sydhe
King of Kongs
YNCS objected that it's hard to see the figure in the statue in #5. Here's a couple more pictures of the same man. Warning: he's not the person for whom I'm looking, but a clue to that person,
Researchable PM-based history quiz
- Thread starter Plotinus
- Start date
sydhe
King of Kongs
Aion steps in with 79 points, including full points for #1, 2 and 5, and 40 points on the flags (including a couple I thought nobody would get).
YNCS was the first submitter, and is now up to 40 points, including full points for #2 and #8, and three of the flags.
YNCS was the first submitter, and is now up to 40 points, including full points for #2 and #8, and three of the flags.
sydhe
King of Kongs
Comment: on question 6, on the Raghavapadaviya. The name of this work can also be transliterated as Raghava-padaviya, Raghava pandaviya, and Rāghava pāndaveeyam or Rāghavapāṇḍavīyam (if your computer can translate the diacriticals). There's more than one work by this name; the one I'm interested in is from the 11th or 12th century. The Library of Congress copy of this is more than 14,000 pages long!
sydhe
King of Kongs
By the way, it turns out that this answer from the September quiz is incorrect, unless you restrict yourself to kings.
Francis II was the last King who would have carried Hugh Capet's Y chromosome, but the last monarch to carry it is Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, son of former Grand Duke Jean, who is the son of Prince Felix of Parma. Felix was the son of Robert, the last Bourbon Duke to rule Parma, which he did as a child from 1854 to 1859. He, in turn was the great-great-grandson of Philip V of Spain, the grandson of Louis XIV. All the descendants are through the male line, so Grand Duke Henri is currently the last Capetian to rule anywhere in the world. Since he has four sons, the rule of the Capetian y-chromosome should continue!
sydhe said:
Francis II was the last King who would have carried Hugh Capet's Y chromosome, but the last monarch to carry it is Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, son of former Grand Duke Jean, who is the son of Prince Felix of Parma. Felix was the son of Robert, the last Bourbon Duke to rule Parma, which he did as a child from 1854 to 1859. He, in turn was the great-great-grandson of Philip V of Spain, the grandson of Louis XIV. All the descendants are through the male line, so Grand Duke Henri is currently the last Capetian to rule anywhere in the world. Since he has four sons, the rule of the Capetian y-chromosome should continue!
sydhe
King of Kongs
I still have only two entrants but the deadline is still a while ahead.
On 3), there are several things that increased the power of the Carolingians (pre-Carolingians, really, since we're talking about Charles Martel's ancestors). There's one that stands out by making them dominant.
4) Hugh Capet was not the first king from his family.
6) It's an example of a style of literature snarks would look down on..
7) This is one verse from a much longer and major work. Although I cut out the most obvious clue, there are a couple more in this brief excerpt. I don't think this particular translation's on the Internet.
10) #c is a lot easier than it first appears. Look closely at the flag.
On 3), there are several things that increased the power of the Carolingians (pre-Carolingians, really, since we're talking about Charles Martel's ancestors). There's one that stands out by making them dominant.
4) Hugh Capet was not the first king from his family.
6) It's an example of a style of literature snarks would look down on..
7) This is one verse from a much longer and major work. Although I cut out the most obvious clue, there are a couple more in this brief excerpt. I don't think this particular translation's on the Internet.
10) #c is a lot easier than it first appears. Look closely at the flag.
sydhe
King of Kongs
Taliesen steps in with 45 points, solving 3 and 7 and partially solving 4.
sydhe
King of Kongs
Midnight between July 11 and 12 (central time) I won't post the answers until the next day.
sydhe
King of Kongs
Ciceronian has asked that the deadline be extended a couple of days. Anyone else (Methos?) want more time? I'm out of town this weekend so I'd prefer to wrap this up by 11:59:59 p.m. Friday at the latest.
sydhe
King of Kongs
Apparently I didn't post Methos's score. He got 8 and 9 and indeed has 31 points, with a bunch of questions to go.
Aion still leads with 79. He racked up a lot of points on the flags.
Edit: Ciceronian starts off with 30 points, answering 1 and 7.
YNCS still has 40.
Update: Ciceronian got flag (h) so he now has 35.
Aion still leads with 79. He racked up a lot of points on the flags.
Edit: Ciceronian starts off with 30 points, answering 1 and 7.
YNCS still has 40.
Update: Ciceronian got flag (h) so he now has 35.
sydhe
King of Kongs
Times up, so Aion's the winner with 79 points:
1) Who are the four characters depicted in this painting? For what work of literature is this an appropriate illustration?
They are, from left to right. The Monkey King (Sun Wukong), Xuanzang, Pig (Zhu Wuneng) and Friar Sand (Sha Wujing), from The Journey to the West.
2) The state of Mizoram in India tends to suffer famines every 48 years, more or less. There were famines in 1862, 1911 and 1958-9, and there may be one in a year or so. What is the cause of this cycle? What name is given to it?
The famine cycle is caused by the simultaneous flowering of nearly all the bamboo in Mizoram, which leads to a plague of rats a year or so later, then famine. This cycle is called Mautam.
3) One of the major events that allowed to the replacement of the Merovingians by the Carolingians was Charles Martels victory at the Battle of Tours, which greatly increased the Mayor of the Palaces prestige. What earlier event made his family the dominant force in Merovingian France?
What I had in mind was the battle of Tertry, in which Pepin, the Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia defeated the Mayor of the Palace in Neustria and thus became the sole Mayor of the Palace for all the Franks.
4) The factors that eventually allowed the Capetians to replace the Carolingians can also be traced to an event which happened more than a century earlier which increased the prestige of the Capetians (really proto-Capetians, since Hugh Capet wasnt born yet)? What was it?
The great Siege of Paris of 885-86 in which Count Odo of Paris held off a Viking siege for nearly a year. In October 886, Emperor Charles the Fat arrived and instead of fighting the Vikings, bribed them to sack Burgundy. The nobles of France promptly deposed Charles and made Odo King. When Odo died in 898, the Carolingians regained the throne with Charles the Simple. In 922, Odos brother, Robert I was elected king by a noble faction but was killed in battle against Charles the Simple (although Charles lost another battle against Raoul of Burgundy and still lost his throne and died in prison). Hugh Capet was the son of Hugh the Great the son of Robert I the brother of the great Odo.
5) These pictures all link to one historical personage. Who is it? What city did he live in for most of his life? What do the pictures have to do with him?
Ulugh Beg, the Timurid king of Samarkand for nearly 40 years and from 1447-49 the ruler of Timurs empire, and the greatest astronomer of the middle ages. The first picture is a statue of his grandfather Timur the Lame. The second is the remains of the great Observatory he built. The arrow in the third points to the crater Ulugh Beigh, which is named for him.
1) Who are the four characters depicted in this painting? For what work of literature is this an appropriate illustration?
They are, from left to right. The Monkey King (Sun Wukong), Xuanzang, Pig (Zhu Wuneng) and Friar Sand (Sha Wujing), from The Journey to the West.
2) The state of Mizoram in India tends to suffer famines every 48 years, more or less. There were famines in 1862, 1911 and 1958-9, and there may be one in a year or so. What is the cause of this cycle? What name is given to it?
The famine cycle is caused by the simultaneous flowering of nearly all the bamboo in Mizoram, which leads to a plague of rats a year or so later, then famine. This cycle is called Mautam.
3) One of the major events that allowed to the replacement of the Merovingians by the Carolingians was Charles Martels victory at the Battle of Tours, which greatly increased the Mayor of the Palaces prestige. What earlier event made his family the dominant force in Merovingian France?
What I had in mind was the battle of Tertry, in which Pepin, the Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia defeated the Mayor of the Palace in Neustria and thus became the sole Mayor of the Palace for all the Franks.
4) The factors that eventually allowed the Capetians to replace the Carolingians can also be traced to an event which happened more than a century earlier which increased the prestige of the Capetians (really proto-Capetians, since Hugh Capet wasnt born yet)? What was it?
The great Siege of Paris of 885-86 in which Count Odo of Paris held off a Viking siege for nearly a year. In October 886, Emperor Charles the Fat arrived and instead of fighting the Vikings, bribed them to sack Burgundy. The nobles of France promptly deposed Charles and made Odo King. When Odo died in 898, the Carolingians regained the throne with Charles the Simple. In 922, Odos brother, Robert I was elected king by a noble faction but was killed in battle against Charles the Simple (although Charles lost another battle against Raoul of Burgundy and still lost his throne and died in prison). Hugh Capet was the son of Hugh the Great the son of Robert I the brother of the great Odo.
5) These pictures all link to one historical personage. Who is it? What city did he live in for most of his life? What do the pictures have to do with him?
Ulugh Beg, the Timurid king of Samarkand for nearly 40 years and from 1447-49 the ruler of Timurs empire, and the greatest astronomer of the middle ages. The first picture is a statue of his grandfather Timur the Lame. The second is the remains of the great Observatory he built. The arrow in the third points to the crater Ulugh Beigh, which is named for him.
sydhe
King of Kongs
6) One of the more remarkable works of literature is the Raghavapadaviya. Who wrote it and what is so remarkable about it?
It was written by the 12th century poet Kaviraja [there’s more than one Kaviraja], and is probably the longest pun in the world. More specifically, it tells the stories of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana—simultaneously. Sanskrit is even more into multiple meanings of words, and by interpreting words one way, you get the Mahabharata, and by interpreting them another way, you get the Ramayana. How you read the blasted thing without getting mental whiplash, I have no idea.
[Source on this was Empires of the Word by Nicholas Ostler, which has a long section on the history of Sanskrit. It’s surprisingly hard to find information on the Raghavapadaviya on the Web, and I'm not suprised nobody made an attempt at the question. As I mentioned, the name of the book can be spelled several different ways, including divided before the “p,” with an “n” before the “d,” or with an “m” at the end.]
7) From what epic work of literature does this quote come [here translated, of course]? Who wrote it? What nation’s name fills in the blank? What is the major historical event commemorated in this poem? What monster appears in the poem for the first time)?
Against him spoke up Venus fair
With affection for the race of ________
For all the qualities she saw in it
From Rome, that she so loved of old;
In their brave hearts, in the great star,
Which they showed in the land of Ceuta,
And in their tongue, which her imagination,
Could take for a somewhat corrupted Latin.
This is a verse from Os Lusíadas (The Lusiads), the national epic of Portugal written by Luís de Camões. The nation that fills in the blank is Lusitania (or Portugal; since it’s a translation, I’d accept either). Os Lusíadas is the an epic poem of Portuguese exploration, and the centerpiece is Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. On the voyage he encounters the monster Adamastor, which is a personification of the desolation of southern Africa. [Translation from Empires of the Word. The clues are the mention of “Ceuta” which was captured by the Portuguese in 1415, and the reference to “Corrupted Latin” i.e. Portuguese]
8) Which ship survived the Pearl Harbor attack only to be sunk in war more than forty years later? During which conflict was it sunk, and who sank it?
The cruiser USS Phoenix, which when it was sunk by the Conqueror (commander Chris Wreford-Brown) during the Falklands War was known as the General Belgrano.
9) I am a city founded five thousand years ago that vanished two thousand years ago. I’m mentioned in one of the world’s great religious books and also in a famous secular book from the same culture, not to mention the works of H. P. Lovecraft. I was finally found by tracing ancient trade routes with the help of satellites. What am I? What are the two works of literature (not including the ones by Lovecraft). What was the actual fate that befell me?
I’d accept various names here: Iram, aka Ubar, Wabar, or the City of the Pillars, in eastern Oman. It’s mentioned in the Qur’an and The One Thousand and One Nights (and, Methos points out, James Robbins novel Sandstorm). It was a wicked city supposedly buried in the sand by Allah and it does seem to have collapsed into a sinkhole and been buried under the dunes. In Lovecraft, it’s called Irem, the City of Pillars, located somewhere near the Nameless City and mentioned several times, for instance:
“Of the cult, he said that he thought the centre lay amid the pathless deserts of Arabia, where Irem, the City of Pillars, dreams hidden and untouched.” --The Call of Cthulhu [He missed the memo about the sinkhole, I guess.]
10) These are flags of various former countries, secessionist “nations” or unrecognized countries over the last 250 years. Three points for each flag you can identify , and two for what country each is now a part of.
a)
The Third Republic of Acre. Acre was part of Bolivia which was occupied by Brazilian settlers and seceded. After three republics, Acre became a province of Acre in Brazil.
b)
The Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii, now part of the United States
c)
The Republic of Vermont, which revolted against Britain, New York and New Hampshire and ran itself as an independent nation until 1791. Now part of the United States.
d)
The Republic of the Yucatan from the 1840s, now part of Mexico
e)
Katanga, 1960 – 64, now part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
f)
Manchukuo, the Japanese puppet state set up in Manchuria in the 1930s, now part of China
g)
Tuva (aka Tannu Tuva). It’s part of Russia and borders Mongolia. This flag was actually an error, as it's the current flag of Tuva. I meant to include one of the flags from 1921-44, when Tuva was independent.
h)
White-run Rhodesia, 1967 - 79, which is now Zimbabwe
i)
The Republic of Texas 1836-45, now part of the United States.
j)
Bougainville, or the Republic of the North Solomons, currently an autonomous part of Papua New Guinea
k)
Western Sahara, or Sahrawi, currently mostly occupied by Morocco. The rest is held by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic which was created by the Polisario, so this one is actually a flag of a nation recognized by a dozen or so countries..
I’ve got a site where I get these flags and I’m not going to tell you where it is.
It was written by the 12th century poet Kaviraja [there’s more than one Kaviraja], and is probably the longest pun in the world. More specifically, it tells the stories of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana—simultaneously. Sanskrit is even more into multiple meanings of words, and by interpreting words one way, you get the Mahabharata, and by interpreting them another way, you get the Ramayana. How you read the blasted thing without getting mental whiplash, I have no idea.
[Source on this was Empires of the Word by Nicholas Ostler, which has a long section on the history of Sanskrit. It’s surprisingly hard to find information on the Raghavapadaviya on the Web, and I'm not suprised nobody made an attempt at the question. As I mentioned, the name of the book can be spelled several different ways, including divided before the “p,” with an “n” before the “d,” or with an “m” at the end.]
7) From what epic work of literature does this quote come [here translated, of course]? Who wrote it? What nation’s name fills in the blank? What is the major historical event commemorated in this poem? What monster appears in the poem for the first time)?
Against him spoke up Venus fair
With affection for the race of ________
For all the qualities she saw in it
From Rome, that she so loved of old;
In their brave hearts, in the great star,
Which they showed in the land of Ceuta,
And in their tongue, which her imagination,
Could take for a somewhat corrupted Latin.
This is a verse from Os Lusíadas (The Lusiads), the national epic of Portugal written by Luís de Camões. The nation that fills in the blank is Lusitania (or Portugal; since it’s a translation, I’d accept either). Os Lusíadas is the an epic poem of Portuguese exploration, and the centerpiece is Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India. On the voyage he encounters the monster Adamastor, which is a personification of the desolation of southern Africa. [Translation from Empires of the Word. The clues are the mention of “Ceuta” which was captured by the Portuguese in 1415, and the reference to “Corrupted Latin” i.e. Portuguese]
8) Which ship survived the Pearl Harbor attack only to be sunk in war more than forty years later? During which conflict was it sunk, and who sank it?
The cruiser USS Phoenix, which when it was sunk by the Conqueror (commander Chris Wreford-Brown) during the Falklands War was known as the General Belgrano.
9) I am a city founded five thousand years ago that vanished two thousand years ago. I’m mentioned in one of the world’s great religious books and also in a famous secular book from the same culture, not to mention the works of H. P. Lovecraft. I was finally found by tracing ancient trade routes with the help of satellites. What am I? What are the two works of literature (not including the ones by Lovecraft). What was the actual fate that befell me?
I’d accept various names here: Iram, aka Ubar, Wabar, or the City of the Pillars, in eastern Oman. It’s mentioned in the Qur’an and The One Thousand and One Nights (and, Methos points out, James Robbins novel Sandstorm). It was a wicked city supposedly buried in the sand by Allah and it does seem to have collapsed into a sinkhole and been buried under the dunes. In Lovecraft, it’s called Irem, the City of Pillars, located somewhere near the Nameless City and mentioned several times, for instance:
“Of the cult, he said that he thought the centre lay amid the pathless deserts of Arabia, where Irem, the City of Pillars, dreams hidden and untouched.” --The Call of Cthulhu [He missed the memo about the sinkhole, I guess.]
10) These are flags of various former countries, secessionist “nations” or unrecognized countries over the last 250 years. Three points for each flag you can identify , and two for what country each is now a part of.
a)
The Third Republic of Acre. Acre was part of Bolivia which was occupied by Brazilian settlers and seceded. After three republics, Acre became a province of Acre in Brazil.
b)
The Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii, now part of the United States
c)
The Republic of Vermont, which revolted against Britain, New York and New Hampshire and ran itself as an independent nation until 1791. Now part of the United States.
d)
The Republic of the Yucatan from the 1840s, now part of Mexico
e)
Katanga, 1960 – 64, now part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
f)
Manchukuo, the Japanese puppet state set up in Manchuria in the 1930s, now part of China
g)
Tuva (aka Tannu Tuva). It’s part of Russia and borders Mongolia. This flag was actually an error, as it's the current flag of Tuva. I meant to include one of the flags from 1921-44, when Tuva was independent.
h)
White-run Rhodesia, 1967 - 79, which is now Zimbabwe
i)
The Republic of Texas 1836-45, now part of the United States.
j)
Bougainville, or the Republic of the North Solomons, currently an autonomous part of Papua New Guinea
k)
Western Sahara, or Sahrawi, currently mostly occupied by Morocco. The rest is held by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic which was created by the Polisario, so this one is actually a flag of a nation recognized by a dozen or so countries..
I’ve got a site where I get these flags and I’m not going to tell you where it is.
sydhe
King of Kongs
By the way, the only two flags nobody got were Vermont and Yucatan. The Vermont flag was also the flag of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolution, which is why it is green and has 13 stars. I would have included the flag of the Republic of California, except it has the word "California" on it.
The only other question nobody got at all was #6.
Aion's up.
The only other question nobody got at all was #6.
Aion's up.
Aion
King
Hey guys, would anybody mind if I stepped aside? I feel really sorry for neglecting my quizmastering duties 
, but right now I don't think I have the verve to prepare a new quiz. My apologies. So if anybody (YNCS?) would like to set a new quiz, feel free to go ahead.
, but right now I don't think I have the verve to prepare a new quiz. My apologies. So if anybody (YNCS?) would like to set a new quiz, feel free to go ahead.
Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
Okay, as it seems nobody makes it I will do one in the next days.
Adler
Adler
Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
So here it is. Have fun and luck.
Okay, here are the questions:
1. The name of an old song is now looked for. The following guys` (sur-)name's inital is the looked letter for the word. So if it is Jesse James the letter is a J. The starting initials are given though: A v T
A abc v de T fghij
So the first person in a) is the second letter of the first word. If it is Jesse James it would be Aj...
For each extra name and each fact asked for 10 points are given.
a)
Be careful! This time I ask after the name of the enemy of this guy!
Who am I? I am a famous soldier but started my campaign in another nation than later. Which country? Why did I change the flag? Which flag I fought for then? Who was the king of that country? This king introduced also a new kind of crop in Europe, so which one and when? I was in quarrel with the king and so went out of the army. What were the words he dismissed me? After the death of the king I reentered service and fought in several wars for my country. When did the king die? I won two very important battles with Allies. Name both. One was/ is also named in Germany after another location. Which one? I also said following:
"How many times I have to conquer that bloody one horse town before I am allowed to burn that damn bridge?!?"
What town is meant and how many times I conquered the town? Also what bridge is meant?
14*10= 14 points
b)
Who am I? Where was I born? What "normal" profession do I have, but with what did I become famous? Why is my work, well, exotic? In one of my novels there is a bug. What's the name of that bug, at least originally? What is my mother language?
7*10= 70 points
c)
Who am I? I was the daughter of which king? What title of the pope he got and why was it a bit too early in giving it to him? What was the reason for the quarrel with the pope? How many wives he had and what fate did some of them had? However I let also kill an important Royal. Who? I also lead a war against Spain. Who was my main admiral and what profession he also had? Why was this profession legal although others were executed for that?
10*10= 100 points
END OF FIRST WORD
d)
Who am I? I was once mayor of a major town. Which one? I also was asked to have which post in the government but I rejected it. Which one? Later I was dismissed but I became mayor again because of what? Then again I had trouble and left the job again. However I was asked to be in one certain committee. Which one? How I got president of that committee? A little later, although in an age others rest, I accepted the post I once rejected. How was it called now? And how many votes I got more? Also who was my main opposite in that vote? At last I invented something to eat. What?
10*10= 100 points
e)
Who am I? I am the third in a row, but why is number 2 missing? Who was Nr.2? I was ruling my country twice, but under different circumstances, so name my titles I had! Later I chose to make my influence stronger in America. I supported two nations in a civil war, but both were doomed. Which ones? One had an emperor. Who was it and who was his enemy? What was his fate? Later I opposed the unification of which nation? At first I hoped the problem was solved without my direct intervention but I lost that diplomatic offensive due to the defeat of my ally. Who was my ally? Then I had to intervene myself and so declared war on the enemy because of what letter? But I was beaten and captured- in which battle?
10*10 questions= 100 points
End of second word
f)
Who am I? I was at first soldier under which commander? I also helped to make what paper? I also got a post in the government. What post was it? And who was my boss? In this post I built up two main things for my nation. What two things? One of them had two main men as opposition. What project it was and who were opposing? Because of inventing a new tax a rebellion started which was put down. What was the new tax? I made me a death foe by supporting another politician, who was finally elected. Who were these men? How did I die?
10*10= 100 points
g)
Who am I? I was the teacher of which great person. Whom? What is the name of my father and son and how did I make them eternal? Where did I study? My pupil once left the country to do what? Where came his campaign to an end? In this time I returned to the place I studied to open what school? When was it closed? And finally to which place I had to go after the death of my pupil?
10*10= 100 points
h)
Who am I? What was my profession? I became a very important member of what court. What was the reason? What was my life style now? As i had big influence I got many foes. Once there was an assassination attempt that missed. However I was also accused by my foes in the press as what (name only one)? Then against my opinion what happened? Then later again a new assassination plot was planned to kill me. Who was involved (name 2 men/ organisations)? How did I die in the legend told by my murderers? What was the punishment and to what did it also lead?
10*10= 100 points
i)
Who am I? What was my profession? Who painted me on this picture? For what I became famous?
De rana et bove
Here is one of his works. Translate it (70 points)!
Equari vult rana bovi: tumet ergo. Tumenti
Natus ait: "Cessa; pre bove tota nihil."
Rana dolet meliusque tumet; premit ille tumentem:
"Vincere non poteris, victa crepare potes."
Tertius iratam vexat tumor; illa tumoris
Copia findit eam: viscera rupta patent.
Cum maiore minor conferri desinat et se
Consulat et vires temperet ipse suas.
3*10+70= 100 points.
j)
Who am I? I was also called bastard. Why and who were my parents? What is this picture here called? I was at first ruler of what country? Later the king of which country died, to whom I was a relative? I once had forced the new king of the land to support me as king. But he broke his oath. Who was that king? Why was he allowed to break his oath? So I invaded that country. But also another army just invaded but was beaten. Who and who was their leader? What was my first action by landing on the shores? Where was the final battle where I won? Where and when I was crowned to be the new king?
10*10= 100 points.
10*100= 1.000 points!
Fo each following fact you get 25 points.
You should now have the name of the song. Name it. However it is written in a dialect of the language. Which one? In that area there is also a great deposit of a luxury resource (in civ terms). Which one? Name this resource also on German, Latin and Greek (15 points each) and declare the meaning of the 3 (25 points each)! There is especially known the blue earth of which town?
However back to the song: Who was the composer? And for what is he known, I mean his other works is in a different style so which one? What was the reason to write this song? Who was the person he meant in the song? Later who translated the Song from the dialect in the modern high language? And at last name that song in this language!
Bonus: Translate the first verse into English! (55 points).
500 points.
2. Who am I? (30 pts)
I was ruler of a nation, although I never was the head of state, which is also seen on my title. Why? (30 pts.) What was my title (20 pts.)? However once there was true a ruler like me in that country. Who (30 pts.)? I was very powerful but had to use all my power to keep the power I had, so I was unable to solve the problems of my nation. However when a reforming government was introduced, under my son, I soon threw off the government and banned my son and let the reformists be executed or banned. Who were my son and the head of the reformists? (50 pts.) In another nation a bit before such reforms worked very well. Which nation was it (30 pts.)? In this time my nation was in severe trouble with foreign nations and also interior opposition. However one of the opposition groups I used to deal the problem with the foreign nations. This group had a certain name, but is mostly known under another. What were these names? (30 pts.) In this crises I tried to ban all foreigners out of my capital, but they were unable to leave it. So they had to stay. Before negotiations followed, a certain ambassador was killed. Who (30 pts.) and why just him (80 pts.)? The foreigners in my capital were attacked but they were able to hold the position until foreign troops conquered the capital. How long did they fight? (30 pts.) Also due to the propaganda news, the foreigners were all killed someone held an infamous speech, so that for a time this people is also called like another one. Who was this man and the peoples (60 pts.)? However although I also used my military, the foreigners were victorious and in the end I had to sign a peace treaty. This was de facto the end of my rule. However when I died, my son died one day before me (surprise!), who followed me and what was the unique in him/ her? (80 pts.)
500 pts.
3. Naval questions:
a) What do have these ships in common (50 pts):
aa) Blanco Encalada
bb) HMS Egret
cc) Eilath
dd) USS Housatonic
ee) HMS Pathfinder
Name also the cause of the loss (20 pts. each). 2 of them can be questioned to be on the list. Which ones and why (100 pts.)?
350 pts.
b) The battle of May Island
When did this battle took place? (50 pts.) Who fought against whom (50 pts.)? And why did one belligerent party did win the battle before firing a single shot (50 pts.)?
150 pts.
500 pts.
4. Of Gods and Heroes and other mythological persons
Who are we (25 pts. each)?
a) Enki
b) Enkidu
c) Ishtar
d) Typhon
e) Horus
f) Jahwe (originally)
g) Ascha
h) Ameterasu
i) Brahma
j) Gajomart
k) Surt
l) Ilmarinen
m) Chadanta
n) Paluga
o) Chadau
p) Mukuru
q) Ifrit
r) Daksha
s) Harmonia
t) Ormuzd
500 pts.
5. What am I (100 pts.)?
I am an island. I am known under several names in many cultures. Name 2 of my names (50 pts.). However under my most known name today I first appeared in the works of one man. Who and what works were it (50 pts.)? As it is unknown where I was there are many, partly weird, theories about my location. Name 2 (50 pts.). However where according to my first written source I shall be? (50 pts.) From whom he got the information about me (50 pts.)? In an old myth a king is brought to that island after he was severely wounded. Who was it? (50 pts.) And what was the name of his sword and why was it so important for him (50 pts.)? And finally what area of the world is named after me (50 pts.)?
500 pts.
3.500 pts. in total.
Ending date: Monday 21.08.06 9.00 CEST
Adler
P.S.: Clarification in Nr. 1 a) added.
Okay, here are the questions:
1. The name of an old song is now looked for. The following guys` (sur-)name's inital is the looked letter for the word. So if it is Jesse James the letter is a J. The starting initials are given though: A v T
A abc v de T fghij
So the first person in a) is the second letter of the first word. If it is Jesse James it would be Aj...
For each extra name and each fact asked for 10 points are given.
a)
Be careful! This time I ask after the name of the enemy of this guy!
Who am I? I am a famous soldier but started my campaign in another nation than later. Which country? Why did I change the flag? Which flag I fought for then? Who was the king of that country? This king introduced also a new kind of crop in Europe, so which one and when? I was in quarrel with the king and so went out of the army. What were the words he dismissed me? After the death of the king I reentered service and fought in several wars for my country. When did the king die? I won two very important battles with Allies. Name both. One was/ is also named in Germany after another location. Which one? I also said following:
"How many times I have to conquer that bloody one horse town before I am allowed to burn that damn bridge?!?"
What town is meant and how many times I conquered the town? Also what bridge is meant?
14*10= 14 points
b)
Who am I? Where was I born? What "normal" profession do I have, but with what did I become famous? Why is my work, well, exotic? In one of my novels there is a bug. What's the name of that bug, at least originally? What is my mother language?
7*10= 70 points
c)
Who am I? I was the daughter of which king? What title of the pope he got and why was it a bit too early in giving it to him? What was the reason for the quarrel with the pope? How many wives he had and what fate did some of them had? However I let also kill an important Royal. Who? I also lead a war against Spain. Who was my main admiral and what profession he also had? Why was this profession legal although others were executed for that?
10*10= 100 points
END OF FIRST WORD
d)
Who am I? I was once mayor of a major town. Which one? I also was asked to have which post in the government but I rejected it. Which one? Later I was dismissed but I became mayor again because of what? Then again I had trouble and left the job again. However I was asked to be in one certain committee. Which one? How I got president of that committee? A little later, although in an age others rest, I accepted the post I once rejected. How was it called now? And how many votes I got more? Also who was my main opposite in that vote? At last I invented something to eat. What?
10*10= 100 points
e)
Who am I? I am the third in a row, but why is number 2 missing? Who was Nr.2? I was ruling my country twice, but under different circumstances, so name my titles I had! Later I chose to make my influence stronger in America. I supported two nations in a civil war, but both were doomed. Which ones? One had an emperor. Who was it and who was his enemy? What was his fate? Later I opposed the unification of which nation? At first I hoped the problem was solved without my direct intervention but I lost that diplomatic offensive due to the defeat of my ally. Who was my ally? Then I had to intervene myself and so declared war on the enemy because of what letter? But I was beaten and captured- in which battle?
10*10 questions= 100 points
End of second word
f)
Who am I? I was at first soldier under which commander? I also helped to make what paper? I also got a post in the government. What post was it? And who was my boss? In this post I built up two main things for my nation. What two things? One of them had two main men as opposition. What project it was and who were opposing? Because of inventing a new tax a rebellion started which was put down. What was the new tax? I made me a death foe by supporting another politician, who was finally elected. Who were these men? How did I die?
10*10= 100 points
g)
Who am I? I was the teacher of which great person. Whom? What is the name of my father and son and how did I make them eternal? Where did I study? My pupil once left the country to do what? Where came his campaign to an end? In this time I returned to the place I studied to open what school? When was it closed? And finally to which place I had to go after the death of my pupil?
10*10= 100 points
h)
Who am I? What was my profession? I became a very important member of what court. What was the reason? What was my life style now? As i had big influence I got many foes. Once there was an assassination attempt that missed. However I was also accused by my foes in the press as what (name only one)? Then against my opinion what happened? Then later again a new assassination plot was planned to kill me. Who was involved (name 2 men/ organisations)? How did I die in the legend told by my murderers? What was the punishment and to what did it also lead?
10*10= 100 points
i)
Who am I? What was my profession? Who painted me on this picture? For what I became famous?
De rana et bove
Here is one of his works. Translate it (70 points)!
Equari vult rana bovi: tumet ergo. Tumenti
Natus ait: "Cessa; pre bove tota nihil."
Rana dolet meliusque tumet; premit ille tumentem:
"Vincere non poteris, victa crepare potes."
Tertius iratam vexat tumor; illa tumoris
Copia findit eam: viscera rupta patent.
Cum maiore minor conferri desinat et se
Consulat et vires temperet ipse suas.
3*10+70= 100 points.
j)
Who am I? I was also called bastard. Why and who were my parents? What is this picture here called? I was at first ruler of what country? Later the king of which country died, to whom I was a relative? I once had forced the new king of the land to support me as king. But he broke his oath. Who was that king? Why was he allowed to break his oath? So I invaded that country. But also another army just invaded but was beaten. Who and who was their leader? What was my first action by landing on the shores? Where was the final battle where I won? Where and when I was crowned to be the new king?
10*10= 100 points.
10*100= 1.000 points!
Fo each following fact you get 25 points.
You should now have the name of the song. Name it. However it is written in a dialect of the language. Which one? In that area there is also a great deposit of a luxury resource (in civ terms). Which one? Name this resource also on German, Latin and Greek (15 points each) and declare the meaning of the 3 (25 points each)! There is especially known the blue earth of which town?
However back to the song: Who was the composer? And for what is he known, I mean his other works is in a different style so which one? What was the reason to write this song? Who was the person he meant in the song? Later who translated the Song from the dialect in the modern high language? And at last name that song in this language!
Bonus: Translate the first verse into English! (55 points).
500 points.
2. Who am I? (30 pts)
I was ruler of a nation, although I never was the head of state, which is also seen on my title. Why? (30 pts.) What was my title (20 pts.)? However once there was true a ruler like me in that country. Who (30 pts.)? I was very powerful but had to use all my power to keep the power I had, so I was unable to solve the problems of my nation. However when a reforming government was introduced, under my son, I soon threw off the government and banned my son and let the reformists be executed or banned. Who were my son and the head of the reformists? (50 pts.) In another nation a bit before such reforms worked very well. Which nation was it (30 pts.)? In this time my nation was in severe trouble with foreign nations and also interior opposition. However one of the opposition groups I used to deal the problem with the foreign nations. This group had a certain name, but is mostly known under another. What were these names? (30 pts.) In this crises I tried to ban all foreigners out of my capital, but they were unable to leave it. So they had to stay. Before negotiations followed, a certain ambassador was killed. Who (30 pts.) and why just him (80 pts.)? The foreigners in my capital were attacked but they were able to hold the position until foreign troops conquered the capital. How long did they fight? (30 pts.) Also due to the propaganda news, the foreigners were all killed someone held an infamous speech, so that for a time this people is also called like another one. Who was this man and the peoples (60 pts.)? However although I also used my military, the foreigners were victorious and in the end I had to sign a peace treaty. This was de facto the end of my rule. However when I died, my son died one day before me (surprise!), who followed me and what was the unique in him/ her? (80 pts.)
500 pts.
3. Naval questions:
a) What do have these ships in common (50 pts):
aa) Blanco Encalada
bb) HMS Egret
cc) Eilath
dd) USS Housatonic
ee) HMS Pathfinder
Name also the cause of the loss (20 pts. each). 2 of them can be questioned to be on the list. Which ones and why (100 pts.)?
350 pts.
b) The battle of May Island
When did this battle took place? (50 pts.) Who fought against whom (50 pts.)? And why did one belligerent party did win the battle before firing a single shot (50 pts.)?
150 pts.
500 pts.
4. Of Gods and Heroes and other mythological persons
Who are we (25 pts. each)?
a) Enki
b) Enkidu
c) Ishtar
d) Typhon
e) Horus
f) Jahwe (originally)
g) Ascha
h) Ameterasu
i) Brahma
j) Gajomart
k) Surt
l) Ilmarinen
m) Chadanta
n) Paluga
o) Chadau
p) Mukuru
q) Ifrit
r) Daksha
s) Harmonia
t) Ormuzd
500 pts.
5. What am I (100 pts.)?
I am an island. I am known under several names in many cultures. Name 2 of my names (50 pts.). However under my most known name today I first appeared in the works of one man. Who and what works were it (50 pts.)? As it is unknown where I was there are many, partly weird, theories about my location. Name 2 (50 pts.). However where according to my first written source I shall be? (50 pts.) From whom he got the information about me (50 pts.)? In an old myth a king is brought to that island after he was severely wounded. Who was it? (50 pts.) And what was the name of his sword and why was it so important for him (50 pts.)? And finally what area of the world is named after me (50 pts.)?
500 pts.
3.500 pts. in total.
Ending date: Monday 21.08.06 9.00 CEST
Adler
P.S.: Clarification in Nr. 1 a) added.
Ciceronian
Latin Scholar
Yeah, this looks like an interesting quiz, well done Adler! I think I'll have enough time to submit.
