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AGNESI. all the educational advanta<;es that wealth could procure. Her linguistic and philosophic powers suggested the title of "oracle in seven languages." She also gave nuich attention to the seiences, particularly to mathematics. "Algebra and geometry," she said, "are the only provinces of thought where peace reigns." In 174.S she was nurde a niemlier of the Academy of Bologna, and in the same year appeared her Istitnzioni analit- irhe ad jj.s'o dclla giorciitt'i itnliava, 2 volumes (Milan, 174S: Paris.1775; London. 1801 ). In 1750 she was appointed by I'ope Benedict XIV. lectur- er on niatlicinatics at the University of Bologna. Early devoted to religious observances, after the death of her father (17.")2). slie renouni'ed her scientific work and took the veil. Her name is connected with an interesting cubic curve. Con- sult: .T. Boycr, "La niatheniaticienne Agnesi,' in the Revue Catlioliquc dcs revues fra)i(:(iises ct eirtniricres (Paris, 1807): and Antonio Fran- cesco Frisi. Eloqio (Milan, 1799; translated by Boulavd, Paris.' 1S07).

AG'NES OF AUS'TRIA (1281-1304). A daughter of Albreeht I., Kmperor of Germany. She was the wife of Andreas III., King of Hun- gary, and after the murder of her father (1308) lived at the monastery of Konigsfelden, which her mother had erected upon the site of the assas- sination of the Kmperor. She took an active part in the political events of the period, and frequently acted as mediator between Austria and the Swiss Confederacy.

AGNES OF MERAN, mn-riin' (?-1201). A queen of France, daughter of the Duke of Meran (Tyrol) and Margrave of Istria. She w-as mar- ried in 119 to Pliilip Augustus (q.v.), who had obtained (through the French bishops) a divorce from Ingel)org of Denmark. The Pope refused to allow the divorce, but the King braved the Papal wrath. In 119S France was jjlaced under an interdict; but in 1200, the King, by a feigned compliance, secvired the raising of the inierdict. Agnes died in 1201, hut it was not until 1213 that Philip was reconciled to Ingeborg. Then the Pope legitimatized the two children of Agnes.

AGNES OF POITIERS, pwa'tyfl' (102.^)?- 1077). A queen of Germany, daughter of Wil- liam v., Duke of Aquitainc, and second wife of Henry III. of Germany, to whom she was mar- ried in 1043. She was much influenced by the ideas of Cluny, After the death of Henry (10,5fi), Agnes became Regent of the Empire as juardiaii of her son, Henry IV. In 10(i2 rebel- lious nobles secured possession of the young Henry, and Agnes went to Italy. She liccame closely associated with Gregory VII. in his con- test against Henry.

AGNES' EVE, S.int. The night of January 20. In popular superstition it is regarded as an occasion when young women can bj' various magic arts behold the faces of their destined husbands.

AGNES SOREL' ( 1421-50). The mistress of Charles 'II. of France, and lady of honor to his queen, the virtuous Jlarie of Anjou, whose full confidenee she long enjoyed. She had great inllu- ence over Charles, and at a period of the greatest degradation for France (sec .To.N of -Aur). in- spired him to action against the English invad- ers, which resulted in their expulsion ^rom the country. Her death was sudden, and it is sup- posed that she was poisoned by the Dauphin, afterward Louis XI. She had three children by the king. Consult: Capefigue, Arines Horel (Paris, IS(iO).

AG'NEW, (1830-88). An American jihysician. He was born in New York City, graduated from Columbia College in 1849, and from the College of Physicians' and Sur- geons in 1852. In 1858 he vas appointed sur- geon-general of New York State, and during the Civil War was medical director of the New York Volunteer Hospital. He was prominent in the United States Sanitary Commission. He assist- ed in founding the Columbia School of Jlines in 1884, founded the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hos- pital in 18ti8, and the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital. He became president of the State Medical Society in 1872. one of the trustees of Colnmbia College in 1874, and was a professor in the Colh'ge of Physicians and Surgeons. He was a member of many medical anil scientific societies, and contributed much to the literature of the diseases of the eye a,nd ear.

AGNEW, (1818-92). Professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, and very widely known by his surgical inventions and by his writings, among which may he mentioned: The Principles and Practice of Surgery, 3 volumes (1878-83).

AG'NI (Skr. Afjui-s). The fire god of the Hindus, corresponding in name to the Latin ignis, Lithuanian uijiils, and Old Slavic offiii, fire. Next to Indra (q.v.) he is the most prom- inent of the gods in the Veda (q.v.). No less than two hundred hymns celebrate his praise un- der his three-fold form, as the fire on earth, es])e- cially the altar-fire, the lightning in the sky. and the sun in heaven. His birth is of divine origin, as the lightning of the clouds, or he is (hiily pro- duced by a miracle, the rubbing together of two sticks which are regarded as his parents, and he devours them as soon as he is born. Kindled each morning at the sacrifice, his worship forms one of the most important parts of the ritual. He is especially the messenger between the gods and men, and lie rides upon a chariot drawn by two or mcn'c steeds. Allliough an immortal, he has taken up his abode among men, and he is regard- ed as the most honored guest. In the later lit- erature less is made, perhaps, of Agni than in the early hymns; but as one of the most promi- nent gods several legends are preserved regard- ing him in the Hindu epics Mahfiblnlrata and R;"imayana (q.v.). The Harivania (q.v.) de- scribes him as clad in black, with a banner of smoke and a javelin of tiame. In ]>ictures he is variously porti'ayed, but his color is red and he is represented as having two faces, which typify his destructive as well as his beneficent charac- ter, and he has three legs and seven arms. Some- times he is represented as riding upon a ram or as accompanied by that animal. Consult; Maedoncll, Vedic ili/thologi/ (Strassbiirg, 1897); Hojikins, Itcligions of India (Boston, 1895); Wilkins, Hindu Mi/fhology (London, 1900).

AG'NOE'TÆ (Gk.n)-i'of7f, agnocin, to be ignorant). . Alonophysite sect in the sixth century, which gave prouiineiice to the statement that, in his human nature. Christ was ignorant of many things, especially of the time of the day of judgment. An Arian sect of the same name in the fourth century denied the omniscience of God.