Encyclopaedia of Roman World (Set of 2 Volumes) (An Old and Rare Book)

Tire basis of this book is the "Union Bible Dictionary" of America-a very correct d excellent publication. In consequence of its brevity, however, requisite space had been given to many articles in proportion to their value; and as it forms one of a of similar works published by a Society, ita references to their other treatises are so as greatly to detract from its value to readers in this country. In particular, the interesing biographies of Scripture were usually so curt, that they are now presented ah compositions. The accounts, too, of the various books of the Old and New Benta were too brief to satisfy the patient inquirer, and needed the fuller critical and historial disquisitions of the present volume. The more recent researches of sacred grophy have also supplied the place of older and more inaccurate views. So much, therefore, is the American copy changed and enlarged in the present Work, that our Cyclopedia may almost claim to be a new production. Every article of any importance has either been rewritten or altered, retouched or greatly extended, for about two-thirds of additional matter has been added. More than one hundred original articles are also inter spersed through the Work in their appropriate places.

It is strictly a Biblical Cyclopædia, confining itself to the illustration of Scripture. The extraneous topics of Biblical Literature are only introduced so far as they bear directly upon the evidences and interpretation of the Word of God. Information of this nature has been copiously employed-not arranged, indeed, under separate heads, but brought forward as occasion served to confirm or explain any observations made on the style, allu sions, and history of the sacred oracles.

The Work, both originally and in its present formi, has been prepared on the following general principles:

I. No word is introduced, as the subject of an article, which is not found in the canonical books of the common English translation of the Bible, and, with very few excep tions, one passage at least is cited in which the word oocurr Of course such words as APOCRYPHA, ANTELOPE, APOCALYPSE, DELUGE, are excluded; but all necessary infor mation will be found under other heals, such as SCRIPTURE, HART, REVELATION, FLOOD. Any other rule would be too indefinite for practical application; but we have made and exception in favour of two or three words, such as PETILA, for its Hebrew names, SELA and JOKTHEEL, are not familiar to ordinary readers.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages