Pallas is the second largest asteroid and the second to be discovered. It was first observed by the German astronomer Heinrich Olbers in 1802. It is about 480 km in diameter, and orbits about the sun in 1684 days. Research Pallas
The Pallas cat (Felis manul, manul, steppe cat) is an Asian wild cat living in rocky areas from the eastern border of the Caspian Sea to Tibet and Mongolia. It is about the size of domestic cat with soft, long, and thick fur which is whitish grey or light yellowish with black spots on the crown and black stripes on the rump. It eats small mammals and birds. Research Pallas cat
Karl Friedrich Gauss was a German mathematician. He was born in 1777 at Brunswick and died in 1855. He demonstrated that a circle can be divided into 17 equal arcs by elementary geometry.
And in addition to many new theorems, he published a demonstration of the theorem of Fermat concerning triangular numbers. He also calculated, by a new method, the orbit of the planets Ceres and Pallas. In 1807 he became professor of mathematics and director ob the observatory of Gottingen, a position which he held until his death. Research Karl Gauss
Oliver Goldsmith was an Anglo-Irish journalist, essayist, novelist, dramatist and poet. He was born in 1728 at Pallas, county LongfordIreland and died in 1774. Among his more famous works are 'The Vicar of Wakefield' and ' The Deserted Village'. His father, a clergyman of the Established Church, held the living of Kilkenny West. In 1745 he was entered as a sizar at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1749, shortly after his father's death, he left Dublin with the degree of Bachelor, and was advised by an uncle, who had already borne a large part of the expenses of his education, to prepare for holy orders. Rejected for holy orders he became tutor in a family, but soon lost his situation on account of a dispute with the master of the house over a game at cards.
The same uncle who had given him assistance before now gave him 50 pounds to go to Dublin to study law, but he had scarcely arrived at the city when he lost the whole sum in gambling. In spite of his repeated imprudences he was once more succoured by his uncle, who supplied him with means to go to Edinburgh to study medicine. Here he remained eighteen months, during which he acquired some slight knowledge of chemistry and natural history. At the end of this period he removed to Leyden, again at the expense of his uncle; and afterwards wandered over a large part of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. It was probably at Padua that he took a medical degree, as he remained there six months; but his uncle dying while he was in Italy he wag obliged to travel on foot to England, and reached London in 1756 with a few pence in his pocket. After some years of hard experience as a chemist's assistant, medical practitioner, proof-reader, and school usher, he drifted into literature. He conducted a department in the Monthly Review, wrote essays in the Public Ledger (afterwards published under the title of the Citizen of the World), and a weekly pamphlet, entitled the Bee. In 1761 he was introduced to Dr. Johnson.
In 1764 he appeared as a poet by the publication of his Traveller. In 1766 appeared his Vicar of Wakefield, which at once secured merited applause. In 1768 his comedy of the Good-natured Man was acted at Covent-Gardenwith but indifferent success. His poetical fame was greatly enhanced by the publication of his The Deserted Village in 1770. In 1773 he produced his comedy of She Stoops to Conquer, which was completely successful. He also compiled histories of England, Greece, and Rome; and a History of the Earth and Animated Nature, a pleasing work, but one of no scientific value. His last days were embittered by the pressure of debt, incurred partly by his improvidence and partly by his generosity. The manners of Oliver Goldsmith were eccentric, even to absurdity. Research Oliver Goldsmith
Thomas Cochrane was a British admiral and the Tenth Earl of Dundonald. He was born in 1775 at Annsfield and died in 1860. At the age of eighteen he embarked with his uncle, then Captain, and afterwards Sir Alexander Cochrane, in the Hind, of twenty-eight guns, and soon distinguished himself by his daring and gallantry. In 1800 he was appointed to the Speedy, a sloop-of-war of fourteen guns, In charge of the 'Speedy', he captured off the coast of Spain, among others, the Spanish ship 'El Gamo' in May 1801. Soon afterwards he was himself captured by a French ship of the line. In 1805, while in command of the Pallasfrigate, he took some rich prizes, and for the next four years in the Imperieuse performed remarkable exploits in cutting out vessels, storming batteries, destroying signals, etc. In the Basque Roads in 1809 with a division of fire-vessels he pushed within the enemy's lines, effecting immense destruction.
On his return to England he entered parliament, and by his attacks on the abuses of the naval administration made himself obnoxious to the authorities. He gave further offence by charging LordGambier, his superior officer, with neglect of duty (which was true); by denouncing the abuses of the prize-court, and the treatment of the prisoners of war. His enemies succeeded in 1814 in convicting him on a charge - since proved to be false - of originating a rumour, for speculative purposes, that Napoleon had abdicated. He was expelled from parliament, deprived of all his honours, imprisoned for a year, and fined 1000 pounds. The electors of Westminster immediately paid his fine and re-elected him, but he had to remain in prison until the expiration of his sentence.
In 1818 he took service in the Chilian navy, his exploits greatly aiding the national independence of that country, as well as soon after of Brazil. In 1832 he was restored to his rank in the British navy. In 1831, by the death of his father, he had succeeded to the name and title of Earl of Dundonald; in 1841 he became vice-admiral of the blue; in 1848 he was appointed commander-in-chief on the North America and West India station; and in 1851 and 1854 respectively he became vice-admiral of the white, and rear-admiral of the United Kingdom. He did much to promote the adoption of steam and the screw propeller in war-ships. He wrote an autobiography, which, though left incomplete, is a most interesting work. Research Thomas Cochrane
In Greek mythology, the apple of discord was a golden apple thrown into an assembly of the gods by the goddess of discord (Eris) bearing the inscription 'for the fairest.' Aphrodite, Hera and Pallas became competitors for it, and its adjudication to the first by Paris so inflamed the jealousy and hatred of Hera to all of the Trojan race (to which Paris belonged) that she did not cease her machinations until Troy was destroyed. Research Apple of Discord
Athena, or Athene was a Greek goddess, identified by the Romans with Minerva, the representative of the intellectual powers. She was the daughter of Zeus and Metis (that is, wisdom or cleverness). According to the legend, which is perhaps allegorical, before her birth Zeus swallowed her mother, and Athena afterwards sprang from the head of Zeus with a mighty war shout and in complete armour. In her character of a wise and prudent warrior she was contrasted with the fierce Ares. In the wars of the giants she slew Pallas and Enceladus. In the wars of the mortals she aided and protected heroes. She is also represented as the patroness of the arts of peace. The sculptor, the architect, and the painter, as well as the philosopher, the orator, and the poet, considered her their tutelar deity. She is also represented among the healing gods. In all these representations she is the symbol of the thinking faculty, the goddess of wisdom, science, and art; the latter, however, only in so far as invention and thought are comprehended. In the images of the goddess a manlygravity and an air of reflection are united with female beauty in her features. As a warrior she is represented completely armed, her head covered with a gold helmet. As the goddess of peaceful arts she appears in the dress of a Grecian matron. To her insignia belong the AEgis, the Gorgon's head, the round Argive buckler; and the owl, the cock, the serpent, an olive branch, and a lance were sacred to her. All Attica, but particularly Athens, was sacred to her, and she had numerous temples there. Her most brilliant festival at Athens was the Panathenaea. Research Athena
In Greek mythology Diomedes was a king of the Bistones, who fed his horses on human flesh, and used to throw all strangers who entered his territories to those animals to be devoured. He was killed by Hercules, who carried off the horses.
In Greek mythology Diomedes was one of the heroes at the siege of Troy, the son of Tydeus and Deipyle, and king of Argos, one of the suitors of Helen. After she was carried off Diomedes engaged in the expedition against Troy, in which his courage and the protection of Pallas rendered him one of the most distinguished heroes. He wounded Aphrodite and Ares, and thrice assailed Apollo; and by carrying off the horses of Rhoesus from the enemies' tents, and aiding Ulysses in the removal of Philoctetes from Lenmos, he fulfilled two of the conditions on which alone Troy could be conquered. Finally he was one of the heroes concealed in the wooden horse by whom the capture of Troy was at length accomplished. Different accounts were given of his after-life. He is often called Diomede. Research Diomedes
Nike was the Greek goddess of victory. She was the daughter of Pallas and Styx. She helped the gods in their battle against the titans and was rewarded by Zeus. Research Nike
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Pallas
