FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Hypnerotomachia Poliphili and Me
Quiz about Hypnerotomachia Poliphili and Me

"Hypnerotomachia Poliphili" and Me Quiz


Tackling "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili" (translated by Joscelyn Godwin) is quite the challenge, my dictionary is getting a workout. How about yours?

A multiple-choice quiz by TemptressToo. Estimated time: 6 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Humanities Trivia
  6. »
  7. Vocabulary
  8. »
  9. Unusual and Obscure Words

Author
TemptressToo
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
320,960
Updated
Apr 26 24
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
265
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. As "the Strife of Love in a Dream" begins, I come to my first puzzling words as Poliphilo gives his introduction describing things he saw. Which words mean "architectural elements decorated with reliefs and often decorative in nature"? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Poliphilo's dream continues and he sees Phoebus rise from the ocean during sunrise. Phoebus was being transported by something meaning a "two wheeled chariot pulled by four horses." What was Phoebus riding? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Poliphilo enters a forest in his dream and begins to worry that he will fall into a stinking ditch. What word means, "offensive to the smell, noxious"? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Poliphili encounters a pyramid in his travels and it is wonderous to behold. So much so, he describes it in detail. Parts of the pyramid are made of a Greek metal that is thought to be a gold and copper alloy. What metal was Poliphili describing? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Poliphili spends a large amount of time staggering around his dream describing architectural elements. I spent a lot of time looking them up since it was all Greek to me. Luckily, this word wasn't architectural, but the name given a "red or purple hard, igneous rock." Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In his dream, Poliphili wanders into the country and becomes somewhat lonely. To his delight, he is greeted by some beings that bestow "their holy guidance" upon him. What is the Latin word for "guardian spirit" that became Poliphili's guide (or guardian angel)? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. A typical guy, even asleep, Poliphilo finds himself bathing in a fountain with a bunch of women that tease and taunt him. He begins to be suspicious that their actions have an ulterior meaning, describing it like a "soothing preparation applied to sores and scrapes, an oily ointment" that he doesn't know he can trust. What word does he use to describe such an ointment? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Poliphilo's hunch might not have been totally without merit, because his contact with the fountain women created within him "inordinate and unhealthy sexual desire" that incited him to "desires I had never felt before." What had overcome him? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Poliphilo escapes the fountain women and continues on his journey in his dream. Eventually he escapes a dragon and is congratulated by a regal Queen that he describes as a name of a month meaning, "marked by majestic dignity or grandeur." What month did he use? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. During Poliphilo's visit with the Queen, servants bring in a large statue that Poliphilo begins to describe in detail. The top of the statue is adorned with a tree bearing fruit. What fruit is a type of apple from a European tree? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. As "the Strife of Love in a Dream" begins, I come to my first puzzling words as Poliphilo gives his introduction describing things he saw. Which words mean "architectural elements decorated with reliefs and often decorative in nature"?

Answer: zophori and friezes

All of these are architectural words, however a frieze is a "horizontal band that runs above doorways and windows or below the cornice. The frieze may be decorated with designs or carvings." And a zophori is a frieze that has "representations of people or animals."
2. Poliphilo's dream continues and he sees Phoebus rise from the ocean during sunrise. Phoebus was being transported by something meaning a "two wheeled chariot pulled by four horses." What was Phoebus riding?

Answer: quadriga

All of these are types of horse-drawn vehicles, however the quadriga was the ancient vehicle pulled by four horses (thus the "quad"). If you watched "Ben Hur," the chariot races pitted multiple quadriga chariots against one another.
3. Poliphilo enters a forest in his dream and begins to worry that he will fall into a stinking ditch. What word means, "offensive to the smell, noxious"?

Answer: mephitic

These all are words to describe a certain smell, but only "mephitic" would make you hold your nose or lose your lunch.
4. Poliphili encounters a pyramid in his travels and it is wonderous to behold. So much so, he describes it in detail. Parts of the pyramid are made of a Greek metal that is thought to be a gold and copper alloy. What metal was Poliphili describing?

Answer: orichalcum

All of these are alloys, but orichalcum is the only one that is a copper and gold blend that was created in ancient times.

Chromoly is a chromium and molybdenum alloy.

Elinvar is a chromium and nickel alloy.

Amalgam is a mercury-based alloy.
5. Poliphili spends a large amount of time staggering around his dream describing architectural elements. I spent a lot of time looking them up since it was all Greek to me. Luckily, this word wasn't architectural, but the name given a "red or purple hard, igneous rock."

Answer: porphyry

All of these are igneous rocks, however porphyry is well known as being either red or purple (or a bit of both) and heavily crystalized.
6. In his dream, Poliphili wanders into the country and becomes somewhat lonely. To his delight, he is greeted by some beings that bestow "their holy guidance" upon him. What is the Latin word for "guardian spirit" that became Poliphili's guide (or guardian angel)?

Answer: genius

All of these are types of angels, but the genius is specific to Poliphilo's journey within the book.
7. A typical guy, even asleep, Poliphilo finds himself bathing in a fountain with a bunch of women that tease and taunt him. He begins to be suspicious that their actions have an ulterior meaning, describing it like a "soothing preparation applied to sores and scrapes, an oily ointment" that he doesn't know he can trust. What word does he use to describe such an ointment?

Answer: unguent

There were apparently many kinds of unguent. Most described as a "semi-solid paste" with an oily texture to help it adhere to the skin.

Poultice and plaster are types of bandage treatments. A potion is a medicinal substance suspended in liquid.
8. Poliphilo's hunch might not have been totally without merit, because his contact with the fountain women created within him "inordinate and unhealthy sexual desire" that incited him to "desires I had never felt before." What had overcome him?

Answer: concupiscence

Concupiscence is synonymous with lust. Chastity, abstinence and continence mean exactly the opposite.
9. Poliphilo escapes the fountain women and continues on his journey in his dream. Eventually he escapes a dragon and is congratulated by a regal Queen that he describes as a name of a month meaning, "marked by majestic dignity or grandeur." What month did he use?

Answer: August

Poliphilo's words were, "...and the Queen came down from her high throne in the centre to sit with regal and august dignity above the lower step."
10. During Poliphilo's visit with the Queen, servants bring in a large statue that Poliphilo begins to describe in detail. The top of the statue is adorned with a tree bearing fruit. What fruit is a type of apple from a European tree?

Answer: sorb

A sorb is a "Maloideae" of the "apple subfamily." It much resembles a small apple and has similar internal structure.

A jujube is a type of date most often found in SE Asia.

A mimusop is a tree most often found in parts of Africa that produces an orange cherry-like fruit.

An olive is an evergreen shrub that produces an oily "berry" with a large seed pit.
Source: Author TemptressToo

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
11/21/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us