is known by its capital being adorned with two sorts of leaves; between these rise little stalks, of which the volutes that support the highest part of the capital, are formed. The Composite, fig. 14. is nearly the same as the Corinthian, with an addition

of the Ionic volute.

Each column has its particular base; the Tuscan is the most simple, having only a torus, and plinth; the Doric has an astragal more than the Tuscan. To the Ionic base the torus is larger, on a double scotia, with two astragals between. The Corinthian base has two toruses, two scotias, and two astragals. The Composite base has one astragal less than the Corinthian. See BALUSTERS, and also GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE.

ARCHITRAVES. See ARCHITECTURE.
ARGILS. See ALUMINE.

ARCHIVES, ancient records, or charters which contain titles, pretensions, privileges, and prerogatives of a family, city, or kingdom.

ARCHON, a Greek word, which literally signifies a commander. This word is applied by some authors to divers offices, both civil and religious, in the eastern or the Grecian empire. But it is more generally confined to the chief magistrate of the city and commonwealth of Athens. After the Athenians had abolished monarchy, they created archons, who were obliged to render an account of their administration to the people. These were at first chosen for life, and made hereditary: but a perpetual magistracy seemed to this free people too lively an image of royalty; they therefore reduced the term of an archon's administration to ten years, and ere long to one year. There were nine archons, one of

whom, called Polemarch, was minister of war, but nothing more: they were all debarred from commanding the armies of the republic. Thus their charge was only an honorary function, so little calculated to excite the envy of the people, that they never aspired eagerly after this dignity, from which they were excluded by the laws of Solon.

ARCHIPELAGO, a sea interrupted by a great number of islands. Thus the word denotes a considerable part of the Mediterranean sea, having Romania in the north: Natolia on the east, Macedonia, Livadia, and the Morea on the west, and the isle of Candia on the south. It is partly in Europe and partly in Asia, containing the islands of Rhodes, Negropont, Lemnos, Samos, Patmos, &c.

ARCTIC. Northern; lying under the arctos, or bear. In astronomy, the arctic or north pole, is that which is raised above our horizon, and is nearly pointed out by the last star in the tail of Ursa minor. The arctic circle is a less circle of the sphere parallel to the equator, and distant 23° 28' from the north pole. This and the antarctic are often called polar circles, and may be conceived to be described by the motion of the poles of the ecliptic round those of the equator.

AREA. See MENSURATION.

AREOMETER. See HYDROMETER.

AREOPAGUS, or Areopagus, a sovereign tribunal at Athens, famous for the justice and impartiality of its decrees, to which the gods themselves are said to have submitted their differences. It was in the town, on a rock or hill opposite to the citadel. The word signifies strictly, rock of Mars; Mr.

Spon, when at Athens, found some remains of the areopagus still existing in the middle of the temple of Theseus, which was heretofore in the middle of the city, but is now without the walls. The foundation of the areopagus is a semicircle, with an esplanade of 140 paces round it, which properly made the hall of the areopagus: There is a tribunal cut in the middle of a rock, with seats on each side of it, where the areopagites sat, exposed to the open air.

ARETHUSA, in mythology, the daughter of Oceanus and one of Diana's attendants. As she was returned one day from hunting, she sat near the Alpheus, and bathed in the stream. The god of the river was enamoured with her, and pursued her over the country, when Arethusa offered up her prayers to Diana for protection, who changed her into a fountain.

ARGENT, silver in heraldry, the metal of which all white fields or charges are supposed to consist. Argent of itself is used to signify purity, innocence, beauty and gentleness.

ARGENTUM. Silver. Of a whitish colour not tarnished by the air, hard and tenacious, sonorous, exceedingly malleable, and ductile, specific gravity before hammering 10.478: melting when per fectly red hot, and its brilliancy much increased. Soluble in nitric acid; giving no colour to the solution, and capable of being precipitated from it by copper, iron, or zinc. See SILVER.

ARGO, in antiquity, a ship or vessel celebrated among the poets; being that wherein the Argonauts, of whom Jason was the chief, made their expedition in quest of the golden fleece. Sir Isaac