Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/299

AURELIUS. were caused to flow from the nostrils of the horse. The present pedestal is the work of Michelangelo, and was cut from a column of the Temple of Castor and Pollux.

AURELIUS VICTOR, A Roman historian of the Fourth Century A.D. He wrote De Cæsaribus, a collection of brief biographies of the Emperors from Augustus to Constantius. According to his own account, contained in that work, he was appointed by Julian governor of a division of the Province of Pannonia, and, by Theodosius, city prefect. He is also generally identified as the one of the name who was consul with Valentinian, A.D. 373. To him are wrongly attributed the Origo Gentis Romanæ, the De Viris Illustribus Urbis Romæ, and the De Vita et Moribus Imperatorum Romanorum.

AURELLE DE PALADINES, 6'rCd' dc pa'- la'den', (1804-77). A French general. He entered the army in 1824, served in Algiers in 1841-54, won distinction in the Crimean War, and became a general of divi- sion in 1855. He was not in active service at the outbreak of the Franco-German War, but re- ceived a command after the battle of Sedan, or- ganized the Army of the Loire, and drove Von der Tann from Orleans, winning the first victory for France. He was repulsed in an attack upon the army of Prince Frederick Charles, was beaten by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg at Artenay, and was soon afterward removed from his com- mand, though he subsequently commanded the National Guard in the Department of the Seine. He wrote Campagne de 1870-71; la première armée de la Loire (1872).

AU'REOLE (Lat. aureola, golden, sc. corona, [ crown I . The glory which radiates from the body of a transfigured, divine, or other supernatural being in representations of Christian art. It dif- fers from the nimbus (q.v.), which radiates from the head only, in being an emanation of light from the entire body. It is of various shapes: I circular, oval, or egg-shaped, quadrilobed and lozenged. Sometimes, as in enthroned figures of Christ, there is a double aureole — one around the upper, and the other around the lower part of the body. The aureole is of two kinds: diffused [ or circumscribed, according as the rays of light, as they flare outward, end in an encircling band or melt into space. These rays are sometimes straight, sometimes flamboyant. The aureole was of later origin than the nimbus; it was not used until after the Eighth Century, and was generally aban- doned by Renaissance painters of the Fifteenth Century. It was used almost entirely around fig- ures of Christ, the Trinity, and the Virgin Mary.

AUREUS, .a're-us, or Denarius Aureus (Lat. golden, from aurum, gold). The oldest standard gold coin of Rome, first coined B.C. 207. Its average weight was 121 grains, and value about $5.00.

AU'RIC ACID (Lat. aurum, gold). A name formerly given to gold peroxide, a brown-black powder which is obtained by precipitating the auric chloride with alkalies. It combines with basic radicals to form salts, which are called aurates, as ammonium aurate, which is the scientific name for fulminating gold.

AU'RICLES (Lat. auricula, dimin. of auris, ear). Two cavities of the heart. See.

AURICULA (Lat. dim. of auris, ear, so named on account of a fancied resemblance of the leaves to the ears of an animal), Primula auricula. A plant of the same genus with the primrose, little grown in America, but valued in England for the fragrance and beauty of its flowers. The auricula is a native of the Alps and other mountains of the middle and south of Europe, and of sub-alpine situations in the same countries. It is found also on the Caucasus and the mountains of Syria. It grows in shady and moist places. In the wild state it has compara- tively small flowers, of a simple yellow color, on short stalks, forming an umbel. It has been greatly improved by cultivation. Red, pink, crimson, apple-green, and mulberry are the chief colors which the different varieties exhibit. More than 1200 varieties have been cultivated, and new ones are from time to time raised from seed. Some of them are entirely of one color, others of two or more; some are delicately shaded, and some variegated. The flowers of desirable varieties are large and almost round, with the white or yellow eye of the centre dis- tinct, and its color does not mix with the ground color. The scape must be tall, and the full umbel of erect flowers rise entirely above the leaves. The green margin adds much to the beauty of many varieties. The auricula blooms in April and May, and often also a second time in the end of autumn. It succeeds best in a rich, light soil. The finer varieties are cultivated in pots. They ought, previous to flowering, to stand in an airy, sunny situation. They are propagated by offsets, generally in the latter part of August. When auricula is to be raised from seed, care ought to be taken to select the finest flowers, which are encouraged to ripen their seeds by exposure to sun and air. They ought to be pro- tected from heavy rains by hand-glasses placed over them. The seed is sown either in autumn or spring, usually in boxes placed under shelter or in a slight hotbed.

AURICULAR CONFES'SION. See.

AU'RIFA'BER (Lat. for family name Gold- schniied). German Protestant theologians and reformers. (1) Andreas (1514-59). A friend of Melanchthon: born in Breslau. He received the degree of M.A. at Wittenberg University in 1534. He taught in the philosophical faculty; then was school principal. He took up medicine, and was body physician to Duke Albert of Prus- sia for ten years. In 1542 he returned as profes- sor of medicine to Wittenberg, and after 1545 was ducal body physician at Königsberg. and professor in the university, although his instruc- tion was much interrupted by the diplomatic journeys on which he was sent by the Duke. He was an ardent defender of Osiande (1498-1552), whose daughter was his second wife. As an Osianderian he was bitterly attacked by the ultra- conservative Lutherans, whose leader (Flacius) dubbed him 'dog-doctor,' because he had issued a book upon the treatment of canine diseases. He died at Königsberg, December 12, 1559. His writings were chiefly medical. (2) Johannes (1517-68). A brother of Andreas, and, like him, a friend of Melanchthon; born at Breslau, Janu- ary 30, 1517. He received the degree of M.A. at Wittenberg University in 1538, and became pro- fessor at Rostock in 1550. After a varied and fruitful activity (chief author of the Mecklen-