Virginia (ver-jin'i-ä)

[L., fem. of Virgin i us.] produced in 1820. grain her left hand. One of the stars was called Vindemiatrix, or by the Greeks Protrygeter - that is, precursor of the vintage. At the time when the zodiac seems to have been formed (2100 B. c.) this star would first be seen at Babylon before sunrise about Aug. 20, or, since there is some evidence that it was then brighter than it is now, perhaps a week earlier. This would seem too late for the vintage, so that perhaps this tradition is older than the wings, yet there seems no room to doubt that the figure was first meant for the winged A yrian Astarte, especially as the sixth month in Akkadian is called the "Errand of Ishtar." The symbol of the zodiacal sign is, where a resemblance to a wing may be seen. The constellation contains the white first-magnitude star Spica. Viriathus (vi-ri'a-thus), or Viriatus (vi-ri'at us). A a inated about 139 в. с. А Lusitanian shepherd who conducted a long and generally succe ful war against the Romans in the western part of the Spanish peninsula 149-139. Viroconium. See Uri conium . Virues (ve-rö-es'), Cristóval de. Born at Valencia, Spain, about 1550: died about 1610. A Spanish epic and dramatic poet, a friend of Lope de Vega. Five of his plays are extant. He claims to have first divided Spanish dramas into three jornadas or acts, and Lope de Vega a ents to the claim; but they were both mistaken, for we now know that such a division was made by Francisco de Avendaño not later than 1553, when Virues was but three years old. Ticknor , Span. Lit., II. 64. Viscaino, Sebastian. See Vizcaino . Vischer (fish'er), Fried rich The odor. Born at Ludwigsburg, Würtemberg, June 30, 1807: died at Gmunden, Sept. 14, 1887. A German critic, profe or at Tübingen. He was a member of the Frankfort Parliament of 1848. His chief work is "As the tik" (1847-58). His other works include "Uber das Erhabene und Komische" (1837), "Kritische Gänge" (1844), etc. Visconti (vis-kon'tē), Ennio Quirino. [From L. Vice com i tes , viscount.] Born at Rome, Nov. t Rom 1, 1751: died Feb. 7, 1818. A celebrated Italian archæologist. He was was conservator of the Capitoline Mu seum at Rome, and member of the provisional government at Rome. In 1799 he went to Paris, where in 1799 he was made custodian of the collections in the Louvre and profe or of archæology. His chief work is "Iconographie grecque" (1808). His other works include the first volume of the "Iconographie romaine" (1817: completed by Mongez), "Museo Pio-Clement i no" (1782-87), "Description des antiques du musée royal," etc. Visconti, Filippo Maria, Died 1447. The last G. G. Visconti. house, Visconti, Gian Galeazzo. Died 1402. Grandnephew of Giovanni Visconti, and son of Galeazzo Visconti, He became duke of Milan in 1395: subdued a large part of northern and central Italy; and was a patron of literature and art. Mar Visconti, Giovanni. Died 1354. Lord of Milan. He annexed Genoa. His dominions were divided among his three nephews. Visconti-Venosta (vis-kon'tē-vā-nōs'tä), quis Emilio. Born at Milan, Jan. 22,1829. An Italian diplomatist and politician, minister of foreign affairs 1863-64, 1866-67, and 1869-76. Vishnu (vish'nö). [Skt., 'The Worker'; from ✓ vish , work, be active, accomplish.] In later Hindu mythology, the second member of the trimurti or triad (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva): regarded as the preserver, while Brahma and Shiva are respectively the creator and the destroyer. Vishnu appears already in the Rigveda as a solar in theinitivens three steps, explained as designating the three daily stations of the sun in his rising, culmination, and setting, the conception out of which grew the legend of the Vamana, or dwarf incarnation of Vishnu. (See Va mana.) He is the companion of Indra in drinking the soma and in battling with Vritra. At times he appears as sent by Indra, and strengthened by him, while at others he gives Indra strength, especially by preparing the soma for him. Not at first included among the Adityas, or sons of Aditi (whose number in the Vedic period varies from six to eight), when their number is raised to twelve, гер resenting the sun in the twelve months of the year, Vishnu receives the first place among them. It is in the Mahabharata and the Ramayana that he appears without this ciscan mi ionaries to Japan, and made first Vishnu solar character, and as gradually rising to his present supremacy as the most popular god of modern Hindu worship, while the Puranas represent the fully developed rivalry between Shiva and Vishnu and their worshipers, called respectively Shaivas and Vaishnavas. The most marked feature of the modern Vishnu is his incarnation in a portion of his e ence on ten different occasions to deliver mankind from special dangers. These ten principal avatars ('descents, incarnations') are (1) the Matsya, or 'fish'; (2) the Kurma, 'tortoise'; (3) the Varaha, 'boar'; (4) the Narasinha, 'man-lion'; (5) the Vamana, 'dwarf' (6) Parashurama, or 'Rama with the ax'; (7) Ramachandra; (8) Krishna; (9) Buddha, by adopting whom the Brahmans apparently wished to effect a compromise between their own creed and Buddhism; and (10) Kalki, an incarnation, yet to come, in which Vishnu at the end of the four yugas or ages will destroy the wicked, and free the world from its enemies. (See the names.) These avatars some of the Puranas increase to 22 or 24. As in their treatment of the triad the modern Hindus elevate either Shiva or Vishnu to the supreme place, subordinating the other two, Vishnu is often identified with Narayana, the personified Pu rush a, or primeval living spirit, and is described as moving on the waters, and resting on Shesha, the serpent of infinity, while Brahma emerges from a lotus growing from his navel. His wife is Lakshmi or Shri, and his paradise Vaikuntha. He has a peculiar mark on his breast called Shrivatsa, and has a conch-shell, a discus, a club, a lotus, a bow, and a sword. Upon his wrist is the jewel Syamantaka, and on his breast the jewel Kaustubha. His vehicle is Garuda, who is half man, half bird (with the head, wings, talons, and beak of an eagle, and the body and limbs of a man), and whose face is white, wings red, and body golden. The Ganges i ues from Vishnu's foot. He has slain countle demons, a number of whom are specified in various legends. He has a you sand names, all given in the An us has an a-parvan ('instruction-section') of the Mahabharata, with those of Shiva, which number 1,008. On Vishnu, see Muir's "Original Sanskrit Texts," IV. 63298, and Monier-Williams's “Brahmanism and Hinduism," Vishnupurana (vish-nö-pö-rä'na). In Sanskrit literature, an important important: and typical Purana (see that word) word). It has been translated, with preface and iii., v., and vi. many notes, by Wilson. A second edition of this translation has been greatly enriched by the further notes of Fitzedward Hall. It appears in Wilson's works, Vol. VI (London, 1864). Wilson's analysis of the Puranas in Vol. III, and his preface to the Vishnupurana, are the chief sources of information on the Puranas. Visigoths (viz'i-goths). [From LL. * Visigothi , Visegothæ , West Goths.] The individuals of the more westerly of the two great historical divisions of the Goths. See Goths . The Visigoths founded a monarchy which continued in southern France until 507, and in Spain until 711. Also called West Goths . Vision of Don Roderick. A narrative poem by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1811. Vision of Judgment. 1. A poem by Southey, published in 1821.-2. A burlesque of this poem by Lord Byron. Vision of Ezekiel (e-zēʻki-el), The. God the Father, with the symbols of the four Evangelists: a small but impre ive painting by Raphael, in the Galleria Pitti, Florence. The Godhead is treated perhaps too much like a Jupiter, but the grouping is admirable. Vision of Mirza (mėr'zä), The. An allegory by Add is on, published in the "Spectator," No. 159. It is a vision of human life. Vision of Piers Plowman (pērs plou'man). An allegorical and satirical poem by William Lang land, begun about 1362, revised in 1377, and revised and enlarged until about 1393. It was very popular, as attested by its numerous MSS., and was printed in 1550, 1553, and 1561, in several editions. There have been several modern reprints, the most recent of which is that edited by Profe or W. W. Skeat in 1887. This incorporates collations of three MS. versions, of different dates, with notes. The book is really the "Vision of William concerning Piers Plowman," who is the subject, not the author. There are other visions incorporated, but this was the fa vorite character of Lang land. In the earlier part of the poem he is a blamele plough man and a guide to men who are seeking the shrine of Truth, whilst in the latter part of it he is the blamele carpenter's son who alone can show us the Father. The ambiguity is surely not very great, and the reader who once apprehends this explanation will easily remember that the true Piers Plowman was certainly not a Middle English author. by Skeat , Preface to Piers the Plowman, p. xxvii. Vision of Sir Launfal (län'fal). A poem James Ru ell Lowell, published in 1845. Viso, Monte. See Monte Viso . traverses IMG:content-1156.png:[blocks in formation] can hardly be ascertained with certainty. It is sometimes Vittoria Colonna. See Colonna . regarded as originally and thoroughly Teutonic, sometimes Vittoria Corombona. See White Devil . as Slavonic, sometimes also as Slavo-Teutonic (Müllen- Schrader , Aryan Peoples (tr. by Jevons), p. 429. Vistula Governments. The official name of Ru ian Poland. Visurgis (vi-sèr'jis). The Latin name of the Weser . Vitalians (vi-tā'li-anz). A band of pirates who infested the Baltic and North seas at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th cen tury. Vital is (vē-täʻlēs). Pseudonym of the Swedish poet Sjöberg. Vital is (vi-tā'lis). See Ordericus . Vita Nuova (ve'tä nö-o'vä). [It., 'The New Life.'] A work by Dante, probably finished in 1307. Dante wrote in his early manhood the "Vita Nuova "the New or the Early Life - connecting, with a narrative of aspiration towards Be at rice as the occasion of them, sonnets and canzoni, representing artificially, according to the manner of that time, various moods of love. Morley, English Writers, III. 402. Vittorio (vit-tō'rē-ō). A town in the province of Treviso, Italy, situated on the Meschio 38 miles north of Venice. It is composed of the two former towns Ceneda and Serravalle. Ceneda was an important place in the middle ages. It has various works of art. Population of Vittorio (1881), 16,681. Vitus (vi'tus), Saint. A saint of the Roman church, a martyr under Diocletian. His festival is celebrated June 15. At Ulm and Ravens burg and other places in Germany it was believed in the 17th century that good health could be secured for a year by dancing before his image at his festival, and bringing gifts: hence it is said that St. Vitus's dance came to be confounded with chorea, a nervous disorder, and he was invoked against it. Vitznau (vits'nou). A small village in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, situated on the Lake of Lucerne 9 miles east-southeast of Lu cerne. It is a tourist center. Vivarais (vē-vä-rā'). [L. pagus Vivariensis . ] An ancient district in Langue doc, France, corresponding nearly to the modern department of Ardèche. Capital, Viviers. Vivian (viv'i-an), or Viviane, or Vivien. In the Arthur i an cycle of romance, an enchantre , the mistre of Merlin. She brought up Lance lot in her palace, which was situated in the midst of a magical lake: hence her name "the Lady of the Lake." Tennyson has used the subject of her subjugation of Merlin in his "Merlin and Vivien" in the "Idylls of the King." Vitebsk (vē-tebsk'). 1. A government of west- ern Ru ia, surrounded by the governments of Livonia, Pskoff, Smolensk, Moghileff, Minsk, Vilna, and Courland. Area, 17,440 square miles. Population, 1,341,100.-2. The capital of the government of Vitebsk, situated on the Düna in lat. 55° 15′ N. It has considerable trade. forest, where he was enclosed in a bush of hawthorn: he Population (1888), 58,495. Vitelli us (vi-tel'i-us), Aulus. Born 15 A. D.: killed at Rome, Dec., 69 A. D. Roman emperor, a favorite of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. He was appointed governor in Lower Germany by Galba in 68, and was proclaimed emperor by the army at the beginning of 69. His generals Cæcina and Valens defeated Otho; and he entered Rome in the middle of 69. His forces were defeated by those of Vespas i an under Antonius Primus. Viterbo (vē-ter'bō). [ML. Viterbium , Biter vum .] A city of the province of Rome, Italy, 41 miles north-northwest of Rome. It has a noted cathedral, and was formerly a papal residence. In the neighborhood are mineral springs and Etruscan antiquities. Population (1881), 19,654. Viti (vē'tē), or Maviti (mä-vē'tē), also called Mazitu (mä-zē'tö). A tribe of marauders in East Africa, originally Zulus from the neighborhood of Sofala and Inhambane, who, about 1850, cro ed the Zambesi and ravaged the region between the Rovuma and Rufiji rivers. Many settled finally southwest of Lake Nya a, where they are called Mangoni (Living stone, 1863). Others mixed advantage of the fear inspired by the Maviti, other mawith different tribes, especially with the Mahenge. Taking rauders, as the Waninde and the Wang in do, took their name, costume, and manners in order to facilitate their depredations. Viti Archipelago. See Fiji Islands . Vitiges (vit'i-jez). An East-Gothic king who reigned from 536 to about 540. He was taken captive to Constantinople by Belisarius. Viti Levu (võ'të lev'o). The largest island of the Fiji group, and the most important in respect to population and fertility. Area, about 4,000 square miles. Pop. (1896), 50,000. Vitim (ve-tem'). Ariver in Siberia which rises in Transbaikalia and joins the Lena about lat. 59° 50′ N. Length, about 1,400 miles. Vitoria, or Vittoria (vē-to re-ä). [ML. Vic- toriacum , Victoria .] The capital of the Basque province of Alava, Spain, situated on the Za- dorr a in lat. 42° 50′ N., long. 2° 43′ W. It is an important commercial and manufacturing town. A vic- tory was gained there by the Allies under Wellington over the French under Joseph Bonaparte and Jourdan, June 21, 1813. Population (1887), 27,660. Vitoria, Duke of. A title of Espartero. Vitré (vē-trā'). A town in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine, France, situated on the Vilaine 24 miles east of Rennes. It contains a castle, and a church of Notre Dame, and is noted for its old Breton as Vitruvius Pollio (vi-tro'vi-us pol'i-o), Marcus: called Vitruvius. Born at Verona. A famous Roman architect and engineer, military engineer under Cæsar and August us. His treatise on architecture, in ten books ("De architectura"), dedicated subject. He seems to have been an unsucce ful arch i to August us, is the only surviving Roman on the tect: his book, however, was well known to Pliny, and on it was based almost all the earlier theory and practice of Renai ance and pseudo-cla ical architecture. tula and Nogat; and then divides into the Danziger Vistula and the Elbinger Vistula, of which the former flows directly into the Gulf of Dantzic and the latter into the Frisches Haff. Its chief tributaries are the San, Pilica, Vitry-le-François (vē-trēʻlė-fron-swä'). [See Bug, and Brahe: the chief towns on its banks, Cracow, Warsaw, Thorn, and Dantzic. Length, about miles; navigable for small ve els from Cracow, for large ve els from the mouth of the San.