In addition to the works already mentioned, we no- tice the Kritische Prediyer-Bibliothek, which under va- rious names he edited from 1810 to 1848: — Paldstina zur Zeit Jesu (Zeitz, 1816; 8th ed. l^\b): — Luther's Leben u. Wirken (ibid. 1817; 2d ed. 1828): — Die guie Sacke d. Protestantismus (Leips. 1842), and others. — Herzog, Real-Encyklop. vols, xiii and xx, s. v.
Rohumon, the great serpent, an idol of the Carib- bean s.
Ro'imus (Vi'if.ioQ), a Jew who returned to Jerusa- lem from Babylon with Zerubbabel (1 Esdr. v, 8); evi- dently the Reiiuji (q. v.) of the Heb. texts (Ezra ii, 2; Neh. vii, 7).
Rok, or Roc, in Persian mythology, was an im- mense bird, so large that it bore elejihants to its young in the nest. An egg of this monster once fell from its nest on the Albordshi, and with its fluid overflowed thirty-six towns and villages. Legends resembling this fable are met with everywhere; but it is remarkable that the inhabitants of Greenland are said to make use of very powerful bows, each formed of two claws of some gigantic bird, which are often found in the ice. It would accordingly seem that not everything said with regard to the rok is fable. There have been mammalia and amphibia whose size far exceeded that of any sim- ilar animals of our «ra; and there may, in like manner, have been birds which could as readily boar away a camel as the condor can a j'oung llama. — Yollmer, Wor- terb. d. MythoL s. v.
Roland, in Prankish legends, was a celebrated hero belonging to the circle of Charlemagne's paladins. He was of enormous size, and so strong that he could pull up the tallest pine by the roots, and use it as a walking- stick and club. His sword split a block of marble with- out injuring its edge. The numerous Roland columns found in the towns of North Germany are said to have been erected by Charlemagne in honor of this hero; but they are probaI)ly of much later origin, and served to designate the place where justice was administered in the emperor's name, so that they were in some sense his representatives. — Yollmer, Wurterb. d. Mytlwl. s. v.
Roldan, Luisa, daughter of the following, was born in 1054, and became a distinguished artist. She assisted her father in many of his works, was pensioned by Philip IV, and confided with much of the work upon the Escurial. Her principal productions are the statues of Mater Dolornsa, John the Evanffelist, and St. Thomas, She died at Madrid in December, 1704.
Roldan, Pedro, a Spanish sculptor, was born in 1624 at Seville. He studied at Rome, where he was a member of the Academy of .St. Luke. Roldan executed a great number of works in Madrid and at Seville, the best of which is a Christ on the Cross, He died in 1700.
Rolf, in Norse mythology, was one of the most cele- brated kings of Denmark, who was induced to adopt the surname Kraki by tlie following occurrence. A poor youth named Voeggur went to the palace and looked steadily at the king, until asked why he gazed so long, when he responded that he had heard that Rolf was the greatest man in Northland, but that he found the throne occupied by a Kraki (diminutive wight). Rolf re- sponded, '"Thou hast given me a name, now give me a present" (which always accompanied the bestowal of a name). Voeggur declared that he had nothing to give. "Then," said Rolf, "I, who have possessions, will give a present," and he hande<l over a ring of gold, on re- ceiving which Voeggur joyfully exclaimed. " Lord. [ will avenge thee should any come near to thee in malice !''
ROLIN
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ROLLER
The king's replj' to this — "Voeggur is pleased with a little matter" — became proverbial. The armies of Kolf Kraki were celebrated, especially the twelve Berserkers (according to others, eleven, himself being the twelfth), whom he once sent to assist his stepfather Adils, king of Sweden, against Ali, king of Norway. After gaining the victory, Adils refused to give the promised reward to either the Berserkers or king Kolf. The latter, ac- companied by the Berserkers, accordingly visited the court of Adils and reminded him of his pledge. Adils invited the guests to a friendly banquet in the largest hall of his palace, in the centre of which he caused an immense tire to be built, and then reminded Rolf and the Berserkers that they had vowed never to flee from either Are or water. The tire eventually seized Rolfs clothing, on which he rose, threw his shield into the flames, and passed through them with his companions, while he exclaimed, "lie, surely, does not dread the Are who voluntarily rushes into it!" He then seized the servants who had kindled the Are and threw them into it, and emphatically demanded his pay. He ob- tained the ring Sviagris and a mighty horn filled with gold, and departed; but Adils rapidly assembled his warriors and followed in pursuit. To distract his pur- suers, Rolf, having reached the heath of Fyriswall, scat- tered pieces of gold over the ground, and so actually delayed the pursuit; and when Adils approached him, he threw down the costly ring also. Adils dismounted from his horse to get the ring, and at this moment Rolf inflicted on the rear of his person a shameful wound, as he cried, "I have bent like a hog the richest man in Sweden." He then picked up the ring himself, and while the king's wound was bound up bj' his followers, succeeded in gaining the ships with his treasure and his mother, and returned to Denmark. From this incident gold was called Fyriswall seed, or Kraki's seed. — Voll- mer, Worterb. d. Mythol. s. v.