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ZACCONI, Ludovico. Italian scholar. Little is known of his life but he settled in Venice as an Augustine monk. He was given the post of maestro do capella in his church, and later took service under Wilhelm of Bavaria in 1592, then under the archduke Charles in vienna until 1619. His greatest musical work was the Prattica di musica, which appeared in Venice in two parts, 1596 and 1619.
ZACHARIAE VON LINGENTHAL, Karl Salomo (1769-1843). German jurist. Professor of law at Heidelberg, 1807 and elected to the Baden and Heidelberg legislatures in 1820 and 1825. Author of four juridicial works, Die Einheit des Staats und der Kirche, 1797, about ecclesiastical law; Hermeneutik des Rechts, 1805; Die wissenschaft der Gesetzgebung, 1806 about utilitariansim in politics; and Vierzig Bucher vom Staate, 1839-42, covering the history of law.
ZACHARIAS. Biblical character. Father of John the Baptist. For his disbelief in the message of the angel Gabriel concerning the mission of his future son he was struck dumb, but was cured after John's circumcision.
ZACHARIAS (d.752). Saint and pope. He became pope in 741, receiving the personal protection from Liutprand, king of the Lombards, who also restored papal territory in 743. Making S. boniface his papal legate in Germany, Zacharias secured influence over the internal politics of that country and of France. He was made a saint after his death.
ZADKIEL (1795-1874). English astrologer. Born as Richard Jamesa Morison, he entered the navy in 1806, and the coastguard service, 1827-29. He founded the Herald of Astrology known as Zadkiel's Almanac, 1831, his pseudonym.
ZADOK. Biblical character. A priest during the reign of King David, he remained loyal to the king during the revolt of Absalom (2 Sam.15), and was later a faithful adherent of King Solomon, who made him high priest (1 Kings, 2). the high-priesthood was held by his descendants until the rise of the Maccabees.
ZAGHLUL (1852-1927). Egyptian statesman. He entered the civil service, being appointed to a high post in the province of Giza, but was arrested and deprived of his position for his part in Arabi Pasha's rebellion, 1882. After becoming a barrister, he was made counsellor of the court of appeal in 1893, and became actively associated with the Egyptian national movement. Minister of education, 1906, and of justice, 1910. Kitchener had him dismissed from office unjustly in 1912. He then became anti-British and demanded Egyptian independence in 1918. His arrest and deportation in 1919 caused a serious revolt, and he was released. His arrest and deportation again in 1921, led to his return in 1923, and him becoming prime minister under the new constitution in 1924. He would not discuss terms with Ramsay MacDonald, and the assassination of Sir Lee Stack, forced his resignation. However he continued as head of the Wafd (Nationalist Party), and in 1925 became president of the chamber of deputies, was re-elected to this position in1926 until his death.
ZAHN, Theodor von (1838-1933). German theologian. Was professor in turn at Gottingen, Kiel, Erlangen, Leipzig and again at Erlangen. He retired in 1906. He published many critical works, on the New Testament which include The Apostles' Creed, 1899; Bread and Salf from the Word of God, 1905, and Introduction to the N.T. 1909.
ZAMBRA, Joseph Warren (1822-97). Anglo-Italian meteorologist. He and his partner Negretti, set up a meteorological instrument business in Holborn Viaduct, London.
ZAMENHOF, Ludwig Lazarus (1859-1917). Polish linguist. He was an occulist by profession, but gained fame as the inventor of Esperanto, designed to be a world language.
ZAMOYSKI, Jan (1541-1605). Polish soldier and statesman. Educated in Paris he was recognized as a brilliant scholar before he was out of his teens. De Senatu romano was published in 1563 while he was rector of the academy at Padua. Returning to Poland in 1565 he was prominent in redrafting the constitution after the death of Sigismund II. He was a supporter of Stephen Bathory, who made him chancellor in 1576 and commander-in-chief in 1580. Zamoyski was a brilliant solder during the struggle against Russia but still kept in touch with administration. He unmasked a serious plot in 1585 which brought him many enemies. When Stephen died a struggle broke out between him and these other factions but he secured the support of the diet in 1587 and the election of Sigismund of Sweden instead of his opponent's choice Maximilian of Austria. He defeated Maximilian at the battle of Byezyna in 1588. When Sigismund sacked him as chancellor, instead, seeking an alliance with the Hapsburgs, Zamoyski annuled the royal order in 1592 and after a fierce struggle regained power. From then on he was constantly at battle with Moldavia, and the Tatars, Zamoyski preserved the autonomy of Poland and did not participate in foreign agression. However his judgment was blinded by personal feelings in 1605 when he opposed Sigismund's attempts to reform the administration.
ZANARDELLI, Giuseppe (1826-1903) Italian statesman. He was elected as a Liberal to the first Italian parliament, 1850 and became minister of public works in 1876, and minister of the interior in 1878. He was minister of justice in 1881 and 1887-91 during which he produced the new criminal code. He became prime minister in 1901.
ZANELLA, Giacomo (1820-88) Italian poet. In 1866 he became professor of Italian language and literature at Padua and published his first volume of poems 2 years later. He resigned in 1872. Among his works was a History of 18th and 19th century Italian literature, 1880 but he is chiefly memorable as a poet, his Vigil is a meditation upon evolution from the theologian's point of view, his odes to Dante and on the opening of the Suez Canal, his sonnets on the river Astichello and many other poems.
ZANGWILL, Israel (1864-1926). Jewish novelist. He became an elementary school-teacher in Spitalfields, but becoming well known for his short stories he became a full time writer and part-time journalist. He founded and editedAriel, the London Puck. He wrote about Jewish life. Children of the Ghetto, 1892, was his best known work. Other works include Ghetto Tragedies, 1893; The King of Schnorrers, 1894; The Master, 1895; Dreamers of the Ghetto, 1898; Ghetto Comedies, 1907; and Chosen Peoples, 1918. Among his many plays were Merely Mary Ann, 1903; The Melting Pot, 1908; The Next Religion, 1912, which was banned, and too Much Money, 1918. Zangwill was the founder and the first president of the International Jewish Territorial Organisation and a Zionist.
ZAPATA, Emiliano (c.1880-1918). Mexican bandit. A Guerrero Indian, he organised a band of some 1000 indians in 1910. He participated with Villa and Madero in the revolution which overthrew Diaz in 1911. Over the next 7 years he became a powerful bandit commanding a disciplined army of some 20,000 Indians and at one time controlled some 3/4 of Mexico. He created 2 presidents and practically controlled 2 more. He is said to have done damage estimated in the millions and to have executed some 11,000 people. He was finally killed by an officer in President Carranza's army in 1918.
ZARATHUSTRA. Persian religious founder. He was the founder of the religion of ancient Persia and of the Parsees. His period has been dated as 1,000B.C., 800 B.C. and 660 B.C. The chief authority on his life and teachings is the Zend-Avesta, the sacred book of the Parsees, which dates from about A.D.230. His birth was attended by miraculous signs, and at an early age he experienced visions. He spent his youth in meditation and it was not until he was thirty that he began his mission. He left his home and visitee the court of the king of Bactria, where he married the sister of a courtier. He spent the rest of his life in teaching and was murdered at the taking of Balkh by the Turanians at the age of 77. Zarathustra founded his religion known as Zoroastrianism, upon the age-old polytheistic Aryan folk-religion, but the modified its form and tenets. He adopted a persuasive and passive, rather than a propagandist attitude and aimed at a moral reformation, including hospitality, philanthropy and benevolence. He wished to purge the existing religion of its licentiousness and cruelty, and desired to abolish the negative "daeva" worship, based on fear of evil spirits alone to the positive worship of good. His doctrines were practically monotheistic; he conceived a world contest between the forces of good and evil, light and darkness which he personified as AhuroMazdao or Ormuzd, the wise and good , and Ahriman, the evil. It was man's duty to aid Ormuzd in this struggle. the latter, the creator of man, gave him freewill, but sits in stern judgement upon his actions after his death. Zarathurstra laid all his emphasis upon good deeds in this world for evil deeds, which cannot be expiated by sacrifice or repentance, but can only be nullified by an equal or greater number of good actions. He invented no ceremonial, but retained the germs of the ancient Aryan fire or sun worship. As to the future, he looked forward to the immediate end of the world and will be immediately anticipated by a terrible Armageddon. He typified this as a dragon sent by Ahriman. Ormuzd in reply will send a man, Sraoshyant, as a saviour. Born of a virgin, he will hold a final judgement, destroy the wicked, kill the dragon, reduce Ahriman and reign for ever after in peace and holiness. Later Zoroastranism lost its simple nature and adopted elaborate ceremonia, fire-worship, sacrifice, penances and an all important priesthood. it remained the national Persian religion until the 7th century A.D. when a Mahomedan invasion resulted in the flight of the Zoroastrians to India where they became known as Parsees.
ZARLINO, Gioseppo (1517-90). Italian musician. He studied under Willaert at S. Mark's, Venice, becoming choirmaster there in 1565. He composed several motets and a mass, but his reputation rests only on his invaluable theoretical writings. The Istitutioni Armoniche, 1558; Dimostrationi Armoniche, 1571; and Soppilimenti Musicali, 1588. In them he discusses the arithmetical foundation of musical science.
ZARNCKE, Friederich (1825-91). German scholar. He became professor of German literature at Leipzig in 1858. His works on German literature and learning include Die Deutschen Universitaten im Mittelalter, 1857, and Der Priester Johannes, 1876-79. He founded the Literarische Zentralbatt far Deutschland, 1850, collaborated in the compilation of Middle High German dictionary, and made valuable researches into the Niebelung cycle.
ZARO AGA (d. 1934). Turkish centenarian. He claimed to have been born in 1770. He first came into prominence in 1930 when he was exhibited in the United States, and in the following year he toured England with a circus. From examination under x-rays when he first went into hospital, doctors declared his age to be not more than 120.
ZEBEDEE, Biblical character. A fisherman on Lake Galilee, he was the father of the disciples James and John. [Mark 1 and 15; Matthew 27].
ZECHARIAH. Hebrew prophet. The author of the first part of the old testament book that bears his name, he was the son of Berechiah and a contemporary of Haggai, with whom, in Jerusalem about 520 BC, he exhorted the Jews to rebuild the temple, a task undertaken by Zerubbabel and others. The first 8 chapters of the book Zechariah deal with the Jerusalem of his day; the rest of the book, deals with totally different events.
ZEDEKIAH. King of Judah. The youngest son of Josiah, he was placed on the throne by Nebuchadrezzar in 597 B.C.E. Despite the warnings and advice of Jeremiah, he joined in an intrigue against the king of Babylon, whose vassal he was, with the result that Jerusalem was stormed, and he was taken captive 586 B.C.E. His eyes were put out and he spent the rest of his life as a prisoner at Babylon. He was the last king of Judah.
ZEDLITZ, Joseph Christian Von (1790-1862). Austrian writer. He fought in the Austrian army from 1809, and after 1837 acted as publicist for Metternich.His dramas, popular in their day have less merit than his poems, which include Totenbranze, 1827, and Soldatenbuchlein, 1849, which may be described as the poetic creed of reactionary catholic militarism.
ZEISS, Carl (1816-88). German optician. He first studied medicine, but an interest in the science of optics led him in 1846 to found at Jena the business for the manufacture of optical instruments, which incorporated in 1889 as Carl Zeiss-Stiftung, achieved a world-wide reputation.
ZELLER, Eduard (1814-1908). German philosopher and theologian. He became professor of theology at Berne, 1847, and at Marburg, 1849. Later he became professor of philosophy at Heidelberg, 1862, and held the same position at Berlin, 1872-95. His great work is The History of Greek Philosophy, 1844-52. He helped to found the theological year book, in which the newer biblical criticism was expounded.
ZENKER, Hans (1870-1932). German sailor. He commanded the battle cruiser Von der Tann with conspicuous ability at the battle of Jutland, 1916. Commander-in-chief of the sea forces, 1923-24, he then became chief of naval direction at the defence ministry, and did much to reorganise the German navy, being largely responsible for the adoption of the "pocket battleship" program. A financial scandal with which he was unconnected caused his resignation in 1928.
ZENO (426-91). East Roman emperor. An Isaurian by birth, he became chief of the bodyguard of Leo I, whose daughter Ariadne he married. On his father-in-law's death in 474, Zeno's son became emperor as Leo II, but on the latter's death in the same year, Zeno was proclaimed emperor. Through the intrigues of Verina, widow of Leo I. however, her brother Basiliscus was almost at once proclaimed emperor, and Zeno fled to Isauria. He was reinstated in 476, and during the last part of his reign was frequently in collision with the Ostrogoths of Moesia, but finally averted their menace by persuading Theodoric to attack Odoacer in Italy.
ZENO of Citium (c.340-264 B.C.)Greek philosopher. He was first a merchant but on a voyage to Athens was shipwrecked and all his property. He settled in Athens and studied philosophy; in turn he followed Theophrastus at the Lyceum, Xenocrates at the Academy, and Stilpo, the orator, at Megara, finally becoming an adherent of the Cynics. A man of great vision with a deep understanding of the needs of his time, he diverged more and more from the orthodox Cynics of his day and finally opened his own school about 310. His doctrine has become famous as Stoicism but it underwent many changes in the centuries ahead from what Zeno taught which was that philosophy was knowledge of the virtues, and that it alone provided the clue to virtuous conduct. He treated all branches of philosophy, logic, physics, and ethics as studies of the good and the right. Inevitably the theory lent itself to a denial of emotion which the austere Romans were quick to seize upon.
ZENO of Elea. Greek philosopher. A native of Elea in Italy, he lived during the 5th century B.C. His thought transmitted through Plato and other sources has deeply influenced philosophy. He is famous primarily for his eight paradoxes, by which he sought to maintain the doctrine of Parmenides that reality was a unity, and endeavoured to reveal the inconsistencies in the view of those who assert that reality is many or plural. Zeno's other paradoxes pointed to the impossibility of any plurality. He may be said therefore to have helped with Parmenides, to found that branch of philosophy on which all subsequent monistic theories rested. Although he was guilty of being illogical and was there dismissed by later philosophers as a mere sophist. it is clear that Zeno, in deliberately confusing infinity with a finite space infinitely divided, was in fact pointing to those finite characteristics of space and time which have only been established by modern mathematical physics.
ZENO, Apostolo (1668-1750). Italian writer. Born in Venice he assisted in founding, in 1710, the Giornale dei Letterati d'Italia, which he conducted, until in 1718, he was appointed poet laureate to the court opera and imperial historiographer at Vienna. The chief dramatic poet of his time and country, he wrote and produced 60 operas, beside a number of comic operas, for the music of Handel, Pergolesi and others; was the author of many shorter poems; and edited various Venetian and Latin historians. His dramas were published in ten volumes in 1744.
ZENO, Niccolo. Venetian navigator. With his brother Antonio he made, towards the end of the 14th century, several voyages to the North Atlantic, probably visiting Greenland, and sighting land which has been variously identified as New England, Labrador or Newfoundland. An account of his voyages, with maps, was published in Venice, 1558.
ZENOBIA. Queen of Palmyra. Famed for her beauty and her strength of character, she was the wife of Odenathus, and after his assassination in 267 became regent for her son, Vaballath. She chose as her ministers the Greek rhetorician Longinus, and Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch. Her ambition was to carve an empire out of the Roman dominions in the East, and, while Claudius II was repelling an invasion of the Goths, she occupied Egypt, A.D. 270. After the accession of Aurelian in the same year, she continued to rule without reference to Rome, but her attempt to secure control of Asia minor, in 271 led Aurelian to take steps against her. Zenobia was defeated at Emesa, and, after the fall of Palmyra, 272, was taken prisoner; but after gracing Aurelian's triumph, she spent her remaining years in retirement at Tiber.
ZEPHANIAH. Hebrew prophet. Author of the Old Testament book that bears his name, he was a son of Cushi, and probably a descendent of Hezekiah, king of Judah. He lived in the days of King Josiah. His short book has been described as a compendium of prophecy, dealing first with universal judgment for sin, and then briefly with universal salvation.
ZEPPELIN, Ferdinand, Count Von (1838-1917) German inventor. He was educated for the army at Stuttgart, and received his commission in 1858. he fought as a volunteer in the American Civil Waron the federal side, and in America, made his first ascent in a balloon. Returning to Germany, he saw active service in the wars of 1866 and 1870-71. Retiring from the Army as a general in 1890, he devoted the remainder of his life to aeronautics. In 1899, he formed a company and built his first floating airship dock. he designed an airship in 1900 which stayed in the air for 20 minutes; and after many failures, he achieved in 1906 a successful flight of 60 miles in two hours. German government aid enabled him to continue after 1908 in experiments and construction, and his airships known as Zeppelins played a prominent part in World War I, though their extreme vulnerability militated severely against their usefulness.
ZEROMSKI, Stephen (1864-1925). Polish author. He was exiled from Poland as a young man, but his works are intensely patriotic and untouched in form by other than Polish influences. His first volume to become known was The Ravens and Crows are Picking Us to Pieces, short stories translated into English in 1906; later came the bitter novels, Aryman Takes Revenge, 1904, and, Revenge, 1904, and the Story of Sin, 1906, Ashes, 1904, an epic, was followed by a semi-autobiogrBiblical character. A leader in the return from the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 2: Neh.7), he was for a while Governor of Jerusalem. He was one of those designated to rebuild the Temple (Hag. 1, Zec. 4), and was regarded as the coming Messiah (Zec.15).
ZESER. Egyptian ruler. The son of Khasekhemui and therefore the second ruler of the third Dynasty, he reigned about 2960 B.C., and under his rule Egypt prospered, her boundaries being extended above the first cataract. He is remembered as the builder of many temples, and, in particular, of the first pyramid ever built, namely, the stepped pyramid of stone in lieu of brick at Sakkara. His name is also spelt Zoser.
ZEUSS, Johann Kaspar (1806-56) German philologist. He became a professor at Bamberg in 1847. Hi chief work, Celtic grammar, 1853, formed a new starting point for the study of Celtic.
ZEUXIS. Greek painter. Living at the end of the fifth and the beginning of the 4th century B.C., he passed much of his life at Ephesus. A disciple, if not a pupil, of Apollodorus, he introduced realism into Greek painting by means of the use of light and shade, and was especially known for his portraits and other representations of the human figure; 15 of his works are known by name, one of the most famous being his picture of grapes. He painted chiefly single figures, for private patrons, his greatest picture being of Helen of Troy. Hercules strangling the serpent in the house of the Vettii at Pompeiii is based upon a painting by Zeuxis.
ZHUKOVSKY, Vasili Andreyevitch (1783-1852). Russian translator. He became the tutor of Alexander II, and laid the foundation of modern Russian literature by his masterly series of translations of Western European and classical literature. The first of these works was a Russian version of Gray's Elegy, the last a translation of the Odyssey, and he covered the whole range of English Romantic poetry, expressing perfectly the spirit as well as the terms of the originals. He also wrote a number of lyrical poems of great beauty, which anticipated those of pushkin, whose patron he became.
ZIEGFELD, Florenz (1869-1932). American theatrical manager. He commenced his career as a show man at the Chicago World Fair in 1893, and in 1907 produced the first of the famous "Ziegfeld Follies" reviews in New York. Specializing in lavish and spectacular productions, and in female choruses designed to "glorify American girlhood," he made and lost several fortunes in the course of his career, and was one of the outstanding personalities in the American theater of his day.