south sides measure about 80 metres, the east and west about 73. Its orientation differs from that of all the other buildings above mentioned, being not from north to south, but from west-southwest to east-northeast; and there are signs that it was built before the west Altis wall. Externally it is an Ionic peripteros, inclosing suites of rooms, large and small, grouped round a small interior Doric peristyle. In Roman times it was altered in such a way as to distribute the rooms into (apparently) four quarters each having an atrium with six or four columns. The most probable conjecture is that it was used as a lodging for distinguished visitors during the games, such as the heads of the special missions from the various Greek cities (apxewpoi), or Roman officials. Traces existing within the exterior porticos on north, west, and east indicate much carriage traffic.

3. Near the palæstra on the south a Byzantine church | Macedonian age. It is an oblong, of which the north and forms the central point in a complex group of remains. (a) The church itself occupies the site of an older brick building, which is perhaps a remnant of the "workshop of Phidias" seen by Pausanias. (b) North of the church is a square-fountain-house, of Hellenic age. (c) West of this is a small circular structure, inclosed by square walls. An altar found (in situ) on the south side of the circular inclosure shows by an inscription that this was the Heroon, where worship of the heroes was practiced down to a late period. (d) East of the fountain-house stood a large building, of Roman age at latest, arranged round an inner hall with colonnades. Its particular destination is uncertain. (e) So, too, is that of a long and narrow building on the south of the Byzantine church. It may have been the priests' house mentioned by Pausanias, or it may have been occupied by the paidpovrai, those alleged "descendants of Phidias" (Paus. v. 14) whose hereditary privilege it was to keep the statue of Zeus clean. The so-called "workshop of Phidias" (see a) evidently owed its preservation to the fact that it continued to be used for actual work, and the adjacent building would have been a convenient lodging for the artists.

4. South of the group described above occur remains of a large building, dating from the late Hellenic or early

B. South Side.-Although the limits of the Altis on the south (i.e., on the side towards the Alpheus) can be traced with approximate accuracy, the precise line of the south wall becomes doubtful after we have advanced a little more than one-third of the distance from the west to the east end of the south side. The middle and eastern portions of the south side were places at which architectural changes, large or small, were numerous down to the

latest times, and where the older buildings met with scant, closed on the north side, open on the south and at the east mercy. The westernmost and best-defined part of the south-wall line is, as already stated, coeval with the west wall, belonging to the early Macedonian age.

1. The Council Hall (BovλEvriptov, Paus. v. 23) was just outside the Altis, nearly at the middle of its south wall. It comprised two separate Doric buildings of identical form, viz., oblong, having a single row of columns dividing the length into two naves, and terminating to the east in a semicircular apse. The orientation of each was from west-southwest to east-northeast, one being south-southeast of the other. In the space between stood a small square building. In front, on the east, was a portico extending along the front of all three buildings; and east of this again a large trapeze-shaped vestibule or fore-hall, inclosed by a colonnade. This bouleuterion would have been available on all occasions when Olympia became the scene of conference or debate between the representatives of different states,-whether the subject was properly political, as concerning the amphictyonic treaties, or related more directly to the administration of the sanctuary and festival. Two smaller Hellenic buildings stood immediately west of the bouleuterion. The more northerly of the two opened on the Altis. Their purpose is uncertain.

2. Close to the bouleuterion on the south, and running parallel with it from southwest by west to northeast by east, was the South Porcico, a late but handsome structure,

and west ends. The external colonnade (on south, east, and west) was Doric; the interior row of columns Corinthian. It was used as a promenade, and as a place from which to view the festal processions as they passed towards the Altis.

3. East of the bouleuterion was a gateway of Roman age, with triple entrance, the central being the widest, opening on the Altis from the south. North of this gateway, but at a somewhat greater depth, traces of a pavement were found in the Altis. This was manifestly the gateway by which the sacred processions entered the Altis in Roman times. The older processional route, however, probably struck the south boundary of the Altis at a point somewhat to the west of the Roman gate, proceeding past the front of the bouleuterion and the eastern end of the south portico. C. East Side.-The line of the east wall, running due north and south, can be traced from the northeast corner of the Altis down about three-fifths of the east side, when it breaks off at the remains known as "Nero's house." These are the first which claim attention on the east side. 1. Pausanias mentions a building called the Leonidaion, erected by the Elean Leonidas "outside the Altis, and near the Processional Gate." This Leonidaion was the point from which he set out on many of his walks in the Altis. Its original form is traceable in Hellenic remains at the southeast angle of the Altis, which show that the Leonidaion

ap oblong structure with colonnade on north, west, and south-stood within the Altis. But the Greek Leonidaion was afterwards absorbed into a Roman house which projected beyond the Altis on the east, the south part of the east Altis wall being destroyed to admit of this. A piece of leaden water-pipe found in the house bears NER. AVG. Only a Roman master could have dealt thus with the Altis, and with a building which, like the Leonidaion, stood within its sacred precinct. It cannot be doubted that the Roman house-from which three doors gave access to the Altis was that occupied by Nero when he visited Olympia. Later Roman hands again enlarged and altered the building, which may perhaps have been used for the reception of Roman governors. But Pausanias, who speaks only of a Leonidaion, shows that the old Greek name was retained, even when the building of Nero's time had placed the new Leonidaion beyond the limits of the Altis.

2. Following northwards the line of the east wall, we reach at the northeast corner of the Altis the entrance to the Stadion, which extends east of the Altis in a direction from west-southwest to east-northeast. The apparently strange and inconvenient position of the Stadion relatively to the Altis was due simply to the necessity of obeying the conditions of the ground, here determined by the curve of the lower slopes which bound the valley on the north. The German explorers excavated the Stadion so far as was necessary for the ascertainment of all essential points. Weak walls had originally been built on west, east, and south, the north boundary being formed by the natural slope of the hill. The walls were afterwards thickened and raised. The space thus defined was a large oblong, about 214 metres in length by 32 in breadth. There were no artificial seats. It is computed that from 40,000 to 45,000 spectators could have found sitting-room, though it is hardly probable that such a number was ever reached. The exact length of the Stadion itself-which was primarily the course for the footrace was 192.27 metres,-an important result, as it determines the Olympian foot to be 0.3204 metre. In the Heraion at Olympia, it may be remarked, the unit adoped was not this Olympian foot, but an older one of 0.297 metre. The starting-point and the goal in the Stadion were marked by limestone thresholds. Provision for drainage was made by a channel running round the inclosure. The Stadion was used not only for foot-races but for boxing, wrestling, leaping, quoit-throwing, and javelin-throwing.

way for "Nero's house." The east side, measured to a point
just behind the treasure-houses, is the shortest, about 180
metres. The north side is the longest. A line drawn east-
ward behind the treasure-houses, from the Prytaneion at
the northwest angle, would give about 250 metres.
The remains or sites within the Altis may conveniently
be classed in three main groups, viz.-(A) the chief centres
of religious worship; (B) votive buildings; (C) buildings,
etc., connected with the administration of Olympia or the
reception of visitors.

A. Chief Centres of Religious Worship.—1. The earliest Hellenic phase of the sanctuary, when a pre-Hellenic worship of Zeus was combined with a cult of the hero Pelops, is recalled by the Altar of Zeus. This, the central object of the older temenos, stood a little east of the Pelopion, and after the Altis had been enlarged was still nearly at its centre. The basis was of elliptic form, the length of the lozenge being directed from south-southwest to north-northeast, in such a manner that the axis would pass through the Cronion. The upper structure imposed on this basis was in two tiers, and also, probably, lozenge-shaped. This was the famous "ash-altar" at which the Iamidæ, the hereditary gens of pávres, practiced those rites of divination by fire (pavrikǹ di ¿prúpov) in virtue of which more especially Ölympia is saluted by Pindar as "mistress of truth” (dioroir' dλaocías). The steps by which the priests mounted the altar seem to have been at north and south.

2. The Pelopion, to the west of the altar of Zeus, was a small precinct in which, from the time when Pisa was founded by the Achæans, sacrifices were offered to the Achæan pws Pelops. The traces agree with the account of Pausanias. Walls, inclined to each other at obtuse angles, inclosed a plot of ground having in the middle a low tumu. lus of elliptic form, about 35 metres from east to west by 20 from north to south. A Doric propylaion with three doors gave access on the southwest side.

The three temples of the Altis were those of Zeus, Hera, and the Mother of the gods. All were Doric. All, too, were completely surrounded by a colonnade, i.e., were "peripteral."

3. The Temple of Zeus, south of the Pelopion, stood on a high substructure with three steps. The colonnades at the east and west side were of six columns each; those at the north and south sides (counting the corner columns again) of thirteen each. The cella had a prodomos on the east and The entrance to the Stadion from the northeast corner of an opisthodomos on the west. The cella itself was divided the Altis was a privileged one, reserved for the judges of longitudinally (i.e., from east to west) into three partitions the games, the competitors, and the heralds. Its form was by a double row of columns. The central partition, which that of a vaulted tunnel, 100 Olympian feet in length. was the widest, consisted of three sections. The west secDating from about 350-300 B.C., it is one of the oldest exam-tion was shut off; it contained the throne and image of the ples of vaulted work in cut stone. To the west was a vesti- Olympian Zeus. The middle section, next to the east, conbule, from which the Altis was entered by a handsome tained a table and stele. Here, probably, the wreaths were gateway. presented to the victors. The third or easternmost section, which had side porticos, was open to the public. The temple was most richly adorned with statues and reliefs. On the east front Pæonius had represented in twenty-one colossal figures the moment before the contest between Enomaus and Pelops. The west front exhibited the fight of the Lapithe and Centaurs, and was connected with the name of Alcamenes. The Twelve Labors of Heracles were depicted on the metopes of the prodomos and opisthodomos; and of these reliefs much the greater part was found,-enough to determine with certainty all the essential features of the composition. It was near this temple, at a point about 35 metres east-southeast from the southeast angle, that the explorers found the fragment of a flying goddess of victory-the Nice of Pæonius.

3. The Hippodrome, in which the chariot-races and horseraces were held, can no longer be accurately traced. The overflowings of the Alpheus have washed away all certain indications of its limits. But it is clear that it extended south and southeast of the Stadion, and roughly parallel with it, though stretching far beyond it to the east. From the state of the ground the German explorers inferred that the length of the hippodrome was 770 metres or 4 Olympic stadia.

D. North Side.-If the northern limit of the Altis, like the west, south, and east, had been traced by a boundary wall, this would have had the effect of excluding from the precinct a spot so sacred as the Cronion, the hill inseparably associated with the oldest worship of Zeus at Olympia. It seems therefore unlikely that any such northern boundary wall ever existed. But the line which such a boundary would have followed is partly represented by the remains of a wall running from east to west immediately north of the treasure-houses (see below), which it was designed to protect against the descent of earth from the Cronion just above. This was the wall along which, about 157 A.D., the main water-channel constructed by Herodes Atticus was carried.

Having now surveyed the chief remains external to the sacred precinct on west, south, east, and north, we proceed to notice those which have been traced within it.

II. REMAINS WITHIN THE ALTIS.

The form of the Altis, as indicated by the existing traces, is not regularly rectangular. The length of the west side, where the line of direction is from south-southeast to northnorthwest, is about 195 metres. The south side, running nearly due east and west, is about equally long, if measured from the end of the west wall to the point which the east wall would touch when produced due south in a straight line from the place at which it was demolished to make

4. The Temple of Hera (Heraion), north of the Pelopion, was raised on two steps. It was originally built as a temple in antis, and afterwards converted into a peripteros, having colonnades of six columns each at east and west, and of sixteen each (counting the corner columns again) at north and south. It was smaller than the temple of Zeus, and, while resembling it in general plan, differed from it by its singular length relatively to its breadth. When Pausanias saw it, one of the two columns of the opisthodomos (at the west end of the cella) was of wood; and for a long period all the columns of this temple had probably been of the same material. A good deal of patchwork in the restoration of particular parts seems to have been done at various periods. The cella-divided, like that of Zeus, into three partitions by a double row of columns-had four "tongue-walls," or small screens, projecting at right angles from its north wall, and as many from the south wall. Five niches were thus formed on the north side and five on the south. In the third niche from the east, on the north side of the cella, was found one of the greatest of all treasures which rewarded the German explorers,-the Hermes of Praxiteles (1878).

5. The Temple of the Mother of the Gods (Metroon) was again considerably smaller than the Heraion. It stood to

the east of the latter, and had a different orientation, viz., | senting the family of Antoninus Pius, of Marcus Aurelius, not west to east, but west-northwest to east-southeast. It and of the founder, Herodes Atticus. In front of the halfwas raised on three steps, and had a peripteros of six col-dome on the south, and extending slightly beyond it, was umns (east and west) by eleven (north and south), having a basin of water for drinking, 22 metres long. The ends of thus a slightly smaller length relatively to its breadth than the basin at north-northwest and south-southeast wero either of the two other temples. Here also the cella had adorned by very small open temples, each with a circular prodomos and opisthodomos. The adornment and painting colonnade of eight pillars. A marble bull, in front of the of the temple had once been very rich and varied. There basin, bore an inscription saying that Herodes dedicates the are indications that in Roman times it underwent a whole to Zeus, in the name of his wife, Annia Regilla. The restoration, conducted, apparently, with little taste or exedra must have been seen by Pausanias, but he does not skill. mention it.

|

6. Arrangements for Water-supply.-A copious supply of water was required for the service of the altars and temples, for the private dwellings of priests and officials, for the use of the gymnasium, palæstra, etc., and for the therma 2. The Philippeion stood near the northwest corner of the which arose in Roman times. In the Hellenic age the water Altis, a short space west-southwest of the Heraion. It was was derived wholly from the Cladeus and from the small dedicated by Philip of Macedon, after his victory at Chæro-lateral tributaries of its valley. A basin, to serve as a chief nea (338 B.C.). As a thank-offering for the overthrow of reservoir, was built at the northwest corner of the Altis; Greek freedom, it might seem strangely placed in the Olym- and a supplementary reservoir was afterwards constructed pian Altis. But it is, in fact, only another illustration of a little to the northeast of this, on the slope of the Crothe manner in which Philip's position and power enabled nion. A new source of supply was for the first time made him to place a decent disguise on the real nature of the available by Herodes Atticus, c. 157 A.D. At a short dischange. Without risking any revolt of the Hellenic feel- tance east of Olympia, near the village of Miraka, small ing, the new "captain-general" of Greece could erect a streams flow from comparatively high ground through the monument of his triumph in the very heart of the Panhel-side-valleys which descend towards the right or northern lenic sanctuary. The building consisted of a circular Ionic bank of the Alpheus. From these side-valleys water was colonnade (of eighteen columns), about 15 metres in diam- now conducted to Olympia, entering the Altis at its northeter, raised on three steps, and inclosing a small circular east corner by an arched canal which passed behind the cella, probably adorned with fourteen Corinthian half treasure-houses to the reservoir at the back of the exedra. columns. The large basin of drinking-water in front of the exedra was fed thence, and served to associate the name of Herodes with a benefit of the highest practical value. Olympia further possessed several fountains, inclosed by round or square walls, chiefly in connection with the buildings outside the Altis. The drainage of the Altis followed two main lines. One, for the west part, passed from the southwest angle of

the Heraion to the south portico outside the south Altis der's brother) of which she had been guilty during her wall. The other, which served for the treasure-houses, short lease of power. Condemned without a hearing, passed in front of the Porch of Echo parallel with the line she was put to death tumultuously by the friends of of the east Altis wall. The whole subject of the water-works those whom she had slain, and Cassander is said to of Olyrapia was exhaustively investigated by Herr Gräber, and has been explained by him in vol. v. of the Excavations, have denied her remains the rites of burial (316). pp. 26 sq. OLYMPUS, the name of many mountains in Greece and Asia Minor, and of the fabled home of the gods, and also a city name and a personal name. I. Of the mountains bearing the name the most famous is the lofty ridge on the borders of Thessaly and Macedonia. The river Peneus, which drains Thessaly, finds its way to the sea through the great gorge of Tempe, which is close below the southeastern end of Olympus and separates it from Mount Ossa, The highest peak of Olympus is over 9000 feet high; it is covered with snow for great part of the year. Olympus is a mountain of massive appearance, in many places rising in tremendous precipices broken by vast ravines, above which is the broad summit. The lower parts are densely wooded; the summit is naked rock. Homer calls the mountain ἀγάννιφος, μακρός, Toλvde pác; the epithets vipoets, rohudevopos, frondosus, and opacus are used by other poets. The modern name is 'Evuno, a dialectic form of the ancient word. The peak of Mount Lycæus in the southwest of Arcadia was called Olympus. East of Olympia, on the north bank of the Alpheus, was a hill bearing this name; beside Sellasia in Laconia another. The name was even commoner in Asia Minor; a lofty chain in Mysia (Keshish Dagh), a ridge east of Smyrna (Nif Dagh), other mountains in Lycia, in Galatia, in Cilicia, in Cyprus, etc., were all called Olympus.

Such, in brief outline, are the more important results of the German exploration of Olympia, an enterprise alike honorable to the Government which undertook it and to the eminent men by whom it was conducted. The work of excavation was from the outset guided by scientific knowledge, and the results were at no point confused or obscured by rash and unsound theories. The general outcome of the undertaking is certainly greater than could have reasonably been anticipated at its commencement. In the Olympia seen by Pausanias there was, of course, very much of which not the slightest trace has been found, -such, for instance, as the temples of Eileithyia, of Aphrodite Urania, and of Demeter Chameune. In regard to particular works of art, many hopes of discovery have been disappointed, nor can the "survival of the fittest" be always acknowledged in the salvage from so many centuries of ruin. On the other hand, the German campaigns had their welcome surprises and their strokes of good fortune, such as the finding of the Hermes and the Nice. Above all, they have their reward in this, that the topography of Olympia is now thoroughly ascertained. We now know with certainty the exact position of the principal buildings, the plan of the Altis and its relation to its whole environment, and all the main local conditions of the festival. In reading an Olympian ode of Pindar, the modern student can now call up the scene with adequate fulness of detail. Precious as are the particular works of ancient art which have been discovered, and valuable as are the results of the study of art and architecture, the largest gain of all consists in the vivid and suggestive light thus shed on a great centre of Hellenic history and life. (R. C. J.) OLYMPIAS, the ambitious and energetic wife of Philip II., king of Macedonia, and the mother of Alexander III., commonly called The Great, was daughter of Neoptolemus I., king of Epirus, who claimed to be descended from Pyrrhus, son of Achilles. Plutarch tells us that it was while being initiated in the Samothracian mysteries, in which she was an enthusiastic participant, that Philip, still very young, fell in love with her. The marriage took place in 359 B.C., shortly after his accession, and Alexander was born in 356. There was also a daughter, named Cleopatra. The fickleness of Philip and the vehement and jealous temper of Olympias led to a growing estrangement, which became complete when Philip married a second wife, Cleopatra, in 337. Alexander, who strongly sided with his mother, withdrew, along with her, into Epirus, whence they both returned in the following year, after the assassination of Philip, which Olympias is said to have countenanced. During the absence of Alexander, with whom she had regular correspondence on public as well as domestic affairs, she had great influence in Macedonia, and by her arrogance and ambition gave great trouble to Antipater, so great, indeed, that on the death of her son (323) she found it prudent to withdraw into Epirus. Here she remained until 317, when allying herself with Polysperchon, by whom her old enemy had been succeeded in 319, she took the field with an Epirote army; the opposing troops at once declared in her favor, and for a short period Olympias was mistress of Macedonia. Cassander, Antipater's son, speedily, however, returned from the Peloponnesus, and, after an obstinate siege, compelled the surrender of Pydna, where she had taken refuge. One of the terms of the capitulation had been that her life should be spared; but this did not protect her against trial for numerous and cruel executions (including that of Nicanor, Cassan

II. A lofty peak, rising high above the clouds of the lower atmosphere into the clear ether, seemed to be the chosen seat of the deity. Homer distinguishes between Olympus, which is the mountain, and the heaven or ether; but later poets use the term as practically equivalent. In the elaborate mythology of Greek literature Olympus was the common home of the multitude of gods. Each deity had his special haunts, but all had a residence at the court of Zeus on Olympus, here were held the assemblies and the common feasts of the gods.

III. There was a city in Lycia named Olympus; it was a bishopric in the Byzantine time.

IV. A semi-historical musician, named Olympus, was connected with the development of flute music about 700 B.C. It is probable that he introduced the double flute, and increased the number of holes in the instrument and the tones of which it was capable; on the right flute were three holes for the low notes, on the left four for the high notes. He also brought into use compositions for the flute without words (кpoéμara). It is said that he was an elegiac poet, but this is apparently a misconception. It is difficult to say whether Olympus is an actual historical person, or whether he merely represents in an individualized form the influence which Phrygian music, used in the Phrygian religion, began to exert on the Ionian cities about 700 B.C. Ionia at this time is certain (see PHRYGIA). In any The growth of intercourse between Phrygia and case, the musical innovations associated with the name of Olympus were the beginning of a richer and more varied school of lyric poetry, as well as of music in the Greek world."

On the musician see, besides the general works on Greek Gesch. d. griech. Lyrik, 1883; Westphal, Metrik, etc.

literature, Ritschl," Olympos der Aulet," in Opusc., i.; Flach,

OLYNTHUS was an important city of Chalcidice (see vol. xv. p. 138), situated in a fertile plain at the head of the Toronaic gulf between the peninsulas of Sithonia and Pallene, at some little distance from the sea, and about 60 stadia from Potidea. The district belonged originally to a Thracian people, the Bottiæi; and it is said that it was given over to the Greek colonists of Chalcidice at the Persian invasion. It fell under Athenian influence during the 5th century, but regained

its freedom during the invasion of Brasidas (424 B.C.). | he remembered this covenant and bestowed upon It became the head of a great confederacy, and its Hasan ibn Sabbáḥ the dignity of a chamberlain, whilst power excited the jealousy of Sparta. A war broke offering a similar court office to Omar Khayyám. out 383-379, and Olynthus was compelled to become a But the latter contented himself with an annual member of the Spartan confederacy. No long time stipend which would enable him to devote all his time afterwards the Athenians made themselves masters of to his favorite studies of mathematics and astronomy, several towns which had previously been under the and he soon proved his gratitude for the liberality of influence of Olynthus, and then a new and more dan- his patron and friend by the publication of his standgerous enemy appeared on the northern frontier. ard work on algebra, written in Arabic. This and Philip of Macedon found the city his most powerful other treatises of a similar character-for instance, on rival, and directed all his strength against it. The the extraction of cube roots and on the explanation of Athenians made an alliance with Olynthus, but did difficult definitions in Euclid-raised him at once to not give any active aid, though Demosthenes tried the foremost rank among the mathematicians of that hard to induce them to oppose Philip before he grew age, and induced Sultán Maliksháh to summon him in too strong. The famous series of Olynthiac orations 467 A. H. (1074 A.D.) to institute astronomical observawas delivered by him at this crisis. After a long siege tions on a larger scale, and to aid him in his great the city was captured by treachery in 347 B.C.; it was enterprise of a thorough reform of the calendar. A razed to the ground, and the people sold as slaves. twofold fruit resulted from 'Omar's elaborate research OMAHA, the largest city in Nebraska, U. S., is in the sultán's observatory,-a revised edition of the situated on the west bank of the Missouri, 600 miles Zíj or astronomical tables, and the introduction of the from its confluence with the Mississippi, in 41° 15′ 43′′ Ta'ríkh-i-Maliksháhí or Jalálí, that is, the so-called N. lat. and 95° 55′ 47′′ W. long. (time 1h 16 after Jalálian or Seljúk era, which commences in 471 A.H. that of Washington). The lower part, situated mainly (1079 A.D., 15th March). on a terrace, is principally devoted to business; the Great, however, as 'Omar's scientific fame has upper part, on the bluffs, to the finer residences, parks, always been throughout the East, it is nearly eclipsed and churches. It was founded in 1854, and in 1855 it by his still greater poetical renown, which he owes to became the capital of Nebraska Territory, when its his rubá ís or quatrains, a collection of about 500 epiinhabitants numbered little over 100; Lincoln, how-grams, unequalled by any of his predecessors or folever, is the capital of the State. The population lowers. The peculiar form of the rubá'í-viz., four (1883 in 1860, 16,083 in 1870) was 30,518 in 1880, and lines, the first, second, and fourth of which have the in 1883 had risen to 49,710, its present growth sur- same rhyme, while the third usually (but not always) passing that of any former period. Omaha contains remains rhymeless-was first successfully introduced the most extensive smelting and refining works in the into Persian literature as the exclusive vehicle for Union. The number of men employed is 300, and the subtle thoughts on the various topics of Súfic mystiproduction of metals in 1882 was: Lead, 43,711,921 b; cism by the sheikh Abú Sa'id bin Abulkhair,' but gold, 16,272 oz. fine; silver, 4,853,851 oz. fine; sul-Omar differs in its treatment considerably from Abú phate of copper, 152,041 fb. Other manufactures Sa'íd. Although some of his quatrains are purely amount to over $7,000,000 annually. The educational mystic and pantheistic, most of them bear quite institutions include Creighton College, Brownell Hall another stamp; they are the breviary of a radical freefor young ladies, a medical college, and a business col- thinker, who protests in the most forcible manner both lege. The high school building, erected at a cost of against the narrowness, bigotry, and uncompromising $250,000, is one of the finest in the country. There austerity of the orthodox ulemá and the eccentricity, are besides ten free schoolhouses, containing seventy- hypocrisy, and wild ravings of advanced Súfis, whom four schoolrooms. Among the public buildings are he successfully combats with their own weapons, using the post-office and court-house, an opera-house seat- the whole mystic terminology simply to ridicule mysing 1700 people, many hotels and numerous churches. ticism itself. There is in this respect a great resemThe streets are wide and cross at right angles, and the blance between him and Háfiz, but Omar is decidedly business portions are in process of being paved. The superior, not so much on account of his priority as for city is lighted by gas and the electric light. Street his more concise, more simple, and yet infinitely more railways penetrate in all directions. Omaha is also an energetic style. He has often been called the Voltaire important railway centre. of the East, and cried down as materialist and atheist. As far as purity of diction, fine wit, crushing satire against a debased and ignorant clergy, and a general sympathy with suffering humanity are concerned, Omar certainly reminds us of the great Frenchman; but there the comparison ceases. Voltaire never wrote anything equal to Omar's fascinating rhapsodies in praise of wine, love, and all earthly joys, to the fervent effusions of his heart so full of the most tender feelings and affections, and his passionate denunciations of a malevolent and inexorable fate which dooms to slow decay or sudden death and to eternal oblivion all that is great, good, and beautiful in this world. There is a touch of Byron, Swinburne, and even of Schopenhauer in many of his rubá ís, which clearly proves that the modern pessimist is by no means a novel creature in the realm of philosophic thought and poetical imagination.

OMAN, or 'OMÁN. See ARABIA.

OMAR. See MOHAMMEDANISM, vol. xvi. pp. 586,

597.

OMAR KHAYYÁM. The great Persian mathematician, astronomer, freethinker, and epigrammatist, Ghiyathuddin Abulfath 'Omar bin Ibráhím al-Khayyámí, who derived the epithet Khayyám (the tentmaker) most likely from his father's trade, was born in or close by Níshápúr, and is stated to have died there in 517 A.H. (1123 A.D.). This date is accepted by most Eastern and Western writers, but the renowned vizier of the Seljúk sultáns Alp Arslan and Maliksháh, Nizám-ulmulk of Tús, whose birth is fixed in 408 A. H. (1017 A.D.), expressly states in one of his writings that 'Omar was of the same age as himself, and attended with him the lectures of the imám Muwaffak in the college of Níshápúr. However that may be, there cannot be the slightest doubt that at an early age 'Omar entered into a close friendship both with Nizám-ulmulk and his school-fellow Hasan ibn Sabbáḥ, who founded afterwards the terrible sect of the Isma'ílís or Assassins. The three friends pledged themselves by a solemn promise that he who should first gain an influential position in the world would lend a helping hand to the other two and promote their success in life. When Nizám-ulmulk was raised to the rank of vizier by Alp Arslan (1063–1073 A.D.)

The Leyden copy of 'Omar Khayyam's work on algebra was noticed as far back as 1742 by Gerald Meerman in the preface to his Specimen calculi fluxionalis; further notices of the same work by Sédillot appeared in the Nouv. Jour. As., 1834, and in vol. xiii. of the Notices et Extraits des MSS. de la Bibl. roy. The complete text, together with a French translation (on the basis of the Leyden and Paris copies, the latter first discovered by M. Libri, see his Histoire des sciences

1 Died Jan. 1049. Comp. Ethé's edition of his rubá'ís in Sitzungsberichte der bayr. Akademie, 1875, pp. 145 sq., and 1878, pp. 38 sq.