Greek Potpourri Trivia Quiz

Answer: Goat

Kri-kri or Capra hirsus cretica is a mountain goat native to the rugged terrain of the island of Crete. Robustly built and very agile, the kri-kri is well-adapted to the challenging mountainous landscapes it inhabits. These goats feature striking twisted horns that sweep backward and a coarse, reddish-brown coat.

The kri-kri, because of its agility, can navigate steep cliffs and rocky slopes with ease. As herbivores, they graze on a variety of vegetation found in their natural habitat, contributing to the unique flavors of the milk, and cheese produced from their milk. Conservation efforts have been implemented to protect the kri-kri goat and maintain the purity of the breed aiming to preserve this iconic symbol of the Cretan landscape.

Answer: Melina Mercouri

Melina (Amalia-Maria) Mercouri (1920-1994), a multi-talented Greek actress, singer, and politician, was born in Athens and passed away from cancer in New York. She rose to international fame for her captivating performances in films such as "Never on Sunday," which earned her the Best Actress award at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival, Michalis Cacoyiannis' "Stella" and Jules Dassin's "Topkapi." Mercouri's charisma, talent, and striking beauty made her a symbol of Greek cinema during the mid-20th century. Beyond her acting career, she was a fervent supporter of democracy and human rights. Following the military coup in Greece in 1967, Mercouri went into exile, becoming an adamant critic of the regime.

After the restoration of democracy, she returned to Greece and entered politics.

She served as the Minister of Culture in the Greek government, advocating for the repatriation of the Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum to Greece. Melina Mercouri's legacy extends beyond her artistic contributions, reflecting her commitment to social and cultural causes.

Answer: Pindos

The Pindos Range, also known as the Pindus or Pindos Mountains, is a prominent mountain range located in northern and central Greece. Stretching across approximately 230 miles (370 kilometers), the Pindos Range forms the natural boundary between Thessaly and Epirus, presenting a formidable landscape of rugged peaks, deep gorges, and dense forests.

This mountainous terrain is characterized by its diverse ecosystems, including alpine meadows, beech and pine forests, and pristine rivers. Mount Smolikas, standing at 8,652 feet (2,637 meters), is the highest peak in the Pindos Range.

The region holds historical significance as it played a vital role in various episodes of Greek history, serving as a natural barrier and providing refuge for resistance groups during agitated periods.

The Pindos Range attracts outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers with its picturesque landscapes and opportunities for hiking, trekking, and exploration of the rich biodiversity that thrives in this captivating Greek mountain range.

Answer: Italian

On the 15th of August 1940, the warship Elli had anchored in the harbor of Tinos to participate in the celebrations for the big religious festival of the Dormition of the Virgin. The cathedral of Tinos is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin who is considered the protector of Greece.
A crowd of 10,000 people had gathered at the cathedral, a few hundred meters from the harbor, when torpedoes hit Elli and caused a fire. Nine officers and sailors were killed and 24 were wounded. Elli sunk within 2 hours. An investigation revealed that the torpedoes were launched by the Italian submarine Delfino which had its base in Leros, one of the Dodecanese islands under Italian occupation at that time. Since the incident happened during peacetime, the Greek government understated the provocation and retained its neutrality until the 28th of October 1940 when it entered WWII.
After the war ended, the Italian government compensated Greece for the sinking of the warship with an Italian cruiser which was renamed Elli and served in the Greek Navy until 1973.

Answer: Sweet porridge with grains and nuts

In Northern Greece, mainly in the areas of Macedonia and Thrace, a sweet concoction is prepared on the eve of the saint's feast which is celebrated in December. The concoction consists of boiled cracked wheat and six more ingredients, namely sugar or honey, cinnamon, walnuts, almonds, raisins, and pomegranate seeds. Three bowls of this porridge are then offered to neighbors and friends and the rest is eaten by the family as breakfast on the morning of the Feast Day.

The tradition goes back many years when the people prepared this food to "sweeten" St. Barbara so that she would protect the children from the diseases of the upcoming winter.

Answer: Wildcat Under Glass

"Wildcat Under Glass" has been translated into more than 35 languages and it is one of the most well-known Greek children's books inside and outside of Greece.
The main heroines are two little girls, Myrto and Melia (Melissa), who grow up in Samos in 1936. Their grandfather raises the two sisters with stories of Greek mythology and nurtures them with the values of the ancient Greeks. The "kaplani," a stuffed wildcat, displayed in the glass cabinet of the living room of their house, is the subject of magical stories told to them by their cousin, Nikos, a student in Athens, but also a secret means of communication between them.
The dictatorial regime, however, will bring an end to childhood innocence and the two girls will face concerns and situations that will mature them.
The book provides an interesting interpretation of the political situation in Greece at the time through the innocent eyes of the children who find magic and playfulness even in those dire circumstances. Alki Zei wrote many books for children, adolescents, and adults which were very well received by the Greek readers.

Answer: My Number One

The song "My Number One" was Greece's participation in the 50th Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2005, and the winning entry. Greek-Swedish pop singer Helena Paparizou performed the song written by Manos Psaltakis, Natalia Germanou, and Christos Dantis and choreographed by Fokas Evangelinos. The song was considered a perfect fusion of elements of traditional Greek music with modern sounds in a contemporary dance setting: its composition includes bouzouki and a solo with a Pontiac lyre and the choreography was based on traditional Greek dances executed in a fresh interpretation.

The song was number one in Greece and Sweden for several weeks and it also played in other European countries that summer.

Answer: Mini

Alec Issigonis, Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, (1906-1988) is best known for his groundbreaking work in the automotive industry. Born in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Izmir, Turkey), of a Greek father and a German mother, Issigonis moved to England in the 1920s, after having escaped the Great Catastrophe of Smyrna, where he eventually became a key figure in the British automotive world. His most notable achievement was the design of the iconic Mini, a revolutionary compact car that made its debut in 1959. Issigonis' innovative design principles led to a highly efficient and space-saving vehicle which greatly influenced the development of small cars worldwide. Alec Issigonis worked for major British automobile companies and helped develop other iconic cars such as the Morris Minor and the Austin Maxi leaving an indelible mark on the automotive landscape.

He was honored with a British order of chivalry and numerous awards and titles.

Answer: Windsurfing

Windsurfing emerged in the late 1960s as a result of experimentation in combining elements of sailing and surfing. American inventors, Jim Drake and Hoyle Schweitzer, collaborated to create the prototype of a windsurfing board in 1967 and their invention quickly captured the imagination of water sports enthusiasts.

By the late 1970s, windsurfing had evolved into a popular recreational activity and competitive sport. It made its Olympic debut in 1984 in Los Angeles. Windsurfing is a very popular sport in Greece because of the strong winds and the plethora and variety of beaches with numerous championships and races taking place every summer. Nikos Kaklamanakis is the most prominent Greek windsurfer, a legend in his time, who won a gold Olympic medal in Atlanta 1996, a silver medal in Athens 2004, numerous World and European Championships, and the respect of a nation who refers to him as the "son of the wind."

Answer: No

The canton on the upper left side is blue with a white cross which symbolizes the Christian faith of Greece. Blue and white are the national colors representing the sea and the sky. The particular shade of blue is called "galano" or "kyanon" and it is a color described as "azure" or sky-blue. The flag, therefore, is called "galanolefki" or "kyanolefki" (sky-blue and white).
This particular flag has been the official flag of Greece, or the Hellenic Republic as is the conventional official name of the country, since 1978.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic.