The Facts on File Dictionary of Allusions - Green Valley High School

Egyptian gold
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head and shoulders, swallowing him so as he too
went darkling led by his sweetheart three foot
high” (Charles Reade, <strong>The</strong> Cloister and the Hearth,
1861). See also ninth plague of egypt; plagues
of egypt.
Egyptian gold (bjipshbn) Something of value
whose theft or borrowing from its former own ers
is felt to be justifi ed on the grounds that it may
now be put to better use. <strong>The</strong> phrase alludes to the
theft of jewels and vessels of gold and silver from
the Egyptians on the fl ight of the Israelites from
the country, as described in Exodus 12:35. Some
Christian theologians interpreted the episode as
justifi cation for borrowing from pagan tradition
anything that could be put to a better Christian
purpose. This Egyptian gold was now put to much better
use, funding the establishment of various small enterprises
throughout the region that otherwise might never
have found backing.
Egypt’s fi rstborn See plagues of egypt.
eighth wonder of the world An outstanding edifi
ce or achievement of some kind; alternatively and
ironically, a remarkable failure. <strong>The</strong> ancient world
boasted just seven wonders, as recorded by the
Greek historian Herodotus in the fi fth century b.c.
Although his was not the only list and there was
some debate about what should be included prior
to medieval times, the list is now generally accepted
as including the Pyramids at Giza, the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia,
the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum
of Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and
the Pharos of Alexandria. Many lists of remarkable
buildings or other feats have since been compiled
following much the same pattern. “A handsome
man was an eighth wonder of the world, at Miss
Wigger’s school” (Wilkie Collins, Evil Genius,
1886).
Einstein (instin) A person with a brilliant mind,
especially one who excels in science. <strong>The</strong> Germanborn
U.S. physicist Albert Einstein (1879–1955)
was the archetypal eccentric scientifi c genius,
making important breakthroughs relating to relativity,
space and time, and energy. In modern
usage, his name is usually invoked sarcastically to
challenge someone’s intellectual pretensions: All
right, Einstein, show us how it’s done if you’re so clever.
Elba A place of exile, especially one of a temporary
nature. <strong>The</strong> island of Elba is located in the
Mediterranean west of Tuscany in Italy and is
famous chiefl y as the place to which the deposed
French emperor napoleon was exiled in 1814.
He remained there for just 10 months before
escaping and rallying his troops for his fi nal campaign
(see hundred days), which ended at the
Battle of waterloo in 1815 and was followed by
another (this time permanent) exile on the island
of saint helena. Her disgraced husband was exiled
for the rest of the summer to his personal Elba, a resort in
the Florida Keys.
Eldorado (eldbrahdo) A source of im mense
wealth. Spanish conquistadors of the 16th century
were captivated by tales of a fabulous city or country
of gold supposedly located somewhere in Peru,
although repeated expeditions deep into the South
American jungle by both Spanish and En glish
adventurers failed to reveal any such place. <strong>The</strong>
name Eldorado (meaning “the gilded one”) has
since been applied to any source of fabulous riches
and, more loosely, to any illusory paradise said to
offer a life of ease and luxury. “Would it not be
well to call Jack, and hear his account of the matter