FunTrivia Humanities Mix: Vol 19 Quiz

Answer: They are palindromes

A palindrome is a word, or it can also be a sentence, that reads the same forward as it does backward. Here is an example of a palindrome in sentence form: "Was it a rat I saw?"

Question by player Ted_Striker

Answer: Italian

The term contrapposto describes a pose, either in sculpture or painting, in which the upper body is slightly twisted from the lower body, specifically, the shoulders and torso are off-axis from the hips and pelvis. This pose gives a sense of either a dynamic movement forward or a relaxed stillness.

The first example of a contrapposto statue is the "Kritios Boy" from 480 BC, on display in the Acropolis museum. Famous examples of contrapposto statues are Michelangelo's "David" and "Venus de Milo". Contrapposto is a favorite pose in modelling clothes or accessories.

Question by player tiye

Answer: Day

Obviously, this should be as plain as the nose on your face. "Plain as day" is very probably a shortening of "plain as the sun at midday" which dates back to the late 1800s. Before that, "plain as a packstaff" was used from the mid-1500s with the same idea, alluding to a peddler's stick hung over his shoulder to display his wares.

Question by player njbruce

Answer: Dragon

All are words that are the same or similar in meaning to "ghost," except "dragon." A dragon is usually depicted as a mythical winged and fire-breathing reptile.

Question by player lowtechmaster

Answer: Claude Monet

Gustave Caillebotte was a painter in his own right, painting such pieces as "The Yellow Fields at Gennevilliers", "Homme au Bain" and "Nude Lying on a Couch". Luckily for him, he was quite wealthy and could paint without having to sell his work in order to survive.

He was a generous patron of other painters, including Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro and Claude Monet. He paid Monet's studio rent, funded exhibitions for fellow painters and bought their works.

Question by player ramonesrule

Answer: Ireland

In Irish myth, the Morrigan is usually associated with war and battles, with her appearance, often in the form of a crow, foretelling the fate of the participants. The Morrigan is mentioned in the "Ulster Cycle", mediaeval legends based on early Irish history from the first century of the common era.

Question by player rossian

Answer: Terrier

Terrier came into English from the French "chien terrier", earth dog. Its Latin root is the noun "terra", which translates as earth. Terrain has a similar source.

The other three terms all evolved from the Latin word "terrere", a verb meaning to fill with fear. Terrific only evolved to have its current sense of being excellent near the end of the 19th century.

Our family's Jack Russell terrier is considered a terrific pet, but occasionally exhibits terrible behavior, and we affectionately call him a tiny terrorist.

Question by player looney_tunes

Answer: Athens

Both gods presented a gift to the Athenians and agreed that the god whose gift was chosen would be patron of the city. Poseidon gave a spring, but it was too salty. Athena presented them with an olive tree. The Athenians chose the olive tree and Athena because the tree could supply them with food, oil, and lumber. Poseidon sent a flood to the city to punish them for not selecting him as their patron.

Question by player Lunette

Answer: young boys

Women in ancient Greece were hardly seen in public, let alone in a play. Since women were not allowed to perform in plays, boys who had not yet reached puberty usually voiced any lines that would be spoken by a woman.

Question by player AlexT781

Answer: Organic Architecture

Organic architecture is built with the intention of disrupting the natural environment around it as little as possible. This is accomplished on the outside of the building, but is carried on inside, using design, carefully-chosen building materials, and furnishings. Perhaps Wright's best example of organic architecture is Fallingwater, a house constructed in Pennsylvania in 1939.

The nature retreat was built in the midst of lush vegetation over an existing waterfall; the interior features a fireplace built with stones found on site.

Question by player ponycargirl