History Quiz III (with rules)

[Mark Young]

Thats spot on porphyrogenitas.
I grew up in Tasmania and so I learnt all about her and the fate of the rest of the Tasmanian Aboridgines when I was at school.
It was a great tragedy.

 

[Porphyrogenitos]

Thanks Sir Eric. Spent considerable time in your wonderful country and picked up some rather interesting books on the subject of colonial Australia. As for the next question:

Aeneas Sylvius (future Pope Pius II) once famously said:

"It is the second death of Homer and Plato"

What was he referring to?

 

[onejayhawk]

The fall of Byzantium in 1453?

Originally posted by Sir Eric
Thats spot on porphyrogenitas.
I grew up in Tasmania and so I learnt all about her and the fate of the rest of the Tasmanian Aboridgines when I was at school.
It was a great tragedy.

You should read the story of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce.

J

 

[Porphyrogenitos]

You are right onejayhawk. Your question.

BTW: That was fast.

[If onejayhawk doesn't post a question then you are welcome to take a shot at this one:

Who was the first female Historian?

Will be away for the weekend so may not be able to confirm your answers though.]

 

[Mark Young]

Heroditus? Sounds like a female name to me

 

[Pangur Bán]

I guess your answer is Anna Comnena.

 

[Porphyrogenitos]

That's right calgacus. Your question...

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by Porphyrogenitos
That's right calgacus. Your question...

Thanks!

Who being crowned in this image? :

 

[Pangur Bán]

Here is the image:

 

[Constantine]

A wild guess here but judging from the artwork would it be the first Russian Christain king being crowned by St. Cryil i think to the missonairy to russia
Just a guess
C.

 

[Porphyrogenitos]

Sorry Constantine but you are way off.

This is King Roger II (Norman king of Sicily) being crowned by Christ and it is in the Byzantine style. It is from the Martorana chapel here in Palermo. Calgacus seems to be chasing me around the globe with his art questions.

PS Calgacus, I must say that in the interest of fairness art images are very hard to pinpoint for most. I personally don't mind but it seems I am the only one getting them so maybe you should stick to questions. Just a suggestion, I may be wrong about this trend.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Your turn

PS, I don't ask them because of you. I ask them because I know that the answer cannot be searched in google.

 

[Porphyrogenitos]

Dear Calgacus, I wasn't implying you were posting those for me. It is just strange that the mosaic you chose is actually in the city I am currently in (hence the chasing comment).

Next Question:

Who is the only recorded monarch to have been crowned in utero (while still in the womb)?

PS If anyone finds the answer using google I'd like them to post the site. I am curious to see if the Internet is all-knowing.

 

[polymath]

NB, SPOILER FOR PORPHYROGENITOS -

Well, searching is my job (actually making things #1 on the engines is my job, but same difference), so I'll handle that side of it. I did a search on Google (usually the best place to start) for:

crowned in the womb

(no quote marks, just like the above) which I think found the answer at:
http://www.bootlegbooks.com/Reference/PhraseAndFable/data/1127.html
I believe the second entry is the guy you are talking about.

NB, this was after trying: crowned in utero, pre-birth coronation, crowned pre birth, crowned before birth, age at coronation, and other stuff like that. Couldn't see any relevant stuff there, but crowned before birth did it.

For the record I think the internet is easily the greatest repository of knowledge in the world.

 

[Porphyrogenitos]

Well, I'll be! That's the right answer. Shapur II, King of Persia during the interesting life of Julian the Apostate. As a side note the war with Shapur proved to be Julian's undoing.

I agree with you polymath regarding the Internet but one must know how to utilize that massive tool (you obviously can).

Your question...

 

[polymath]

Probably an easy one:

What is the claim to fame of Antony Van Leeuwenhoek?

 

[Finmaster]

Hey, I actually know this guy! He was a scientist, a microbiologist and a lens maker in the 17th century! And I think it was he who discovered the existance of bacteria...

"claim to fame"? What does that mean (sorry my bad English, I just don't get that sentence). A quote or something? I think the most famous thing he said was something like "I write down everything I discover" or something like that...

 

[polymath]

Yeah, he 'discovered' bacteria, that was his claim to fame.

('Claim to fame' means the main reason he is remembered, or what someone is most likely to be remembered for.)

OK well done, Finmaster! Your go!

 

[jack merchant]

Bah, finally a question I know and I'm in too late !
I should mention that Van Leeuwenhoek didn't discover bacteria by accident, but by inventing the microscope.

 

[Finmaster]

Allright... here is a picture of a world-famous aqueduct that the Romans build to carry a supply of fresh water across southern France.

Now the question is: what is the name of this aqueduct and when was it build? (looking for a precise year)