Eloise Heloise was a French nun. She was born in 1101 at Paris and died in 1164. She was celebrated for her beauty and wit, but still more on account of her love for Abelard. After the mutilation of her lover she was persuaded by him to take the veil at Argenteuil, and ultimately became prioress of the convent there until 1129, when she entered, with some of her nuns, the oratory of the Paraclete, built by Abelard at Nogent-on-the-Seine, where she lived in piety. Contemporary writers speak in high terms of her genius. She understood Latin, Greek, Hebrew, was familiar with the ancients, and well read in philosophy and theology. Research Eloise Heloise
Katharina von Bora was the wife of Luther. She was born in 1499 and died in 1552. She took the veil early; but feeling unhappy in her situation, applied, with eight other nuns, to Luther. The nuns were released from their convent, and in 1525 Luther married her, having himself by this time laid aside the cowl. After Luther's death she kept boarders for her support. Research Katharina von Bora
Marcus Furius Camillus was a Roman patrician. He became famous for delivering the city of Rome from the Gauls and in 396 BC was made dictator during the Veientine War and captured the town of Veil by mining after it had defied the Roman power for ten years. In 394 BC Camillusbesieged the Falerii, and by an act of generosity induced them to surrender. Three years after, the envy and jealousy of enemies caused him to exile himself for a time, and he was living in retirement when the Gauls under Brennus invaded and captured Rome, with the exception of the Capitol. Camillus was now appointed dictator a second time, and was successful in repelling the invaders. After having been four times appointed dictator, a new invasion of the Gauls called Camillus, now eighty years old, again to the front, and for the fifth and last time, being appointed dictator, he defeated and dispersed the barbarians. He died in 365 BC. Research Marcus Camillus
Pierre Abelard was a French philosopher. He was born in 1079, at Le Pallet and died in 1142. He founded scholastic theology.
As a young man Pierre Abelard made extraordinary progress with his studies, and, ultimately eclipsing his teachers, he opened a school of scholastic philosophy near Paris, which attracted crowds of students from the neighbouring city. His success in the fiery debates which were then the fashion in the schools made him many enemies, among whom was Guillaume de Champeaux, his former teacher, chief of the cathedral school of Notre-Dame, and the most advanced of the Realists. Abelard succeeded his adversary in this school in 1113, and under him were trained many men who afterwards rose to eminence, among them being the future Pope Celestin II., Peter Lombard, and Arnold of Brescia.
While he was at the height of his popularity, and in his fortieth year, he became infatuated with a passion for Heloise - then only eighteen years of age - niece of Fulbert, a canon of Paris. Obtaining a home in Fulbert's house under the pretext of teaching Heloise philosophy, their intercourse at length became apparent, and Abelard, who had retired to Brittany, was followed by Heloise, who there gave birth to a son. A private marriage took place, and Heloise returned to her uncle's house, but refusing to make public her marriage (as likely to spoil Abelard's career), she was subjected to severe treatment at the hands of her uncle. To save her from this Abelard carried her off and placed her in a convent at Argenteuil, a proceeding which so incensed Fulbert that he hired ruffians who broke into Abelard's chamber and subjected him to a shameful mutilation.
Abelard, filled with grief and shame, became a monk in the abbey of St Denis, and Heloise took the veil. When time had somewhat moderated his grief he resumed his lectures; but trouble after trouble overtook him. His theological writings were condemned by the Council of Soissons, and he retired to an oratory called the Paraclete, subsequently becoming head of the abbey of St. Gildas-de-Rhuys in Brittany.
For a short time he again lectured at Paris in 1136, but his doctrines again brought persecution on him, and St Bernard had him condemned by the council of Sens and afterwards by the pope. Abelard did not long survive this, dying at St. Marcel, near Chalon-sur-Saone in 1142. Heloise, who had become abbess of the Paraclete, had him buried there, where she herself was afterwards laid by his side. Their ashes were removed to Paris in 1800, and in 1817 they were finally deposited beneath a mausoleum in the cemetery of Pere la Chaise.
Abelard is credited with the invention of a new philosophical system, midway between Realism and Nominalism. A complete edition of his works was published by Cousin in two volumes at Paris, 1849-59, and the letters of Abelard and Heloise have been often published in the original and in translations. Research Pierre Abelard
Hymen or Hymenaeus was the Greek and Roman god of marriage. He was the son of Bacchus and Venus. No marriage took place without his being invoked to sanction it. He is described as having around his brows the flowers of marjoram, in his left hand the flame-coloured nuptial veil, in his right the nuptial torch, and on his feet golden sandals. He is a taller and more serious Eros, and is accompanied by song and dance. Research Hymen
A coif is a close-fitting cap. During the Middle Ages a coif was worn under a veil by women and by knights beneath a chain-mail hood. Today coifs are worn by nuns. Research Coif
A domino is a kind of hood worn by the canons of a cathedralchurch. It reached no lower than the shoulders, and served to protect the face and head from the weather Later the name was given to a mourning-veil for women and later still to half-masks worn by women when travelling or at a masquerade, for disguise. The term domino was also applied in Victorian England to a masquerade-dress worn for disguise by ladies and gentlemen, and consisting of an ample cloak or mantle with wide sleeves and a hood removable at pleasure. It was usually made of black silk, but sometimes of other colours and materials. Research Domino
A faille was a kind of hood or veil worn by women during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Faille is a light, soft, glossy silk or rayon cloth fabric with a cross-wise rib effect. It is similar to grossgrain, but much softer. It has been used since the mid 19th century in the manufacture of women's garments, especially coats and dresses. Research Faille
A humeral is a cape or covering for the shoulders. In ecclesiastical rituals, the humeral veil was a silk vestment of a rectangular shape, worn over the shoulders during various ceremonies, also covering the hands when the officiating priest held the sacred vessels. The humeral veil was also worn by the Jewish priest on the shoulders, and was fastened to the breastplate. Research Humeral
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Eloise Heloise
