Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 01.djvu/418

ATONEMENT 382 ATROPOS ATONEMENT, in theology, the sacri- ficial offering made by Christ in expiation of the sins, according to the Calvinists, of the elect only; according to the Arminians, of the whole human race. The Day of Atonement, or the Great Day of Atonement, was on the 10th of the seventh month. It is still observed as a day of humiliation and supplication by Hebrews all over the world. ATRATO (at-ra'to), a river of Colom- bia, interesting because it has repeatedly been made to bear a part in schemes for a ship canal across the Isthmus of Pan- ama. Rising on the Western Cordillera at an altitude of 10,560 feet above sea- level, it runs for about 400 miles north- ward through low, swampy country, and falls by several mouths, interrupted by bars, into the Gulf of Darien. It is navigable by steamers for fully 250 miles, being 750 to 1,000 feet wide, and 8 to 70 feet deep. A route, surveyed by the United States Government in 1871, pro- posed to connect the Atrato and the Jurador, flowing into the Pacific, by a canal 48 miles long. At the Paris In- ternational Congress (1879) for deciding the best route for the interoceanic canal, that route was with various others re- jected in favor of Panama. Gold-dust is found in and about the Atrato. ATBEK (a-trek'), a river of Persia, rising in Khorassan, among the Hazar Masjid Mountains, and thence flowing nearly 350 miles westward to the Caspian Sea, from Shatt downward along the boundary with the Russian Empire. ATREUS (afros), the son of Pelops and Hippodamia. He and his brother Thyestes murdered their half-brother Chrysippus, from jealousy of the affection entertained for him by their father. Thereupon, they fled to Eurystheus, with whose daughter .^rope, Atreus united himself, and, after the death of his father-in-law became King of Mycene. Thyestes seduced the wife of his brother and had two sons by her. Atreus, after the discovery of this injury, banished Thyestes with his sons. Thirsting for revenge, Thyestes conveyed away secretly a son of his brother, and instigated him to murder his own father. This design was discovered, and the youth, whom Atreus thought to be the son of his brother, was put to death. Too late did the unhappy father perceive his mistake. He pretended to be reconciled to Thyestes, and invited him, with his two sons, to a feast ; and after he had caused the latter to be secretly slain, he placed a dish made of their flesh before Thyestes, and. When he had finished eating, brought the bones of his sons, and described the dreadful revenge which he had taken. ATRIPLEX, a genus of plants belong- ing to the order chenopadiacese (cheno- pods). Eight species are indigenous, and one or two more partially natural- ized, in Great Britain. Of the former may be mentioned the A. laciniata, or frosted sea-orache; the A. babingtoni, or spreading fruited; the A. patuUa, or spreading halberd-leaved; the A. angus- tifolia, or narrow-leaved orache; and the A. littoralis, or grass-leaved sea-orache. The leaves may be used as pot herbs. ATRIUM, in ancient times, the hall or principal room in an ancient Roman house. It communicated with the street by the vestibule and the front door. There was in the center of its ceiling a large aperture, called compluvium, de- signed to admit light. Beneath it there was scooped out in the pavement a cistern called impluvium. In a large house, rooms opened into the atrium from all sides, and were lighted from it. In medieval times, till the 12th century, a covered court. After the 12th century, the churchyard. ATROPA, a genus of plants belong- ing to the order solanacess, or night- shades. It contains the well-known species, A. belladonna, or deadly night- shade. It is three or more feet high, has its ovate leaves paired, large and small together, drooping lurid purple flowers, and blackberries of the size of a small cherry, which if eaten produce delirium, dilation of the pupils of the eyes, and death. The flowers and fruit are both powerful medicinal agents. It is largely used by the homoeopathic school. ATROPHY, a wasting of the flesh due to some interference with the nutritive processes. It may arise from a variety of causes, such as permanent, oppressive and exhausting passions, or- ganic disease, a want of proper food, or of pure air. In old age the whole frame except the heart undergoes atrophic change, and it is of frequent occurrence in infancy as a consequence of improper, unwholesome food, exposure to cold, damp or impure air, etc. Single organs or parts of the body may be affected irrespective of the general state of nutrition. ATROPIN, or ATROPINE, a crystal- line alkaloid obtained from the deadly nightshade {atropa belladonna). It is very poisonous and produces persistent dilation of the pupil. ATROPOS, the eldest of the Fates, who cuts the thread of life with her shears, I