Splendor
Aladdin’s palacebuilt of marble, gold, silver, and jewels. [Arab. Lit.: Arabian Nights]
Alhambrathe palatial 13th-century Moorish citadel in Granada, noted for its lofty situation, beautiful courts, and fountains. [Span. Hist.: Benét, 24]
baths of Caracalla and Diocletianmassive public buildings of imperial Rome, the latter having accommodations for 3,200 bathers. [Rom. Arch.: EB (1963) XIX, 392]
Bucentauropulent Venetian ship of state. [Ital. Hist.: Plumb, 257]
Crystal Palacehuge museum and concert hall made of iron and glass at Great Exhibition (1851). [Br. Hist.: NCE, 692]
dahliasymbol of splendor. [Plant Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 168]
Hanging Gardens of BabylonNebuchadnezzar’s huge terraces, built to placate wife. [World Hist.: Wallechinsky, 255]
Khan, Kubla(1215–1294) splendors of imperial court dazzled Polo entourage. [Asian Hist.: EB, 10: 541–543]
magnoliasymbol of magnificence. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 175]
Mont-St.-Michelabbey, church, and fortress; one of the finest examples of medieval French architecture. [Fr. Hist.: NCE, 1824]
Parthenonmagnificent temple of Athena, dominating the Acropolis of Athens. [Gk. Hist.: Benét, 761]
Sainte-Chapelle, the13th-century chapel, called the most beautiful building in France for its architecture and stained glass. [Fr. Architecture: NCE, 2396]
Taj Mahalfabulous tomb of Shah Jahan’s wife. [Indian Hist.: Wallechinsky, 317]
Tutankhamun’s tombfull of treasures of Egyptian pharaoh (c. 1350 B.C.). [Egypt. Hist.: Osborne, 1164]
Versaillesluxurious palace of French kings; outside Paris. [Fr. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 1127]
Xanadusite of Kubla Khan’s “stately pleasure dome”. [Br. Lit.: Kubla Khan in Payton, 744]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.