all the educational advanta<;es that wealth could procure. Her linguistic and philosophic powers suggested the title of "oracle in seven languages." She also gave nuich attention to the seiences, particularly to mathematics. "Algebra and geometry," she said, "are the only provinces of thought where peace reigns." In 174.S she was nurde a niemlier of the Academy of Bologna, and in the same year appeared her Istitnzioni analit- irhe ad jj.s'o dclla giorciitt'i itnliava, 2 volumes (Milan, 174S: Paris.1775; London. 1801 ) . In 1750 she was appointed by I'ope Benedict XIV. lectur- er on niatlicinatics at the University of Bologna. Early devoted to religious observances, after the death of her father (17.")2). slie renouni'ed her scientific work and took the veil. Her name is connected with an interesting cubic curve. Con- sult: .T. Boycr, "La niatheniaticienne Agnesi,' in the Revue Catlioliquc dcs revues fra)i(:(iises ct eirtniricres (Paris, 1807): and Antonio Fran- cesco Frisi. Eloqio (Milan, 1799; translated by Boulavd, Paris.' 1S07).
AG'NES OF AUS'TRIA (1281-1304). A
daughter of Albreeht I., Kmperor of Germany.
She was the wife of Andreas III., King of Hun-
gary, and after the murder of her father (1308)
lived at the monastery of Konigsfelden, which
her mother had erected upon the site of the assas-
sination of the Kmperor. She took an active
part in the political events of the period, and
frequently acted as mediator between Austria
and the Swiss Confederacy.
AGNES OF MERAN, mn-riin' (?-1201). A
queen of France, daughter of the Duke of Meran
(Tyrol) and Margrave of Istria. She w-as mar-
ried in 119() to Pliilip Augustus (q.v.), who had
obtained (through the French bishops) a divorce
from Ingel)org of Denmark. The Pope refused to
allow the divorce, but the King braved the Papal
wrath. In 119S France was jjlaced under an
interdict; but in 1200, the King, by a feigned
compliance, secvired the raising of the inierdict.
Agnes died in 1201, hut it was not until 1213
that Philip was reconciled to Ingeborg. Then
the Pope legitimatized the two children of Agnes.
AGNES OF POITIERS, pwa'tyfl' (102.^)?-
1077). A queen of Germany, daughter of Wil-
liam v., Duke of Aquitainc, and second wife of
Henry III. of Germany, to whom she was mar-
ried in 1043. She was much influenced by the
ideas of Cluny, After the death of Henry
(10,5fi), Agnes became Regent of the Empire as
juardiaii of her son, Henry IV. In 10(i2 rebel-
lious nobles secured possession of the young
Henry, and Agnes went to Italy. She liccame
closely associated with Gregory VII. in his con-
test against Henry.
AGNES' EVE, S.int. The night of January 20. In popular superstition it is regarded as an occasion when young women can bj' various magic arts behold the faces of their destined husbands.
AGNES SOREL' ( 1421-50) . The mistress of
Charles 'II. of France, and lady of honor to his
queen, the virtuous Jlarie of Anjou, whose full
confidenee she long enjoyed. She had great inllu-
ence over Charles, and at a period of the greatest
degradation for France (sec .To.N of -Aur). in-
spired him to action against the English invad-
ers, which resulted in their expulsion ^rom the
country. Her death was sudden, and it is sup-
posed that she was poisoned by the Dauphin,
afterward Louis XI. She had three children
by the king. Consult: Capefigue, Arines Horel
(Paris, IS(iO).
AG'NEW, Cornelius Rea (1830-88). An
American jihysician. He was born in New York
City, graduated from Columbia College in 1849,
and from the College of Physicians' and Sur-
geons in 1852. In 1858 he vas appointed sur-
geon-general of New York State, and during the
Civil War was medical director of the New York
Volunteer Hospital. He was prominent in the
United States Sanitary Commission. He assist-
ed in founding the Columbia School of Jlines in
1884, founded the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hos-
pital in 18ti8, and the Manhattan Eye and Ear
Hospital. He became president of the State
Medical Society in 1872. one of the trustees
of Colnmbia College in 1874, and was a professor
in the Colh'ge of Physicians and Surgeons. He
was a member of many medical anil scientific
societies, and contributed much to the literature
of the diseases of the eye a,nd ear.
AGNEW, Daniel Hayes (1818-92). Professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, and very widely known by his surgical inventions and by his writings, among which may he mentioned: The Principles and Practice of Surgery, 3 volumes (1878-83).
AG'NI (Skr. Afjui-s) . The fire god of the
Hindus, corresponding in name to the Latin
ignis, Lithuanian uijiils, and Old Slavic offiii,
fire. Next to Indra (q.v.) he is the most prom-
inent of the gods in the Veda (q.v.). No less
than two hundred hymns celebrate his praise un-
der his three-fold form, as the fire on earth, es])e-
cially the altar-fire, the lightning in the sky. and
the sun in heaven. His birth is of divine origin,
as the lightning of the clouds, or he is (hiily pro-
duced by a miracle, the rubbing together of two
sticks which are regarded as his parents, and he
devours them as soon as he is born. Kindled each
morning at the sacrifice, his worship forms one
of the most important parts of the ritual. He
is especially the messenger between the gods and
men, and lie rides upon a chariot drawn by two
or mcn'c steeds. Allliough an immortal, he has
taken up his abode among men, and he is regard-
ed as the most honored guest. In the later lit-
erature less is made, perhaps, of Agni than in
the early hymns; but as one of the most promi-
nent gods several legends are preserved regard-
ing him in the Hindu epics Mahfiblnlrata and
R;"imayana (q.v.). The Harivania (q.v.) de-
scribes him as clad in black, with a banner of
smoke and a javelin of tiame. In ]>ictures he is
variously porti'ayed, but his color is red and he
is represented as having two faces, which typify
his destructive as well as his beneficent charac-
ter, and he has three legs and seven arms. Some-
times he is represented as riding upon a ram
or as accompanied by that animal. Consult;
Maedoncll, Vedic ili/thologi/ (Strassbiirg, 1897);
Hojikins, Itcligions of India (Boston, 1895);
Wilkins, Hindu Mi/fhology (London, 1900).
AG'NOE'TÆ (Gk.n)-i'of7f, agnocin, to be ignorant). . Alonophysite sect in the sixth century, which gave prouiineiice to the statement that, in his human nature. Christ was ignorant of many things, especially of the time of the day of judgment. An Arian sect of the same name in the fourth century denied the omniscience of
God.
