Olyni'pius (OXv/x-moc, i- e. Oli/mpiari), one of the chief epithets of the Greek deity Zeus, so called from -Mount Olympus in Thessaly, the abode of the gods (2 Mace, vi, 2). See Jupiter.
Olympius, an Arian theologian of the 4th century, flourished at Constantinople. He is reputed to have been a very decided opponent of the orthodox Chris- tians, and to have profaned the Trinity; but there is no reason for the accusation, as the persons upon whose testimony the accusation is made are not regarded as trustworthy witnesses. See however Jortin, Remaiks on Eccles. Hist, ii, 442, 443.
Olzoffski, Andrew, an eminent Polish divine, was born about 1618. In the course of his studies, which were pursued at Kalisch, he applied himself par- ticularly to poetry, for which he was so peculiarly fitted that. Ovid-like, his ordinary discourse frequently ran into verse. After he had finished his studies in divin- ity and jurisprudence he travelled through Italy, where he visited the best libraries, and took the doctorate in law at Rome. Thence he went to France, and was in- troduced at Paris to the princess Mary Louisa, who, when about to marry Ladislaus IV, king of Poland, invited Olzoffski to attend licr thither. On Olzoff- ski's arrival the king offered him the secretary's place, but he declined it, for the sake of following his studies. Some time later he was made a canon of the cathedral church at Gnesen, and chancellor to the archbishop. After the death of that prelate he was called to court, and made Latin secretary to his majesty, which place he filled with great reputation, being a complete master of that language. In the war between Poland and Sweden he WTote Vindicio' Polnur. He attended at the election of Leopold to the imperial crown of Ger- many, in quality of ambassador to the king of Poland. and there secured the esteem of the three ecclesiastical electors. He was also sent on other diplomatic mis- sions; and immediately on his return was invested with the high office of prebendary to the crown, and pro-
moted to the bishopric of Culm. After the death of Ladislaus he fell into disfavor with the queen, because he opposed the design she had of setting a prince of France upon the throne of Poland ; however, this did not prevent his being made vice-chancellor of the crown. He did all in his power to dissuade Casimir II from renoinicing the crown ; and, after the resignation of that king, several competitors appearing to till the vacancy, Olzoffski on the occasion published a piece called Censura, etc. This was answered by another, entitled Censura Censur(e Candidatorum ; and the lib- erty which our vice-chancellor had taken in his Cen- suj-a was likely to cost him dear. It was chiefly level- led against the young prince of Muscovy, who was one of the competitors, though no more than eight years of age ; and the czar was highly incensed, and made loud complaints and menaces unless satisfaction was made for the offence. Upon the election of Michel Koribut to the throne, Olzoffski was despatched to Vienna to negotiate a match between the new-elected king and one of the princesses of Austria; and on his return from that embassy was made grand-chancellor of the crown. He did not approve the peace concluded with the Turks in 1676, and wrote to the grand-vizier in terms of which the grand-seignior complained to the king of Poland. After the death of Koribut, Olzoffski labored earnestly for the election of John Sobieski, who rewarded Olzoffski with the archbishopric of Gnesen and the primacy of the kingdom ; and no doubt he might have obtained a car- dinal's hat if he had not publicly declared against it. However, he had not been long possessed of the pri- macy before his right thereto was disputed by the bishop of Cracow, who laid claim also to certain prerogatives of the see of Gnesen, and arrogated the right of officiating at the obsequies (.f the Polish monarchs. Hereupon Olzoffski published a piece in defence of the rights and privileges of his archbishopric. He also some time after- wards published another piece, but without putting his name to it. entitled Singularia Juris Patronutus R. Po- lonice, in support of the king of Poland's right of nomina- tion to the alilieys. In 1678, going by the king's com- mand to Dantzic, in order to compose certain disputes between the senate and people of that city, he was seized with a disorder which carried him off in three days. He was particularly distinguished by eloquence and love for his country; and his death was greatlv lamented. (J.H.W.)
Om, a Sanscrit word of asseveration, much used in Buddhistic works as an introductory term. It is espe- cially prominent in Lamaism (q. v.).
Omadius, a surname of Dionysus or Bacchus as the Jiesh-eater, human sacrifices being offered to this deity in the islands of Chios and Tenedos.
Omae'riis {'luinaijpog, v. r. 'Ir^fidjjpoQ and Mo/J- pog ; Vulg. Abramiis), a corrupt Grsecized form (1 Esdr. ix, 34) for Amram (q. v.), a descendant of Bani (Ezra X, 34).
Oman, a strip of maritime territon,^ in the most eastern portion of Arabia, extends between Ras el-Ji- bill and Ras el-Had, and is bounded on the north-east by the Gulf of Oman, and on the south-west by the deserts of the interior. It has an area of about 80,000 square miles, and a population estimated in 1873 at 1,598,000, mostly IMohammedan. A part of the terri- tory of Oman is known under the name of }fuscat. At a distance of twenty to forty miles from the coast a chain of mountains runs parallel to it, which reaches in its highest ridge, called Jebel Achdar (Great Moun- tain), an elevation of 6000 feet; the average height is 4000 feet. There are a few not inconsiderable streams, and some richly fertile tracts, in this region, but the greater part is a waste of sand, with here and there a small oasis, where, however, the vegetation is most lux- uriant, (irovcs of almond, fig, and walnut trees tower to an enormous height, overshadowing the orange and citron trees, but are themselves overtopped by the