|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
Neptune
NeptuneIn Roman mythology, Neptune was an early Italian water deity who became identified with the Greek god Poseidon after about 400 b.c. Unlike Poseidon, who appeared in many Greek myths and legends, Neptune played a relatively minor role in Roman mythology In ancient Roman art, he is generally shown holding a trident, a traditional weapon of fishermen in the Mediterranean region. Possibly called Nethunus by the Etruscans of ancient Italy, the early Neptune was linked to freshwater rivers, lakes, and springs. After identification with Poseidon, he also became the god of the sea. His wife, Salacia, a goddess of springwater, became associated with Amphitrite, the wife of Poseidon and queen of the sea. deity god or goddess trident three-pronged spear, similar to a pitchfork patron special guardian, protector, or supporter The ancient Romans held an annual festival to honor Neptune in July, a time when the hot, dry weather of Italy made water scarce. The purpose of the festival was probably to appease the god and help ensure that water would soon be abundant again. Closely associated with horses, as was Poseidon, Neptune may also have been worshiped by the Romans as a god of horses and patron of horse racing. See also Poseidon; Roman Mythology. *See Names and Places at the end of this volume for further information. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Neptune." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Neptune." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900348.html "Neptune." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900348.html |
|
Neptune
Neptune in Roman mythology, the god of the water and of the sea; his Greek equivalent is Poseidon.
From the early 19th century, the traditional shipboard ceremony held when crossing the equator has included a sailor dressed as Neptune. Neptunism was a theory propounded by A. G. Werner that the rocks of the earth's crust were formed primarily by crystallization from the sea, rather than by solidification of magma. The theory was popular at the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, but is now rejected. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Neptune." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Neptune." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Neptune.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Neptune." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Neptune.html |
|
Neptune
Neptune, a Roman god of unknown origin but thought have been associated with Salacia, the goddess of salt water. Later, in 399 bc, he was identified with the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. Up to that time sacrifices for naval victories had been made in Rome to Fortunus. But the Emperor Augustus' right-hand man Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa changed that by dedicating a temple in the Campus Martius to Neptune in honour of the naval victory of Actium.
See also crossing the line. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Neptune." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Neptune." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-Neptune.html "Neptune." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-Neptune.html |
|
Neptune
Neptune in Roman religion and mythology, god of water. He was presumably an indigenous god of fertility, but in later times he was identified with the Greek Poseidon , god of the sea. At his festival, the Neptunalia (July 23), arbors were dedicated to him. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Neptune." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Neptune." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Neptune1.html "Neptune." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Neptune1.html |
|
Neptune
Nep·tune / ˈnept(y)oōn/ 1. Roman Mythol. the god of water and of the sea. Greek equivalent Poseidon. 2. Astron. a distant planet of the solar system, eighth in order from the sun, discovered in 1846. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Neptune." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Neptune." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-neptune.html "Neptune." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-neptune.html |
|
Neptune
Neptune Roman god, originally associated with freshwater but later identified with the Greek god Poseidon and hence the sea. He was often depicted carrying a trident and riding a dolphin. His festival was in July.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Neptune." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Neptune." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Neptune1.html "Neptune." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Neptune1.html |
|
NEPTUNE
NEPTUNE, codename for the assault phase of the Allied invasion of Normandy. See OVERLORD.
|
|
|
Cite this article
I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "NEPTUNE." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "NEPTUNE." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-NEPTUNE.html I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "NEPTUNE." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-NEPTUNE.html |
|
Neptune
Neptune •afternoon, attune, autoimmune, baboon, balloon, bassoon, bestrewn, boon, Boone, bridoon, buffoon, Cameroon, Cancún, cardoon, cartoon, Changchun, cocoon, commune, croon, doubloon, dragoon, dune, festoon, galloon, goon, harpoon, hoon, immune, importune, impugn, Irgun, jejune, June, Kowloon, lagoon, lampoon, loon, macaroon, maroon, monsoon, moon, Muldoon, noon, oppugn, picayune, platoon, poltroon, pontoon, poon, prune, puccoon, raccoon, Rangoon, ratoon, rigadoon, rune, saloon, Saskatoon, Sassoon, Scone, soon, spittoon, spoon, swoon, Troon, tune, tycoon, typhoon, Walloon
•fortune, misfortune
•vodun • veldskoen • honeymoon
•forenoon • tablespoon • teaspoon
•soupspoon • dessertspoon • Neptune
•tribune • triune • opportune
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Neptune." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Neptune." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Neptune.html "Neptune." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Neptune.html |
|
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
