Calgacus's Quiz On "Celtic" History

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by XIII
I want to control the questions so as to maintain the 'flavour' of the quiz. I also encourage other knowledgeable posters (like Vrylakas and Calgacus etc) to put up similar themed (like Eastern European and Scottish/Celtic etc) quizzes.

OK. I can't ignore the suggestion of a mod

NOTE: Celtic, for the purposes of this quiz, refers to both the ancient Celts and the the modern "Celtic Fringe" which consists of the largely decelticized lands of Irealand, Scotland, Brittany and Wales.

QUESTION 1: Look at Johan Scotus's 1505 version of the Ptolemy World Map. You'll notice what is known as the "turning of Scotland". But why does Ptolemy bend Scotland like this?

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by calgacus
OK. I can't ignore the suggestion of a mod

I made that suggestion, before I was made a mod.

QUESTION 1: Look at Johan Scotus's 1505 version of the Ptolemy World Map. You'll notice what is known as the "turning of Scotland". But why does Ptolemy bend Scotland like this?

To fit all of Scotland into the map?

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by XIII

To fit all of Scotland into the map?

Kind of. But it had more to do with problem of Graeco-Roman cosmography.

 

[pawpaw]

the map is based on ptolemys book, almajest in which he fixes the postion of 1022 stars by latitude and longitude and determand the location of land from this. this was not always correct because it was based on the earth being the center of the universe not the sun.

 

[Pangur Bán]

That doesn't really answer the question. I'll give a clue, the Romans did not naturally think that Scotland turned like that, but their Map makers assumed it did because of a previous notion in Graeco-Roman cosmography. What was this notion? And why did it lead to the bending of Scotland?

 

[Yoda Power]

they did´nt know that the earth was round, thats why.

 

[Pangur Bán]

No. Firstly, many classical geographers took it for granted that the earth was spherical. But, secondly, that would not explain why they bent Scotland.

 

[Greeny]

I hope web-searching is allowed in this, my Googling skills gleaned this:
http://www.ukans.edu/history/index/...etteer/Periods/Roman/.Texts/Ptolemy/2/2*.html

It doesn’t fit in with your clue but this guy has a simpler explanation: the Romans never got that far! The data leading to a bent Scotland was taken by ships, which were far less accurate due to choppy seas and bad currents...

It sounds like you're after something far more specific however. Hmm... Denmark is leaning also: a clue!?

EDIT: for the link to work you have to delete the *2 from the url and then select 2*.html manualy

 

[Pangur Bán]

You'll need to post that link as either it doesn't work or I just don't have access to the University of Kansas site.

Clue? Well that's difficult to give without giving the game away, but, one thing you could think about is population and climate

 

[Greeny]

See my edit above for workaround to get the link to work.

 

[Pangur Bán]

I was on the site. Didn't see anything that answered the question.

You'll have to work with these clues.

 

[Kalashnikov33]

How is this Celtic history? It seems more like a quiz on Mercator projections to me.

I have a good question about customs of the Celts if you want to use it.

 

[Porphyrogenitos]

Ptolemy borrowed his knowledge of the breadth and width of the world from two previous geograhers (Hipparchus and Marinus). The latter in particular influenced his cut-off point for the north of Europe at 63 degrees North. This point is where the mythical Thule of Pytheas was supposedly (Shetland Islands area). As no place could be further north than this Scotland was bent or stetched from East to West to compensate.

 

[Kalashnikov33]

Jesus. Where do you get this stuff from?

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by Porphyrogenitos
Ptolemy borrowed his knowledge of the breadth and width of the world from two previous geograhers (Hipparchus and Marinus). The latter in particular influenced his cut-off point for the north of Europe at 63 degrees North. This point is where the mythical Thule of Pytheas was supposedly (Shetland Islands area). As no place could be further north than this Scotland was bent or stetched from East to West to compensate.

Fantastic Porphyrogenitos

You should open up a Greek History Quiz thread BTW. I'd enjoy at least.

Next Question, when I arise from my slumber.

 

[Porphyrogenitos]

Originally posted by Kalashnikov33
Jesus. Where do you get this stuff from?

As Calgacus probably knows these sorts of things are right up my alley. As a side note, I have that exact photo as a slide.

 

[Pangur Bán]

QUESTION 2: Although not traditionally known as the first Scottish king, which king was the first to have been (recordedly [Annals of Ulster) called "Rí Alban" (King of Scotland)?

 

[Ribannah]

Malcolm II?

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/genhist/hist22.html

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by Ribannah
Malcolm II?

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/genhist/hist22.html

Nope. It says on that link that he was the first to be called "Rex Scotia". I guess it might be true that he was the first to take that Latin title. But you're in the wrong millenium . The title mentioned was "Rí Alban", which means the same thing.

Good try though.

 

[pawpaw]

how bout donald 2 dasachtach, 889AD