Albuquerque Val-bo-jkor-keN City (pop., 2000: 448,607), New Mexico, U.S. The state’s largest city, it lies on the Rio Grande southwest of Santa Fe. Founded by the governor of New Mexico, it was named for the duke de Alburquerque (the first r was later dropped), the viceroy of New Spain. After 1800 growing commerce on the Santa Fe Trail brought an influx of settlers; an army post was established following U.S. occu¬ pation in 1846. With the coming of the railroad in 1880, the population expanded. The characteristically Spanish “old town” and its mission church (1706) have survived. Since the 1930s many defense-related fed¬ eral agencies have been established there.
Albuquerque V.al-bu-'kor-koN, Afonso de or Afonso the Great
(b. 1453, Alhandra, near Lisbon—d. Dec. 15, 1515, at sea, off Goa, India) Portuguese soldier, conqueror of Goa (1510) and of Melaka (1511). He gained military experience as a soldier in North Africa for 10 years but made his reputation fighting in Asia. He paved the way for Portuguese domination in Southeast Asia through efforts to gain control of all the
Albertus Magnus, detail of a fresco by Tommaso da Modena, c. 1352; in the Church of San Nicolo, Treviso, Italy.
AUNARI—ART RESOURCE/EB INC.
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
40 I Alcaeus ► alcohol
main maritime trade routes of the East and to build permanent fortresses with settled populations. His conquests were inspired by the Crusading spirit of King John II, rather than by considerations of mercantile gain.
Alcaeus \al-'se-9s\ or Alkaios \al-'ka-9s\ (b. c. 620 bc, Mytilene, Lesbos—d. c. 580 bc) Greek lyric poet. Only fragments and quotations survive from his work, consisting of hymns in honour of gods and heroes, love poetry, drinking songs, and political poems. Many reflect Alcaeus’s vigorous involvement in the life of his native Mytilene, particularly its political life. His poetry was a favorite model for Horace, who adapted from him his own alcaic stanza.
Alcala Zamora, Niceto (b. July 6, 1877, Priego, Spain—d. Feb. 18, 1949, Buenos Aires, Arg.) Spanish politician. After serving as minister of works (1917) and minister of war (1922), he opposed the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera and joined the Republican movement. As leader of the revolutionary committee that successfully demanded the abdication of Alfonso XIII, he became head of the government in 1931 and was elected president of Spain’s Second Republic that same year. He tried to moderate the policies of the extremist factions, but he was deposed in 1936 after the election of the Popular Front and went into exile to France and then to Argentina.
Alcamenes or Alkamenes yal-'kam-o-.nezV (b. 5th century bc, Lem¬ nos, in the Aegean Sea, and Athens) Greek sculptor. A younger contem¬ porary of Phidias, he was noted for the delicacy and finish of his works, among which a Hephaestus and an Aphrodite of the Gardens are note¬ worthy. A copy of the head of his Hermes Propylaeus at Pergamum has been identified by an inscription, and he is said by the Greek traveler Pau- sanias (2nd century ad) to have been the creator of one of the pediments of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.
Alcan Highway See Alaska Highway
Alcatraz Island Rocky island in San Francisco Bay, California, U.S. It has an area of 22 acres (9 hectares) and is located 1.5 mi (2 km) off¬ shore from the city of San Francisco. The site of the first lighthouse (1854) on the California coast, it became an army garrison (1859) and a military prison (1868). From 1934 to 1963 it served as a federal prison for dan¬ gerous civilian prisoners. Its famous inmates included Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” It is now open to the public.
alcazar \al-'ka-z3r\ Spanish alcazar Form of military architecture of medieval Spain, generally rectangular with defensible walls and massive comer towers. Inside was an open space (patio) surrounded by chapels, salons, hospitals, and sometimes gardens. The finest surviving example from the Moorish period is Sevilla’s Alcazar Palace; begun in 1181 under the Almohads and continued by the Christians, it exhibits both Moorish and Gothic features, including a decagonal brick tower, the Torre del Oro.
Toledo alcazar, 14th century, renovated 16th century, severely damaged during the Spanish Civil War and later restored.
© GETTY IMAGES
Alcestis \al-'ses-tos\ In Greek legend, the beautiful daughter of Pelias, king of Ioclos. Admetus, son of the king of Pherae, sought her hand. To win her he was required to harness a lion and a boar to a chariot, and he succeeded with the aid of Apollo. When Apollo learned that Admetus had not long to live, he persuaded the Fates to prolong his life, on condition someone else die in his stead. As a loyal wife Alcestis consented to do so, but was rescued by Heracles, who wrestled with Death at her grave. Her story is told in Euripides' Alcestis.
alchemy Pseudoscience focused on the attempt to change base metals into gold. Ancient alchemists believed that, under the correct astrological conditions, lead could be “perfected” into gold. They tried to hasten this transformation by heating and refining the metal in a variety of chemical processes, most of which were kept secret. Alchemy was practiced in much of the ancient world, from China and India to Greece. It migrated to Egypt during the Hellenistic period and was later revived in 12th- century Europe through translations of Arabic texts into Latin. Medieval European alchemists made some useful discoveries, including mineral acids and alcohol. The revival led to the development of pharmacology under the influence of Paracelsus and to the rise of modem chemistry. Not until the 19th century were the gold-making processes of alchemists finally discredited.
Alcibiades N.al-so-'bl-o-.dezV (b. c. 450 bc, Athens—d. 404, Phrygia) Athenian politician and commander. Pericles was his guardian, his father having died in battle. Alcibiades grew up without much guidance, but as a youth he was drawn to Socrates’ moral strength and keen mind. Socrates, in turn, was attracted to the youth’s physical beauty and intel¬ lectual promise. They served together in the Peloponnesian War, saving each other’s life in battle, yet eventually Alcibiades was led by his own unscrupulous ambition. By 420 he was a general. Recalled from a Sicil¬ ian expedition in 415 on charges of sacrilege, he fled to Sparta. Though he aided the Spartan cause against Athens, he was eventually rejected and sought haven with the Persian governor at Sardis. The Athenian fleet eventually recalled him, and he directed Athenian victories 411-408. Though he achieved hero status, his enemies forced him to leave. From Thrace he warned Athens presciently of danger at the Battle of Aegospot- ami. He fled from Thrace to Phrygia, where the Spartans conspired to have him murdered. His political agitation was a decisive factor in the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War. His notorious behaviour helped strengthen the charges brought against Socrates in 399.
Alcmaeon or Alcmeon \alk-'me-3n\ In Greek mythology, the son of the seer Amphiaraus. The seer had been persuaded by his wife to join the expedition of the Seven Against Thebes. On realizing that he would die, he charged Alcmaeon and his other sons with avenging his death. Alc¬ maeon led the sons of the seven in the destruction of Thebes and then obeyed his father’s injunction to kill his mother, a crime for which the Furies drove him mad. He was purified by King Phegeus of Psophis, whose daughter he married but subsequently killed. Following the advice of an oracle, he settled on an island at the mouth of the Achelous River, where he married again, but was killed by Phegeus and his sons.