Columbia

Columbia is a term that can refer to several different entities, including a historical name for the Americas, a university, and a few geographical locations. The name is derived from the name Christopher Columbus (Italian: Cristoforo Colombo, Spanish: Cristóbal Colón), the Genoese explorer who is traditionally credited with the European "discovery" of the Americas. In Hebrew, Columbia is translated as קולומביה (Kolumbia). The name Columbia has been used to personify the United States, as in the patriotic song "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean." Columbia University, one of the world's most prestigious institutions of higher education, is located in New York City. Additionally, Columbia is the name of the capital city of South Carolina, United States, and a department in Colombia, South America. The term has also been used in various cultural and artistic contexts, such as the character of Columbia in the comic book series "The Spirit" and the song "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean."