Researchable PM-based history quiz

Solution Part 1:

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) 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

The guy looked for was Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, Fürst von Wahlstatt, his enemy was Napoleon (N).
He entered at first the Swedish army but was soon acptured in the 7 Years War by the Prussians. He was convinced to enter service in the Prussian army. The kin of Prussia in that time was Frederic the Great. He introduced the potato as a crop in Europe. Frederic dismissed Blücher with the remark: "Kapitän Blücher mag sich zum Teufel scheren" (Captain Blücher may to go to hell). 1786 died Frederic. Blücher then fought the "battle of the nations" at Leipzig and the battle of Waterloo, which is also known in Germany as battle of Belle- Alliance, as Blücher named the battles where they took place, but Wellington, hwere he slept the night before.
He conquered Paris twice but twice he was not allowed to destroy the Jena Bridge (pont de Jéna).

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?

Franz Kafka, born in Prague. He was part of the 15% of the population speaking German as mother language. He worked for an insurancy but became famous as writer of his kafkaesque stories (surreal). In "Die Verwandlung" the bug is originally Gregor Samsa.

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?

Elizabeth I., queen of England, daughter of Henry VIII., who had 6 wifes, two of which were beheaded. Henry got the title Defender of faith by the Pope as he was very keen to subpress the reformation. But soon as the pope did not want to divorce a marriage of him, he founded the Anglican Church. A bit too fast. IIRC the Queen still has this title... Elizabeth I. let Maria Stuart be executed as she was involved in preparations of a coup against Elizabeth. Francis Drake is the admiral. He was also privateer, but no pirate as he had a so called lettre de marqué, allowing private persons to stop and rob enemy (merchant) ships.

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

Konrad Adenauer, once mayor of Köln and Bundeskanzler. He was once asked to become Reichskanzler, but he rejected that offer. After the Nazis took power, Adenauer had to resign. Later he was appointed by the Allies and became mayor of Cologne again, but lost that job because of a quarrel with the British. He then was member of the Parlamentarischer Rat, a constitutional assembly for (West) Germany. He became president as in the very first day the question was, who was president of that assembly. He proposed to take the oldest man in the assembly, well knowing HE was it, so he got that post as this was accepted. Only little later he became Bundeskanzler with one vote more in the parliament than his opponent Kurt Schumacher, SPD. He also invented a soy sausage in 1916.

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

Napoleon III.; Napoelon II., Bonaparte's son, died as Duke of Reichstadt 1822. He was never ruling. Napoleon III. was once president and later emperor of France. He supported the CSA and Mexico under the rule of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, who was executed by his enemy, Benito Juarez. Napoleon III. wanted to stop the German unification, but he had to do it directly, when Austria lost at Königgrätz (Sadowa) against Prussia. In 1870 he declared war on the North German Federation because of the Emser Depesche. He later was captured with his army at Sedan. With that defeat his rule of France was over.

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

Alexander Hamilton. He served under Washington as soldier and later secretary of treasury. He was one of the fathers of the US constitution (federalist papers). He built up the national banking system and the US Navy. He proposed a national debt, opposed by Madison and Jefferson. He wanted also a whiskey tax, because of that a rebellion started he put down. Later he supported Jefferson. That's why the other candidate for the office of the president, Aaron Burr, became a death enemy of him. Hamilton died later of wounds caused in a duel with Burr.

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

Aristoteles, who was teacher of Alexander the Great. He made his father and son eternal by naming the works Nikomachean ethics after them. It is not clear, who of them he wanted to worship. He studied at Platon's Academy at Athens. Alexander later left Greece to conquer the Asia. He got as far as India (Hyphasis river), where his men mutineed and he had to return. He opened a Lycee at Athens, which existed until about 40 BC. After the death of Alexander at Babylon, he left Athens and went to Chalkis, where he died a year later.

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

Grigori Jefimowitch Rasputin, monk. He became member of the Russian court as he could stop the bleedings of the Czarevich, who was haemophilic. He had a quite hedonistic lifestyle. He was very powerful, but also had powerful enemies, who said, he was a traitor, a mad man, a man celebrating orgies,... On the second assassination plot Felix Jussopow, Dimitri Pavlovich and even the English secret serveice were involved. Jussupow killed Rasputin, in his version, by poisining, shooting and at last drowning. The murderers were only mild punished, so Jussupow was banned, but later escaped to Britain. That was one reason for the revolution.

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.

Aesop. He was a slave. He was painted by Diego Velasquez. He was famous for his fables.

The Frog and the Ox
A frog wished to be as big as an ox: therefore she puffed herself up.
Her child said, “You are not as big as the ox.”
The frog painfully puffed up again; she inflated more than before.
“You are not able to win, you already hear it bursting.”
The third time she inflated there was a commotion, abundant swelling and her guts exploded.
The moral is when the lesser counsel the bigger to stop and deliberate it is a wise choice.

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!

William the Conqueror, aka William the Bastard, as his mother Herleva was the daughter of a tanner, and not married with his father Robert the Magnificient. The Byeux Tapestry. He ruled the Normandy and later England. Harold, who was once king, broke his oath as he said he was forced to do so. In 1066 also the Norwegians (vikings) under Harald Harfrage invaded Britain, but were beaten by Harold before Hastings. However when William wanted to land he fell on the earth! A bad omen he quickly reinterpreted as that England wants him so much he was forced to fall. On Christmas Day 1066 he was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

For 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.

The song is Anke van Tharaw/ Ännchen von Tharau, by Simon Dach. It is originally written in the Low German of the Samland, but later translated into High German by Johann Herder. Simon Dach is mostly known today because of his hymns. Indeed Ännchen von Tharau is the only non clerical work surviving until today. It was written for the marriage of Anna Neander of Tharau. Dach was in love, with her, although she was not.

Ännchen von Tharau is the one who I appeal to/She is my life, my commodity and my money.



In the Samland there is much amber to be found. It was until a few years especially found in the Blue Earth of Palmnicken. In German amber is called Bernstein as it burns very well. In Greek it is electron as it has the same colour as the alloy of gold and silver. In Latin it is also electrum of simply succinum, juice stone, assuming rightly the origin of amber as fossil resin.

End of part 1.
 
Soultion Part 2:

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.

Cixi, Empress Dowager of China. As women were excluded to be emperor, although there was one female emperor, Wu Zetian. De nomine I ruled for my son Tongzhi and Guangzhu. The reformer were the reform's chief advocates, together known as the "Six Gentlemen" (戊戌六君子): Tan Sitong, Kang Guangren, Lin Xu, Yang Shenxiu, Yang Rui and Liu Guangdi. The two principal leaders, K'ang Youwei and Liang Qichao, fled abroad. The reforms worked well in Japan. The group is the Righteous Harmony Society or in contemporary English parlance, "Boxers". The German ambassador was Klemens Freiherr von Ketteler. He was killed because he spoke Chinese! As he was the only one doing so he was sent to the Empress Dowager to negotiate a truce to retreat from the ambassador's quater, which was sieged by the boxers. He was murdered by a Chinese officer. The next day the Chinese army attacked the foreign troops trying to attack the siegers. The siege lasted 55 days. Wilhelm II., who did not know yet that the massage the embassies fell and all were killed, was a lie, made the so called Hunnenrede (hun speech). My successor was Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China.

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.

a) All ships were sunk with torpedoes and missiles.
aa) Blanco Encalada was the first armoured ship to be sunk by a mobile torpedo.
bb) HMS Egret was sunk by an airborne anti ship missile, which was also the first time a guided missile sank a ship (Hs 291).
cc) Eilath was sunk by Egyptian shipborne (Osa I class PG) missiles (SS- N 2 Styx).
dd) USS Housatonic was sunk by a spear torpedo by CSA Hunley, the first sinking caused by a submarine.
ee) HMS Pathfinder was the first victim of a torpedo fired by a Uboat.

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.)?
This battle took place on January 31/ February 1 1918. It was planned as a British maneuver but ended in a tragedy. The British K class submarines were steam (!!!) powered submarines to follow as antisubmarine submarines the fleet. However at this maneuvers it was revealed that this was a bad idea. Additionally to several flows in the design of the submarines (hundreds of ventiles to close, long time to be ready to dive,...) 2 of the subamrines were sunk due to accidents and 5 other ships damaged. So the only "winner" of this "battle" were the Central Powers as they did not even participated, but the British navy had losses!

4.

a) Enki - The Sumerian high god of water and intellect, creation, wisdom and medicine who could restore the dead to life.

b) Enkidu - Molded by Aruru out of clay in the image and 'of the essence of Anu', the sky god, and of Ninurta the war god. The companion of Gilgamesh, he is the wild or natural man. Later he was considered a patron or god of animals and may have been the hero of another cycle.

c) Ishtar - was the ancient Sumero-Babylonian goddess of love and fertility. She is often described as the daughter of Anu, the god of the air.

d) Typhon is the offspring of Gaia and Tartarus. His mate is Echidna and both were so fearful that when the gods saw them they changed into animals and fled in terror.

e) In all the Horus deities the traits of kingship, sky and solar symbology, and victory reoccur. As the prototype of the earthly king, there were as many Horus gods as there were rulers of Egypt, if not more. God of the Sun.

f) Jahwe - the most ancient name of God, used by Judaism. The first supreme God.

g) Asha vahishta ('excellent order') is the personification of the 'best truth' and protects the physical and moral order on earth. He is the most prominent of the (male) Amesha Spentas and the principal adversary of the world of the demons.

h) Amaterasu Omi-gami, meaning, Heavenly Shining Goddess in Japan.

i) In Hindu mythology, the senior member of the triad, or Trimurti, of the great gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). In later times he became symbolized as the supreme eternal deity whose essence pervades the entire universe.

j) Literally, 'dying life'. The primeval man in Persian mythology who was created by the supreme god Ahura Mazda. From his seed grew -- plant-like -- Mashye and Mashyane, the father and mother of the human race.

k) Surt is a Fire Giant who lives with the People of Muspel in Muspelheim, the realm of fire to the south.

l) A Finnish sky-god, lord of wind and good weather (ilma), 'giving calm and bad weather, and furthering travelers (sailors)', according to Agricola. It is also the name of one of the heroes of the Kalevala, the eternal smith

m) Chadanta - One of the manfestations of the bodhisattva/Buddha or white elephant named Chadanta

n) An anthropomorphic deity, Paluga, is the cause of all things though acts displeasing to him are avoided for fear of damage to the products of the jungle. Paluga dwells now in the sky but used to live on the top of Saddle Peak, their highest mountain. (animism) – Buluga - The supreme god and creator of the aborigines, known as negritos, of the Andaman Island (a group of island in the Bay of Bengal).

o) This is a Sibirean god, who introduced the good on Earth.

p) The ancestral god and creator god of the Herero bushmen of Namibia. The benevolent Mukuru, all alone with no parents or companions, shows his kindness trough life-giving rain, healing the sick and upholding the very old.

q) Ifrit, also spelled efreet, also ifreet, afrit (Arabic: ʻAfrīt: عفريت, pl ʻAfārīt: عفاريت), are a kind of Jinn mentioned in the Qur'an. (angel)

r) Daksha probably began as one of the pre-Vedic deities of India. In Vedic and post-Vedic times he took on differing characteristics. He is named as one of the Prajapatis, the lords of creation, and is one of the children of Aditi.

s) In Greek mythology, Harmonia is the goddess of harmony and concord. She is the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite (other sources say Zeus and Electra).

t) Another name for Ahura Mazda, the good god of Zoroastrianism. In Persian belief, Ahura Mazdah ('Lord Wisdom') was the supreme god, he who created the heavens and the Earth, and another son of Zurvan. Atar, his son, battled Azhi Dahaka, the great dragon of the sky, and bound it in chains on a high mountain.

5. 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.

Atlantis, aka Avalon or Atzlan. Platon is telling the story of Atlantis in his Critias and Timaeus. There are many places supposed, where Atlantis might be, Greenland, East Prussia, Helgoland, Bahamas, Canrias, Troy, Santorin, Tartassos,..., however, Platon says it is behind the columns of Heracles, so in the Atlantic Ocean (which is named after Atlantis). Plato got the infos (directly or indirectly (over Solon's friend)) by the Egyptians. King Arthur was brought to Atlantis after he was severly wounded in battle. His sword was Excalibur, which was a powerful weapon in combat (but not the one he took out of the stone, but as I wanted to hear that, and I also already accepted the answer as valid, I accepted both answers).

Some of the solution parts are originally answers from 7ronin (translation of Aesop) and kalif (parts o Cixi and question 4).

I hope you had fun.

Adler
 
Here is the new quiz. I have tried to make it simple so as to maximize participation. :) There are ten questions and each one is worth 100 points. The quiz will end September 6th.

1a. One side of me says, “TAKE ME UP.” The other side says, “CAST ME AWAY.” Who am I? Who did I belong to? Where am I now?
1b. One side of me says, “YO SOY LA TIZONA FUE ECHA EN LA ERA DE MILLE QUARENTA.” The other side says, “AVE MARIA ~ GRATIA PLENA ~ DOMINUS TECUM.” Who am I? Who did I belong to? Where am I now?
1c. My name in English is “GRASS CUTTER.” Who am I? Where am I now? What am I part of which is to say why am I important?

2. I was present at a famous battle; I like to think I helped win it. I made a famous speech denouncing the man who gave me my start; later I had a heated debate in a kitchen. I had a habit of taking my shoe off and banging it on my desk. My political miscalculations in a client state almost started World War III. Who am I? What was the battle? Who did I denounce? Who did I debate? Where did I take off my shoe? What was the client state and what is the incident known as?

4. I was born into modest circumstances but my career as a soldier eventually made me ruler of my nation. I ruled justly and well in marked contrast to those who came before me. Despite my high status I lived modestly. After my wife died, my closest companion was my mistress, a former slave. I had two sons, one good one and one very bad one. The good son destroyed one of the world’s great religious centers. Who am I? Who was my mistress? Who were my sons? What was the religious center?

5. I was a painter but I was also involved in politics. I often painted classical scenes with political subtexts. My political missteps in a time of revolutionary change almost cost me my head. Despite that I managed to deftly survive numerous changes of regime and government although eventually my homeland kept me in exile. Perhaps my most famous painting depicts one of my best friends stabbed to death in his bath tub. Who am I? What is my painting style called? Who was the friend? What was the political upheaval I survived?

6. I was one of the most important but one of the least known military leaders in one of the world’s great wars. Perhaps it is because of the nature of the force I led as characterized by its nickname. I suffered twenty percent casualties yet inflicted a stunning defeat on my enemy. The son of one of my commanders is very well known and today holds high political office in our country. Who am I? What was the force I commanded? What is and was its nickname? Who did I defeat? Who is the father and the son?

7. In a war characterized by incompetence I was the epitome of blunders. I have become a byword for gallant but useless military actions. Who am I? What was the war? Where and when did I occur? Who did I involve and who was their commander? What did a Frenchman have to say about me?

8. Harry Flashman was involved in number seven. Who is Flashman? Name nine military actions in which he participated? Briefly note the significance of each.

9. In my country I was held up as a model of virtue and devotion to duty. Indeed, I executed my own two sons for attempting to overthrow the state I had created. The artist in question number five painted a scene from my life. One of my descendents helped to murder the greatest man of his age earning for himself a reputation for treachery and falsehood second perhaps only to Judas Iscariot (Dante assigned him a place in the Ninth Circle of Hell). Who am I? What state did I create? Who was my descendent?

10. Many ancient cities and countries employed distinctive imagery on their coinage; what nations are associated with the following design types:
a. An owl.
b. A tripod
c. Roma.
d. Arethusa.
e. A turtle.
f. A boy on a dolphin.
g. Pegasus.
h. The great king with a bow.
i. An ear of corn.
j. Tanit.

Bonus question:

11. I am the largest single object in the universe visible to the naked human eye. Who am I? What is my other name? Since this is an historical quiz, when am I being seen?
 
Taliesin has 660 points.

I forgot question number three :blush: ; here it is:

3. My father and I were both generals. We both received the same decoration although many did not think I deserved mine. I achieved the highest rank and position in my county's army. I then retired and became the head of the army of a foreign country. Many people thought I was a shameless self promoter who never gave credit to subordinates. I eventually returned to my country's army and finished my career as the virtual ruler of another country. I wanted to become my country's head of state but a disagreement with the incumbent helped to dash my chances. Who am I?
Who was my father? What was the decoration? What was the foreign army? Of which country was I the virtual ruler? Who did I have the disagreement with?

6. Two additional clues. I was a naval officer. My counterpart in the armed forces of one of my country's enemies was President of his country for twenty days.

10. A hint. It's easier than it looks.

11. A hint. The operative word is single. Don't forget the second part of the question.
 
No one else has entered and there have been no further updates so the contest is closed.

Sydhe is the winner! Congratulations.

I will have the answers up later.
 
That's a pretty sad turnout. I hope to have a quiz up by Wednesday.
 
Sad indeed. Perhaps it was the long holiday but then Adler's quiz didn't have many participants either.

Herewith the answers:

1.
a. Who am I and where am I now? Arthur's sword Excalibur, which Sir Bedivere returned to the keeping of the Lady of the Lake.
b. Who am I and where am I now? Tizona, the sword of El Cid, which is now in the Army Museum in Madrid.
c. Who am I and where am I now? Ame Murakumo-No-Tsurugi, or the Sword of Billowing Clouds, popularly known as Kusanagi. It is claimed to be kept in secret at the Atsuta shrine in Nagoya, Japan. What am I part of which is to say why am I important? I am one of the three sacred imperial treasures of Japan (the other two are the sacred jewel and the sacred mirror). Together we are important in the coronation rites of the Emperors of Japan.

2. Who am I? Nikita Khrushchev
What was the battle? Stalingrad
Who did I denounce? Josef Stalin
Who did I debate? Richard Nixon (United States VP at the time)
Where did I take off my shoe? The United Nations General Assembly
What was the client state and what is the incident known as? Cuba. The Cuban Missile Crisis

3: Who am I? Douglas MacArthur, son of Arthur MacArthur. What was the decoration? The Medal of Honor. What was the foreign army? The Philippine Army. Of which country was I the virtual ruler? Japan in my capacity as Supreme Commander Allied Powers. Who did I have the disagreement with? President Harry S Truman.

4. Who am I? Titus Flavius Vespasianus (the Roman Emperor Vespasian)
Who was my mistress? Caenis
Who were my sons? Titus (good) and Domitian (bad)
What was the religious center? The Second Temple at Jerusalem

5. Who am I? Jacques-Louis David
What is my painting style called? Neo-classical
Who was the friend? Jean-Paul Marat
What was the political upheaval I survived? The French Revolution

6. Who am I? Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood. What was the force I commanded? The Pacific Submarine Force (I was COMSUPAC). What is and was its nickname? The Silent Service. Who did I defeat? Japan. Who is the father and the son? John S. McCain, Jr. and John S. McCain, III, United States Senator and possible Presidential candidate. My counterpart who was his countries head of state for twenty days was Admiral Doenitz.



7. Who am I? The Charge of the Light Brigade. What was the war? The Crimean War. Where and when did I occur? The Crimean Peninsula in Russia, 1853-6. The particular action is Balaclava.Who did I involve and who was their commander? The Light Brigade, Lord Cardigan. What did a Frenchman have to say about me? "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre." (It is magnificent, but it is not war).

8. Harry Flashman was involved in number seven. Who is Flashman? Name nine military actions in which he participated? Briefly note the significance of each.
Flashman, originally a character in Tom Brown's Schooldays, is the anti-hero of the Flashman novels by George MacDonald Fraser.
Name nine military actions in which he participated:

First Anglo-Afghan War
Crimean War
Indian Mutiny
Battle of the Little Bighorn
Second Opium War
Boxer Rebellion
First Sikh War
Harper's Ferry Raid
Invasion of Abyssinia
Taiping Rebellion and others

The novels are meticulously researched and highly recommended!


9. Who am I? Lucius Junius Brutus . What state did I create? The Roman Republic. Who was my descendent? Marcus Junius Brutus, one of the assassins of Julius Caesar

10. a. An owl. Athens
b. A tripod. Croton
c. Roma. Rome
d. Arethusa. Syracuse
e. A turtle. Aegina
f. A boy on a dolphin. Tarentum
g. Pegasus. Corinth
h. The great king with a bow. Persia
i. An ear of corn. Metapontum
j. Tanit. Carthage

Bonus question:
11. I am the largest single object in the universe visible to the naked human eye. Who am I? the star Betelgeuse. What is my other name? My Bayer designation is Alpha (α) Orionis although I am not usually as bright as Rigel (Beta (β) Orionis). Since this is an historical quiz, when am I being seen? When you look at me in the night sky you see me as I was 448 years ago. Betelgeuse is some 200 million times larger than the volume of our own sun.

Both Sidhe and Taliesin answered with the Andromeda Galaxy. The Andromeda Galaxy technically is not a single object since it consists of about one trillion stars. Also, while the Andromeda Galaxy is easily visible to the naked eye in a moderately dark sky, such skies without light pollution are difficult to find. Betelgeuse can be seen anywhere. Andromeda also appears quite small to the eye because only the central part is bright enough to be visible, but the full angular diameter of the galaxy is seven times that of the full moon. Finally, Andromeda if you can find it, can only be seen in the Northern Hemisphere, whereas Betelgeuse sits over the equator and can be seen from just about anywhere on Earth.

Congratulations again to Sydhe for winning and to runner-up Taliesin. I was pleased with the excellence of both of their answers.
 
I would take the part of Sydhe and Taliesin on the (Great) Andromeda Galaxy
issue. Leaving that aside, however, Mu Cephei (to name just one)
is a larger naked eye object than Betelgeuse. The matter of latitude I see as irrelevant.
 
Betelgeuse has the largest apparent diameter of any star (other than the Sun) as seen from Earth. I'm not sure if there are any nebulas which look larger. Is the Tarantula visible to the naked eye?
 
(1) What do these stars have in common? Alpha Centauri, Beta Hydri, Delta Pavonis, Gamma Pavonis, Epsilon Eridani, Eta Cassiopeiae, Omicron-2 Eridani, Pi-3 Orionis, Tau Ceti, Zeta Tucanae
20 points

(2) What was the most unusual feature of Egyptian Mathematics?
20 points

(3) For a long time I was considered the first algebraist, although I lived long before the word “algebra” was coined. This was until a work almost two thousand years older than mine was found. Who am I? What is the title of my principal work? What is the title of the older work? Who was the author?
10 points each, 40 total

(4) Each of the following locations has something in common. What is it? Explain why each location is included.
a. The region around Guadalajara, Mexico
b. The Balsas River Valley in Mexico
c. Junin Basin in Peru
d. Lake Titicaca basin
e. Abu Hureyra in Syria
f. Karacadag Hills in Turkey
10 points for the common factor, 5 for each explanation, 40 total

(5) In what building is this picture located? Who painted it? It inspired a very famous person from the country where it was located. Who was he, and what work did it inspire?
Devil.jpg

Ten for location, ten for painter, five for famous person, five for his work, 30 total

(6) These are symbols from astrology, alchemy or astronomy. Identify each.
a:
symbol0.png

b:
symbol1.png

c:
symbol2.png

d:
symbol3.png

e:
symbol4.png

Seven points each, 35 total

(7) In a book of 100 important sieges, ten cities appear twice. List the ten cities and the year(s) they were besieged.
Five per city, three per year (If the siege lasted more than one year, you still get three points, but I’ll accept a single year as the answer), 110 total

(8) Who is this? Why did she recently become better known? What “religion” was founded in the last 50 years with her as a deity? Who is her opposite as deity?
goddess.jpg

Five points each, 20 total

(9) Who am I? In what country did I originate? A famous ship was named after me. Who became famous because he captured this ship?
portrait.jpg

Ten points each, 30 total

(10)
a. This map shows the location of certain cities and towns that have something in common. What is it? Identify each location and why it is included. (One place makes it four times.)
Europe.JPG

Ten points for common factor
Five for each location (35 total)
Five for why each make makes it (50 total)
b. One city got left out because it is not in Europe. What city is it, and why should it be included?
Five and five. 95 total for question

440 total for entire quiz
 
Oops! Deadline October 8 at 11:59:59 p.m. CDT (UT- 5 hours)

I had to eyeball city 7 in the last question, so I may be dozens of miles off. The rest should be accurate.
 
Luceafarul gets all 30 points for question 5, and will try the other questions later.
 
Not much interest. Here's a few hints:

1) Check out the statistics for each star.
3) One of the mathematicians is Greek, the other not.
4) Other locations having this in common would be in China, India and Ethiopia.
6) The object associated with one of these symbols was in the news twice in the last two months. Two will kill you.
7) Some of these should be pretty obvious. Two involve a famous Sultan.
8) Something associated with her was in the news three times in the last two months, but not always under her name.
10) Other places having this in common include four countries (one twice), a peninsula, and a region in Greece (perhaps twice), not always under the current name.
 
Hey folks, the deadline on this quiz is Sunday and I've only had one person attempt a question. Do you need more time, or should I just count it a loss?
 
7Ronin also gets the 30 points for question #5, so he's tied with luceafarul.

In the last question, three of the cities are exactly what they look to be, but another name was used for each of them. #7 is about 70 miles north of Moscow.

Ciceronian steps in with 87 points, with partials for 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 and a complete answer to #9.
 
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