Biel in German mythology, was an idol of the old, Saxons and Thuringians, worshipped especially on the Biel's-height near the convent of Ilfeld, and honored by an altar. He is said to have been a protector of the woods and a propagator of fruitfulness. It seems that. his worship was extended far over the northern provinces. The above-named Biel's-height contains a cliff from which Bonifacius preached the Gospel after hurling Biel from his altar. But Bonifacius had hardly gone, when the people again erected their idol. Even now ruins of an altar and of a priestly residence in Harz, near Blaukenburg, may be found. The inhabitants relate many wonderful things about the idol, and show the place where it stood. As everywhere in Northern Europe, so also were bloody sacrifices brought to this god, and the idol was sprinkled with the blood of the victim.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More