Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume II.djvu/79

 ATI! LONE ATKINSON 67 figures. In acknowledgment of his merits the states general conferred upon Athias a chain of gold and a medal. * ATHLOXE, a market town and parliament- ary borough of Ireland, on both sides of the river Shannon, near its entrance into Lough Ree, partly in Westnieath and partly in Ros- coramon, 68 m. W. of Dublin ; pop. in 1871, 6,617. The opposite shores of the river are here united by a handsome bridge, and a canal has been formed to avoid the rapids at this point, thus making navigation practicable for 70 miles higher up the stream. The castle on the right bank of the river, with its outworks, covers 15 acres. It is connected by railway with Dublin and Galway, and an active trade is carried on by steamers with Limerick and Shannon harbor, and with Dublin by the Grand and Royal canals. After the battle of the Boyne William III. besieged Athlone unsuc- cessfully, but it was taken by Gen. Ginkell, June 30, 1691. ATHOL, Athole, or Atholl, a district in the northern part of Perthshire, Scotland, em- bracing about 450 sq. m. It is picturesque and mountainous, some of the summits attain- ing an elevation of more than 3,000 feet. It contains several lakes and beautiful valleys, among which is the pass of Killiecrankie, where Graham of Claverhonse gained a victory and met his death in 1689. Agriculture is carried on in the valleys, while on the hills sheep and cattle are pastured. ATHOS (mod. Gr. Hag ion Oros, holy moun- tain ; Turk. Aineros), the easternmost of the three peninsulas projecting from ancient Chal- cidice, in the N. W. part of the ^Egean sea, now included in the Turkish eyalet of Salonica, about 30 m. long and from 4 to 7 broad. It is mountainous, and cut by numerous ravines. At its extremity stands the mountain from which it takes its name. Mt. Athos is about 6,350 ft. high, with a peak of white limestone, while its lower rocks are of gneiss and argil- laceous slate. The sides of the mountain are flanked with vast forests of pines, oaks, and chestnuts, the pines growing to an immense size. Various kinds of aromatic herbs grow here in abundance, out of which the monks ex- tract the oils and essence and use them for medicinal purposes, perfumery, and ingredients in incense. It was across the isthmus which connects the peninsula of Athos with the main- land that Xerxes cut a canal for his ships, in his invasion of Greece. The remains of this canal, according to the best authorities, are still distinctly visible through most of its ex- tent. Near the middle of its course it is not discernible, having been filled up. Athos was so called from the giant of that name who in the Grecian mythology hurled the mountain at the gods. The peninsula in ancient times contained several flourishing cities and a tem- ple of Jupiter ; and in the middle ages it was dotted over with hermitages and monasteries, 20 of which still remain. Most of these mon- asteries were founded by Byzantine princes. It was here that ambitious malcontents of the court of Constantinople, favorites in disgrace, and even private individuals, retired to await Athoa. a change of ati'airs or return to favor. The monks at present number about 6,000, from Greece, Bulgaria, Roumania, and Russia, in all of which countries the convents of Athos pos- sess estates. No female is permitted to enter the peninsula. The monks are ruled by an ad- ministrative assembly (protaton), composed of delegates from the various convents chosen for a term of four years. The administration of justice and the management of the revenue are also vested in this body. The assembly has its seat at Karias, the capital of the peninsula. A Turkish aga resides in Athos and collects an annual tribute from the convents. In the mid- dle ages these convents were the seat of Greek science and the centre of Byzantine Christian knowledge, and possessed many large libraries. There are still to be found there old and beau- tiful manuscripts, several of which have been photographed and deposited in the museum of Moscow. VII 1 1. V or Milan, a lake of Central Amer- ica, about 20 m. in length and 8 to 10 m. in breadth, situated in the department of Solola, Guatemala. It appears, from the geological formations about it, to lie in the crater of an ancient volcano, and it is of extraordinary depth, no soundings, it is said, being obtain- able with a line of 1,800 ft. Although several small streams flow into it, no outlet has been discovered. The scenery in its neighborhood is remarkably picturesque ; high cliffs surround it, with but little vegetation. On the southern bank of the lake is a small Indian town of the same name, having barely 2,000 inhabitants. ATKINSON, Thomas Witlam, an English artist and traveller, born in Yorkshire, March 6,