Edgar Lee Masters: …1909 he was introduced to Epigrams from the Greek Anthology. Masters was seized by the idea of composing a similar series of free-verse epitaphs in the form of monologues. The result was Spoon River Anthology, in which the former inhabitants of Spoon River speak from the grave of their bitter,…

John XI Becchus: …Becchus’ principal works are his Epigraphai (“Collected Texts”), an anthology of patristic writings on the theology of the Holy Spirit; a tract on the peace and union of the ancient and new Roman Churches; and various polemical treatises proposing recognition of papal primacy.

epigraphy, the study of written matter recorded on hard or durable material. The term is derived from the Classical Greek epigraphein (“to write upon, incise”) and epigraphē (“inscription”). Because such media were exclusive or predominant in many of the earliest human civilizations, epigraphy is a

spider: Mating: The female genital structure, or epigynum, is a hardened plate on the underside of the abdomen in front of the gonopore. After the sperm are transferred into the epigynum, they move into receptacles (spermathecae) that connect to the oviducts. Eggs are fertilized as they pass through the oviducts and out…

angiosperm: The gynoecium: In epigynous flowers, the hypanthium is fused to the gynoecium, and the free parts of the sepals, petals, and stamens appear to be attached to the top of the gynoecium, as in the apple (Malus; Rosaceae); the ovary is inferior, and the petals, sepals, and stamens…

spider: Mating: The female genital structure, or epigynum, is a hardened plate on the underside of the abdomen in front of the gonopore. After the sperm are transferred into the epigynum, they move into receptacles (spermathecae) that connect to the oviducts. Eggs are fertilized as they pass through the oviducts and out…

horse: Evolution of the horse: …from the middle Eocene, and Epihippus, a genus from the late Eocene, resembled Eohippus in size and in the structure of the limbs. But the form of the cheek teeth—the four premolars and the three molars found in each half of both jaws—had changed somewhat. In Eohippus the premolars and…

ladybug: Beneficial insects: Two of these are the squash beetle (Epilachna borealis) and the Mexican bean beetle (E. varivestis).

ladybug: Beneficial insects: …beetle (Epilachna borealis) and the Mexican bean beetle (E. varivestis).

epilepsy, chronic neurological disorder characterized by sudden and recurrent seizures which are caused by an absence or excess of signaling of nerve cells in the brain. Seizures may include convulsions, lapses of consciousness, strange movements or sensations in parts of the body, odd behaviours,

hydrosphere: Lake waters: …the upper water layer (the epilimnion) and the lower water layer (the hypolimnion) of lakes. The starting point is photosynthesis, represented by the following reaction:

Epilobium, genus of about 200 plants, in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae), native to most temperate regions. It includes fireweed (q.v.; species E. angustifolium), which rapidly covers newly burned areas. The young parts of some species can be cooked and eaten as potherbs. The plants are

fireweed, (Epilobium angustifolium), perennial wildflower, in the evening primrose family (Onagraceae), abundant on newly clear and burned areas. Its spikes of whitish to magenta flowers, which grow up to 1.5 m (5 feet) high, can be a spectacular sight on prairies of the temperate zone. Like those

Epilobium: The hairy willow herb, or codling-and-cream (E. hirsutum), up to 2 m (6 feet) high, is similar to fireweed but has hairy leaves and stalks and notched flower petals; it is found in waste places in eastern North America. Rock fringe (E. obcordatum) is a prostrate…

Epilobium: E. montanum, with pale pink flowers, is found in temperate-zone woods.

Epilobium: E. nummularifolium, from New Zealand, has whitish flowers and brownish red leaves; it is grown in rock gardens for its attractive matlike growth. E. montanum, with pale pink flowers, is found in temperate-zone woods.

Luigi Pirandello: …1910 (when it was retitled La morsa) kept him from other than sporadic attempts at drama until the success of Così è (se vi pare) in 1917. This delay may have been fortunate for the development of his dramatic powers. L’epilogo does not greatly differ from other drama of its…

epilogue, a supplementary element in a literary work. The term epilogue carries slightly different meanings in nondramatic and dramatic works. In the former, the epilogue is the conclusion or final part that serves typically to round out or complete the design of the work. In this context it is

Alexander Pope: Life at Twickenham: …verse, republished as the “Epilogue to the Satires” (1738), where, as in “An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot,” Pope ingeniously combined a defense of his own career and character with a restatement of the satirist’s traditional apology. In these imitations and dialogues, Pope directed his attack upon the materialistic standards…

religious dress: Eastern Orthodox religious dress: The cuffs, or epimanikia, which fit over the sticharion, bear little or no resemblance to the maniple. The epitrachelion is the Orthodox equivalent of the stole, but it hangs straight instead of being crossed over the chest, as is the case with the stole in Western churches. On…

animal behaviour: Function: …however, animals engage in apparent altruism (that is, they exhibit behaviour that increases the fitness of other individuals by engaging in activities that decrease their own reproductive success). For example, American zoologist Paul Sherman found that female Belding’s ground squirrels (Spermophilus beldingi) give staccato whistles that warn nearby conspecifics of…

mollusk: Size range and diversity of structure: centimetres; and, among solenogasters, Epimenia reaches a length of 15 to 30 centimetres. Finally, gastropods of the family Entoconchidae, which are parasitic in echinoderm sea cucumbers, may reach a size of almost 1.3 metres. In contrast, there are also minute members, less than one millimetre (0.04 inch) in size,…

Epimenides was a Cretan seer, reputed author of religious and poetical writings, including a Theogony, Cretica, and other mystical works. Religious theories of an Orphic character were attributed to him as well. He conducted purificatory rites at Athens, according to Plato. Stories of his advanced

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Napoleonic period (1805–16) of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: He obliged with Des Epimenides Erwachen (1815; “Epimenides Awakes”), but the play shows that his feelings about the great victory were ambiguous. He had to be pleased that the Treaty of Paris signed in 1815 provided for the works of art looted from Italy to be returned, but…

liar paradox, paradox derived from the statement attributed to the Cretan prophet Epimenides (6th century bce) that all Cretans are liars. If Epimenides’ statement is taken to imply that all statements made by Cretans are false, then, since Epimenides was a Cretan, his statement is false (i.e., not

Pandora: Zeus sent her to Epimetheus, who forgot the warning of his brother Prometheus and made Pandora his wife. She afterward opened the jar, from which the evils flew out over the earth. Hope alone remained inside, the lid having been shut down before she could escape. In a later…

Saturn: Orbital and rotational dynamics: Janus and Epimetheus are co-orbital moons—they share the same average orbit. Every few years they make a close approach, interacting gravitationally in such a way that one transmits angular momentum to the other, which forces the latter into a slightly higher orbit and the former into a…

homomorphism: …of H, is called an epimorphism. An especially important homomorphism is an isomorphism, in which the homomorphism from G to H is both one-to-one and onto. In this last case, G and H are essentially the same system and differ only in the names of their elements. Thus, homomorphisms are…

meat processing: Skeletal muscle structure: …of connective tissue called the epimysium. Individual muscles are divided into separate sections (called muscle bundles) by another connective tissue sheath known as the perimysium. Clusters of fat cells, small blood vessels (capillaries), and nerve branches are found in the region between muscle bundles. Muscle bundles are further divided into…

Épinal, town, capital of the Vosges département, Grand Est région, northeastern France, on the Moselle River, south-southeast of Nancy. The town, located on two arms of the Moselle, is divided into four parts. The town proper, known as the grande ville (“large town”), or vieille ville (“old town”),

Louise-Florence-Pétronille Tardieu d’Esclavelles, dame de la Live d’Épinay was a distinguished figure in advanced literary circles in 18th-century France. Though she wrote a good deal herself, she is more famous for her friendships with three of the outstanding French writers and thinkers of her

Épinay-sur-Seine, town, northern suburb of Paris, Seine-Saint-Denis département, Paris région, north-central France, on the Seine River. Épinay originated from a Gallic-Roman settlement called Spinogelum (Place of Thorns and Gorse), and in the Middle Ages it was the site of La Brache, a castle of

hind: …hinds are in the genus Epinephelus, which also includes many groupers. They are found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico along the North American coast, with the exception of the red hind (E. guttatus), which ranges from the Carolinas to Brazil. The rock hind (E. adscensionis), ranging from…

grouper: …49 inches) long; and the rock hind (E. adscensionis), an Atlantic food species spotted with orange or red and up to 61 cm (24 inches) long.

hind: …61 cm (24 inches); the speckled hind (E. drummondhayi) of the coastal region of the southeastern United States is somewhat smaller, reaching a length of 46 cm (19 inches).

hind: …with the exception of the red hind (E. guttatus), which ranges from the Carolinas to Brazil. The rock hind (E. adscensionis), ranging from New England to the West Indies, may reach 61 cm (24 inches); the speckled hind (E. drummondhayi) of the coastal region of the southeastern United States is…

goliath grouper, (Epinephelus itajara), large sea bass (family Serranidae) found on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of tropical America and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The species sometimes attains a length of 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) and a weight of about 455 kg (1,000 pounds). The adult is dull

goliath grouper: The related giant grouper (E. lanceolatus) found in the Pacific and Indian ocean basins may reach 2.7 metres (8.8 feet) in length.

grouper: …black, or Warsaw, grouper (E. nigritus, also classified as Hyporthodus nigritus), of the Atlantic, is another large species. Adult black groupers can grow to 2.3 metres (7.5 feet) in length and weigh nearly 200 kg (440 pounds). Grayish or brownish in colour, it is the only grouper with 10…

grouper: Some, such as the Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), are noted for their ability to change from one to any of a number of other colour patterns. Also, in many species, such as the black and yellowfin groupers (Mycteroperca bonaci and M. venenosa, respectively), individuals inhabiting deeper waters are much…

epinephrine, hormone that is secreted mainly by the medulla of the adrenal glands and that functions primarily to increase cardiac output and to raise glucose levels in the blood. Epinephrine typically is released during acute stress, and its stimulatory effects fortify and prepare an individual

epinephrine autoinjector, device consisting of a syringe and a spring-loaded needle that is used for rapid administration of the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine is most commonly administered with an autoinjector following the onset of anaphylaxis (a severe systemic and potentially

epinephrine tolerance test, assessment of the metabolism of liver glycogen by measuring the blood-sugar response to a standard dose of epinephrine (adrenalin). Epinephrine normally accelerates the conversion of liver glycogen (the conjugated, storage form of glucose) to blood glucose, and a

epinicion, lyric ode honouring a victor in one of the great Hellenic games. The epinicion was performed usually by a chorus, or on occasion by a solo singer, as part of the celebration on the victor’s triumphal return to his city; alternatively, a less elaborate form was offered on the site of his

epinicion, lyric ode honouring a victor in one of the great Hellenic games. The epinicion was performed usually by a chorus, or on occasion by a solo singer, as part of the celebration on the victor’s triumphal return to his city; alternatively, a less elaborate form was offered on the site of his

epinicion, lyric ode honouring a victor in one of the great Hellenic games. The epinicion was performed usually by a chorus, or on occasion by a solo singer, as part of the celebration on the victor’s triumphal return to his city; alternatively, a less elaborate form was offered on the site of his

epinicion, lyric ode honouring a victor in one of the great Hellenic games. The epinicion was performed usually by a chorus, or on occasion by a solo singer, as part of the celebration on the victor’s triumphal return to his city; alternatively, a less elaborate form was offered on the site of his

epinicion, lyric ode honouring a victor in one of the great Hellenic games. The epinicion was performed usually by a chorus, or on occasion by a solo singer, as part of the celebration on the victor’s triumphal return to his city; alternatively, a less elaborate form was offered on the site of his

helleborine: …two similar genera Cephalanthera and Epipactis (family Orchidaceae). The genus Cephalanthera has about 14 north temperate species, while Epipactis comprises about 21 species native to north temperate areas, tropical Africa, and Mexico. Plants of both genera usually have tall thin stems and crinkled leaves.

helleborine: Dune helleborine (E. dunensis) grows along the sandy coasts of Great Britain and northwestern Europe. Marsh helleborine (E. palustris) is found in marshes and wet places throughout Europe. Broad-leaved helleborine (E. helleborine) is a common species in Europe and temperate Asia and has been introduced…

helleborine: Broad-leaved helleborine (E. helleborine) is a common species in Europe and temperate Asia and has been introduced into the eastern United States. Its flowers are green, whitish green, or reddish purple, and its nectar contains trace amounts of naturally occurring oxycodone.

helleborine: Marsh helleborine (E. palustris) is found in marshes and wet places throughout Europe. Broad-leaved helleborine (E. helleborine) is a common species in Europe and temperate Asia and has been introduced into the eastern United States. Its flowers are green, whitish green, or reddish purple, and…

India: Mesolithic hunters: …and 10,000 bce represents the Epipaleolithic Stage, which may be considered to fall within the Mesolithic. The domestication of sheep and goats is thought to have begun in this region and period.

horizon: Epipedons are characterized by their colour, texture, structure, and content of organic matter and certain plant nutrients (e.g., calcium, phosphate). Another important concept is that of subsurface diagnostic horizons. These are characterized by the type of accumulated weathering products that they contain (e.g., clay, mixtures…

marine ecosystem: Geography, oceanography, and topography: …the neritic and oceanic waters—the epipelagic zone—is where photosynthesis occurs; it is roughly equivalent to the photic zone. Below this zone lie the mesopelagic, ranging between 200 and 1,000 metres, the bathypelagic, from 1,000 to 4,000 metres, and the abyssalpelagic, which encompasses the deepest parts of the oceans from 4,000…

fern: Ecology: Both epipetric (growing on rocks) and epiphytic ferns may show structural adaptations to dry habitats similar to those of some desert plants. These adaptive features include such specializations as hard tissues and thick texture; the surface cells, or epidermis, may be provided with a very thick…

Hama, city, central Syria, on the banks of the Orontes River. It was an important prehistoric settlement, becoming the kingdom of Hamath under the Aramaeans in the 11th century bce. It fell under Assyrian control in the 9th century bce and later passed under Persian, Macedonian, and Seleucid rule,

Hama, city, central Syria, on the banks of the Orontes River. It was an important prehistoric settlement, becoming the kingdom of Hamath under the Aramaeans in the 11th century bce. It fell under Assyrian control in the 9th century bce and later passed under Persian, Macedonian, and Seleucid rule,

Saint Epiphanius of Constantia ; feast day May 12) was a bishop noted in the history of the early Christian church for his struggle against beliefs he considered heretical. His chief target was the teachings of Origen, a major theologian in the Eastern church whom he considered more a Greek

Russian literature: The Second South Slavic Influence: …Radonezh”) by Epifany Premudry (Epiphanius the Wise; d. between 1418 and 1422).

Epiphany, (from Greek epiphaneia, “manifestation”), Christian holiday commemorating the first manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, and the manifestation of his divinity, as it occurred at his baptism in the Jordan River and at his first miracle, at Cana in

king cake, a sweet, ring-shaped pastry that is served from Epiphany through Shrove Tuesday in the Christian calendar. It is particularly associated with Mardi Gras, the festive pre-Lenten season in the United States, and it is usually baked with a symbolic trinket hidden inside, often to represent

Czechoslovak history: Struggle for independence: …lands and of Slovakia” (the Epiphany Declaration; January 1918). An anti-Austrian resolution adopted at the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities, held in Rome in April, helped to disarm conservative circles in Allied countries that had opposed a total reorganization of the Danubian region. Eventually, France recognized the Czechoslovak National Council as…

Epiphany, (from Greek epiphaneia, “manifestation”), Christian holiday commemorating the first manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi, and the manifestation of his divinity, as it occurred at his baptism in the Jordan River and at his first miracle, at Cana in

insect: Head: The epipharynx and hypopharynx are elongated and grooved so that, when apposed, they form a tube for sucking blood. The tonguelike labium is used for imbibing exposed fluids. Dipteran mouthparts have evolved in two directions. In the mosquitoes (Culicidae) the mandibles, maxillae, epipharynx, and hypopharynx have…

epiphenomenalistic materialism, a philosophical theory, associated with mechanistic materialism, according to which mental states or events are by-products of states or events in the brain, necessarily caused by them but exercising no causality themselves. Thus, a certain thought, belief, desire,

epiphenomenalistic materialism, a philosophical theory, associated with mechanistic materialism, according to which mental states or events are by-products of states or events in the brain, necessarily caused by them but exercising no causality themselves. Thus, a certain thought, belief, desire,

leaf cactus, (genus Epiphyllum), genus of about 15 species of cacti (family Cactaceae), native to tropical and subtropical America, including the West Indies. The plants are mostly epiphytic (grow on other plants) but sometimes grow from the ground. A number of species and hybrids are often grown

Christmas cactus: …Thanksgiving, or crab, cactus (Schlumbergera truncata, formerly Epiphyllum truncatum) and S. russelliana. Like other Schlumbergera species, it is native to Brazil, where it grows as an epiphyte in rainforests, mainly on trees or shrubs but sometimes in shady places among rocks. The alternative genus name, Zygocactus, is frequently encountered.

osteochondrosis, relatively common temporary orthopedic disorder of children in which the epiphysis (growing end) of a bone dies and then is gradually replaced over a period of years. The immediate cause of bone death is loss of blood supply, but why the latter occurs is unclear. The most common

cartilage: …plate of cartilage, called the epiphyseal plate, persists at the ends of growing bones, finally becoming ossified itself only when the bone behind it has completed its growth. At the growing edge of the plate, chondrocytes continue to grow and divide, while on the trailing edge they are replaced by…

epiphysis, expanded end of the long bones in animals, which ossifies separately from the bone shaft but becomes fixed to the shaft when full growth is attained. The epiphysis is made of spongy cancellous bone covered by a thin layer of compact bone. It is connected to the bone shaft by the

bone disease: Therapeutic and corrective measures: Epiphysiodesis (the fixing of the epiphysis to the bone shaft) is aimed at temporary or permanent cessation of growth in a metaphyseal cartilage. The operation is performed at the knee for compensation of growth in the other leg—for example, because of poliomyelitis—or in one of…

epiphysis, expanded end of the long bones in animals, which ossifies separately from the bone shaft but becomes fixed to the shaft when full growth is attained. The epiphysis is made of spongy cancellous bone covered by a thin layer of compact bone. It is connected to the bone shaft by the

pineal gland, endocrine gland found in vertebrates that is the source of melatonin, a hormone derived from tryptophan that plays a central role in the regulation of circadian rhythm (the roughly 24-hour cycle of biological activities associated with natural periods of light and darkness). The

epiphyte, any plant that grows upon another plant or object merely for physical support. Epiphytes have no attachment to the ground or other obvious nutrient source and are not parasitic on the supporting plants. Most epiphytes are found in moist tropical areas, where their ability to grow above

plant disease: Epiphytotics: When the number of individuals a disease affects increases dramatically, it is said to have become epidemic (meaning “on or among people”). A more precise term when speaking of plants, however, is epiphytotic (“on plants”); for animals, the corresponding term is epizootic. In contrast,…

crustacean: The respiratory system: …of appendages, most often the epipodites. These thin-walled, lamellate structures are present on some or all of the thoracic appendages in cephalocarids, fairy shrimps, and many malacostracans. In mantis shrimps (order Stomatopoda), for example, gills are found on the exopodites of the pleopods. In euphausiids the single series of branched…

Epipolae, ancient fortified plateau west of Syracuse, Sicily, which was enclosed with walls some 12 miles (19 km) long by the tyrant Dionysius I (c. 430–367 bc). The southern wall, of which considerable remains exist, was probably often restored. Epipolae narrows to a ridge about 180 feet (55 m)

pothos, (Epipremnum aureum), hardy indoor foliage plant of the arum family (Araceae) native to southeastern Asia. It resembles, and thus is often confused with, the common philodendron. Pothos is an evergreen plant with thick, waxy, green, heart-shaped leaves with splashes of yellow. As a

Epipsychidion, poem in couplets by Percy Bysshe Shelley, written in 1821 in Pisa (Italy). It is dedicated to Teresa (“Emilia”) Viviani, the teenage daughter of the governor of Pisa, who had been confined in a nunnery by her father. Shelley renamed her Emily and imagined her living in an ideal

Lepidoptera: Annotated classification: Family Epipyropidae (parasitic moths) 40 chiefly Asian species; larvae live as external parasites on plant hoppers; related family: Cyclotornidae (Australian; larvae live similarly when young, then move to ants’ nests). Superfamily Yponomeutoidea More than 1,500 species worldwide; a limited and

despotate of Epirus, (1204–1337), Byzantine principality in the Balkans that was a centre of resistance for Byzantine Greeks during the western European occupation of Constantinople (1204–61). The despotate was founded in what is now southern Albania and northwestern Greece by Michael Comnenus

epirrhema, in ancient Greek Old Comedy, an address usually about public affairs. It was spoken by the leader of one-half of the chorus after that half of the chorus had sung an ode. It was part of the parabasis, or performance by the chorus, during an interlude in the action of the

Epirus, coastal region of northwestern Greece and southern Albania. It extends from Valona Bay (Albanian: Gjiri i Vlorës) in Albania (northwest) to the Gulf of Árta (southeast); its hinterland extends eastward to the watershed of the Pindus (Modern Greek: Píndos) Mountains. The nomói (departments)

Greece: Late Roman administration: Epirus (Ípeiros) Nova, Epirus Vetus, Thessaly (Thessalía), Achaea, Crete (Kríti), and the Islands (Insulae). Of the eight provinces, all except Rhodope and the Islands were a part of the larger diocese of

Greece: Late Roman administration: Epirus Vetus, Thessaly (Thessalía), Achaea, Crete (Kríti), and the Islands (Insulae). Of the eight provinces, all except Rhodope and the Islands were a part of the larger diocese of Moesia, which extended to the

despotate of Epirus, (1204–1337), Byzantine principality in the Balkans that was a centre of resistance for Byzantine Greeks during the western European occupation of Constantinople (1204–61). The despotate was founded in what is now southern Albania and northwestern Greece by Michael Comnenus

epic theatre, form of didactic drama presenting a series of loosely connected scenes that avoid illusion and often interrupt the story line to address the audience directly with analysis, argument, or documentation. Epic theatre is now most often associated with the dramatic theory and practice

scleritis: Episcleritis, in contrast to scleritis, is typically a benign, self-limited inflammation of the tissues immediately covering the sclera. It produces redness of the eye with or without mild tenderness. Only in rare cases do patients have any associated underlying disease. Treatment is often not necessary…

episcopacy, in some Christian churches, the office of a bishop and the concomitant system of church government based on the three orders, or offices, of the ministry: bishops, priests, and deacons. The origins of episcopacy are obscure, but by the 2nd century ad it was becoming established in the

Trinity College, private, coeducational institution of higher learning in Hartford, Conn., U.S. It is a nonsectarian liberal arts college that has a historical affiliation with the Episcopal church. It offers B.A. and B.S. degrees in about 35 majors and M.A. and M.S. degrees in five departments.

Episcopal Church in Scotland, independent church within the Anglican Communion that developed in Scotland out of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. The development of Protestantism in Scotland went through confusing periods, with control alternating between the Presbyterian Party (those who

mitre shell: The 10-centimetre (4-inch) episcopal mitre (Mitra mitra), which has an orange-checked shell, is one of the largest members of the family.

Episcopal Church in Scotland: …of church government) and the Episcopal Party (those who believed the church should be governed by bishops). After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the two parties merged into a modified episcopacy, which might have united the church and nation if the two parties had not again separated after…

Simon Episcopius was a Dutch theologian and systematizer of Arminianism, a liberal reaction to the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. He studied theology at Leiden and in 1610 became a pastor at Bleiswyk. He was made a professor at Leiden in 1612, succeeding the strict Calvinist Franciscus

wandering bishop, in Christianity, a bishop without authority or without recognition in any major Christian church. Such bishops may have received an irregular consecration by another bishop, or they may have been properly consecrated but lack a diocese or were excommunicated by their church. In

birth: Lacerations: …be avoided by performing an episiotomy—an incision in the vulvar orifice, the external genital opening—before delivery of the infant’s head. Also, attention on the health care provider’s part to the mechanism of labour, manual assistance in delivery of the head and shoulders, avoidance of too rapid delivery, delivery between pains,…

ball: …early Greek game known as episkyros involved two teams of equal numbers. Between them a white line was laid out, and, at some distance behind each team, another line was marked. The play consisted in throwing the ball back and forth until one team in the exchange was finally forced…

ball: …early Greek game known as episkyros involved two teams of equal numbers. Between them a white line was laid out, and, at some distance behind each team, another line was marked. The play consisted in throwing the ball back and forth until one team in the exchange was finally forced…