Fun History IV (Ancient) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tyre and Sidon

The result of Judah's second revolt against Babylon was even more disastrous than the first despite their alliance with Tyre and Sidon. Nabu-Kudur-usur (Nebuchadnezzar) the king of Babylon slaughtered the king of Judah's sons in front of his eyes, then blinded him and took most of the remaining population into slavery. A few that remained found refuge in Egypt.

Answer: Assyrian

At this time the Assyrians were ruling from Nineveh with an iron rod. The fate of every man woman and child was decided from this place.

Answer: The use of scientific calcaulation to ensure victory

At the battle of Halys a strict scientific calculation was used for the first time ever to ensure advantage for an army. King Alyattes had with him as an advisor the Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus. Thales worked out and predicted the date for an eclipse of the sun.

At the time fixed by Thales, Alyattes ordered a surprise attack against the Medes. The Medes, terrified and confused by the darkening sun, were routed. So great was the disaster for the Medes that they gave up all further thought of conquest in the region and settled on the river Halys as the frontier between the two nations.

Answer: Tarquinius Priscus

Dionysius of Halicarnassus states that Tarquinus Priscus was an Etruscan and the son of a wealthy family in Etruria. His given name was Lucumo and upon his arrival in Rome in 575 B.C he took the name of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus and used his vast wealth to build the city.

Answer: He would lose the ability to understand the signs of the gods

In a world filled with mysticism this must have been a very scary prospect to someone getting on in years; especially if they were of the priestly cast. Staseas of Naples, a Peripatetic philosopher, said, "he was like a runner in a race, or a racing vehicle, running on the outside track."

Answer: Tacitus

Cornelius Tacitus was born circa A.D. 56 or 57 during the reign of Nero. He survived the reign of Trajan and probably lived a few years into Hadrian's rule.

Answer: Julius Agricola

Julius Agricola was father in law to Tacitus and a highly successful general. He defeated the tribes of Northern Wales. From his legionary base at York he followed his success against the Welsh by reducing Northern England and then advanced further north and inflicted a devestating defeat upon the Caledonians. Agricola also had his eye set on Ireland but was prevented from further conquest by Emperor Domitian who needed his legions elsewhere.

Answer: None

Although married for almost twenty years there were no children born of this union and therefore no dynastic struggles. Upon Trajan's death in A.D. 117, Plotina communicated to the senate Trajan's deathbed nomination of Publius Aelius Hadrianus as his successor.

Answer: Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey) was not only below the legal age requirement for the office of Consul, he had not previously held any of the required offices which normally led up to attaining that rank.

Answer: People power could break the Senate's de facto control

The 'Gracchi' demonstrated very clearly what the sovereign will of the people could do if harnessed. However, they had no armed force/power with which to enforce or even defend their views. Nevertheless the foundation had been laid. According to Stobart it was "Rome's misfortune that this foundation was was built of such rotten materials."