marked by great external prosperity and splendor, and the flourishing of art and literature, but also by frequent revolts and disturbances, which shook the huge empire to its foundations, and foreboded its near fall, which took place a score of years after his death (608 B. C.). At the beginning of his reign he had to suppre a revolt in Egypt instigated by the dethroned Ethiopian king Tarhaka or Tarqu (the Tirhakah mentioned in the Old Testament-2 Ki. xix. 9, Isa. xxxvii. 9). But the most significant uprising was that of the coalition of Babylonia, Arabia, Ethiopia, Phœnicia, and Palestine, brought about by his own brother Shamash-shum-ukin (the Greek Saosduchinos), the viceroy of Babylonia, which was also quelled by As urban i pal. Of his victories and conquests may be especially mentioned the capture and destruction of Susa, after many expeditions, between 646 and 640 B. C. As urban i pal held together the A yrian em pire under his iron scepter with great rigor, not shrink ing from the most atrocious cruelties, inflicting punishment on so-called "rebels." Under his protection and promotion A yrian art, especially architecture, attained the height of its development, and literature celebrated its golden age. Being of a literary turn of mind, or, as he expre es himself, "endowed with attentive ears" and inclined to the study of "all inscribed tablets," he caused the collecting and reediting of the whole cuneiform literature then in existence, and the tablets, well arranged and marked, were deposited in the royal library of his palace. A great part of this library was discovered in the ruins of that palace on the mound of Kuyunjik, and transferred to the British Museum, and to it is due the larger part of our present knowledge of A yrian history and civilization. horse was sacrificed really or figuratively. It was believed that a hundred Asvamedhas would enable the offerer to dethrone Indra. Asvatthaman. In Hindu mythology, a son of Drona and Kripa, and a general of the Kauravas. He and two others were the sole effective survivors of the Kaurava host after the great battle of the Mahabharata. As a sub Asvin (äs'vin). In Vedic mythology, properly an adjective meaning 'provided with horses,' 'consisting of horses,' in which sense it is used in a number of Vedic pa ages. stantive signifying 'horse-tamer' it is applied to Agni and to Agni and Indra, and as a masculine dual, Asvinau , 'the two charioteers,' to two gods of light, who are the first to appear in the eastern sky upon a golden chariot drawn by winged steeds, or birds. They are deliverers, bestowers of gifts, healers, and already in the Veda are the physicians of the gods. Later they are the constant attendants of Indra and paragons of beauty. They also appear as the Twins in the zodiac. They are the Dioscuri, the Castor and Pollux, of Greco-Roman mythology. As You Find It. A comedy by Charles Boyle, the fourth earl of Orrery, printed in 1703. As You Like It. A comedy by Shakspere, which existed in some shape in 1600. Furne . Malone and others (Fleay, Hunter, etc.) think it was produced in 1599. No copy of it is known to exist earlier than the folio of 1623. It was founded on Lodge's romance "Rosalynde." In the comedy the characters of Touchstone, Audrey, and Jacques are Shakspere's, otherwise he has followed Lodge quite closely. There is on this Date of Composition a happy unanimity, which centers about the close of the year 1599: if a few months carry it back into 1598 or carry it forward almost to 1601, surely we need not be more clamorous than a parrot against rain over such trifles.