Architrave (är´ki-träv), in architecture, the part of an entablature which rests immediately on the heads of the columns, being the lowest of its three principal divisions, the others being the frieze and the cornice.
Archives (är´kīvz). See Records.
Archivolt (är´ki-volt), in architecture, the ornamental band of mouldings on the face of an arch and following its contour.
Archons (är´konz), the chief magistrates of ancient Athens, chosen to superintend civil and religious concerns. They were nine in number; the first was properly the archōn, or archōn epōnўmos, by whose name the year was distinguished in the public records; the second was called archōn basileus, or king archon, who exercised the functions of high priest; the third, polemarchos, or general of the forces. The other six were called thesmothĕtai, or legislators.
Archytas (a˙r-kī´tas), an ancient Greek mathematician, statesman, and general, who flourished about 400 B.C., and belonged to Tarentum in Southern Italy. The invention of the analytic method in mathematics is ascribed to him, as well as the solution of many geometrical and mechanical problems. He constructed various machines and automata, among the most celebrated of which was his flying pigeon. He was a Pythagorean in philosophy, and Plato and Aristotle are said to have been both deeply indebted to him. Only inconsiderable fragments of his works are extant.
Arcis-sur-Aube (a˙r-sē-su˙r-ōb), a small town of France, department Aube, at which, in 1814, was fought a battle between Napoleon and the Allies, after which the latter marched to Paris. Pop. 3000.
Arc-light, a certain kind of electric light in which the illuminating source is the current of electricity passing between two sticks of carbon
kept a short distance apart, one of them being in connection with the positive, the other with the negative terminal of a battery or dynamo.
Arco, a town of Tyrol, near Lake Garda, a favourite winter resort of invalids. Pop. 3800.
Arcole (a˙r´ko-la˙), a village in North Italy, 15 miles S.E. of Verona, celebrated for the battles of 15th, 16th, and 17th Nov., 1796, fought between the French under Bonaparte and the Austrians, in which the latter were defeated with great slaughter.