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My First Falco Quiz

This is the first in a series of quizzes about Lindsey Davis's mystery stories set in the first century AD Roman Empire and featuring Marcus Didius Falco. It covers the first two books, "The Silver Pigs" and "Shadows in Bronze".

A multiple-choice quiz by bingleyausten. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
bingleyausten

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
286,202

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
349

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who is emperor at the time of the books? Hint

Vespasian

Titus

Nero

Domitian

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which legion did Falco and his friend Petronius serve with in Britain during Boudicca's revolt? Hint

XX Valeria Victrix

IX Hispana

II Augusta

XIV Gemina

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Question 3 of 10

3. Falco is obviously a private eye, but that's not what he calls himself. What does he call his job? Hint

A detective

A finder

A private informer

An inquiry agent

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Question 4 of 10

4. What two metals are produced in the mine where Falco works undercover in "The Silver Pigs"? Hint

lead and silver

gold and copper

gold and silver

lead and gold

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Question 5 of 10

5. Falco has a birthday in "The Silver Pigs". Which birthday is it? Hint

His thirty-fifth

His twenty-first

His thirtieth

His twenty-fifth

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who does the spice warehouse belong to? Hint

Atius Pertinax

Caprenius Marcellus

Helena Justina

Publius Camillus Meto

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Question 7 of 10

7. As a cover in "Shadows in Bronze", Falco goes on a seaside holiday to Pompeii and nearby towns with his friend Petronius and Petronius's family. How many people are there in the party? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. What were Falco and Larius arrested for in Herculaneum? Hint

Conspiracy

Embezzlement

Blasphemy

Murder

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Question 9 of 10

9. In "Shadows in Bronze" what souvenir does Falco ask Helena Justina to get for his mother? Hint

A bronze bucket

Wine

A tray

A set of spoons

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Question 10 of 10

10. What was the name of Falco's race horse? Hint

Little Sweetheart

Nero

Ferox

Spot

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who is emperor at the time of the books?

Answer: Vespasian

When the first book, "The Silver Pigs", opens Vespasian had been emperor for less than a year. Nero had been dead for just two years. Titus and Domitian were Vespasian's sons.

2. Which legion did Falco and his friend Petronius serve with in Britain during Boudicca's revolt?

Answer: II Augusta

The IX Hispana was defeated and annihilated by Boudicca and her Iceni near Colchester. It was a combined force of the XIV Gemina and XX Valeria Victrix legions which finally defeated Boudicca. To the embarrassment and shame of Falco and Petronius, their legion, II Augusta, was kept in its camp by its commander and not allowed to come to the other legions' assistance.

3. Falco is obviously a private eye, but that's not what he calls himself. What does he call his job?

Answer: A private informer

If you answered 'finder' you're thinking of Steven Saylor's "Gordianus" books. The Latin word for 'informer' is 'delator'.

4. What two metals are produced in the mine where Falco works undercover in "The Silver Pigs"?

Answer: lead and silver

The embezzled ingots Falco steals and buries are real ones which were found buried under a cairn. See: http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/raw_mining.htm

5. Falco has a birthday in "The Silver Pigs". Which birthday is it?

Answer: His thirtieth

If she'd known it was his birthday, Helena Justina would have bought him a tipsy cake. But she does give him a good night kiss.

6. Who does the spice warehouse belong to?

Answer: Caprenius Marcellus

The warehouse actually belongs to Caprenius Marcellus, but is used for the spice importing business of his adopted son, Atius Pertinax, Helena Justina's ex-husband. Atius Pertinax leaves the contents of the warehouse to her in his will. Publius Camillus Meto, Helena Justina's uncle, is killed at the warehouse.

7. As a cover in "Shadows in Bronze", Falco goes on a seaside holiday to Pompeii and nearby towns with his friend Petronius and Petronius's family. How many people are there in the party?

Answer: 8

Falco, his nephew Larius, Petronius, Petronius's wife Arria Silvia, their three daughters, and their neighbour Ollia, who is being trained as a nursery maid, makes eight.

8. What were Falco and Larius arrested for in Herculaneum?

Answer: Blasphemy

The people of Herculaneum still held the emperor Nero in high regard and didn't appreciate the ox being called Nero. Falco is tracking down a murderer and conspirators. At the end of "Shadows in Bronze" Anacrites and his minions are waiting to arrest Falco for embezzlement.

9. In "Shadows in Bronze" what souvenir does Falco ask Helena Justina to get for his mother?

Answer: A bronze bucket

The tray was a souvenir from Britain for Falco's mother in "The Silver Pigs". Petronius bought the wine for himself, and the set of spoons was Helena Justina's present to Falco.

10. What was the name of Falco's race horse?

Answer: Little Sweetheart

Ferox was the much more impressive-looking horse from Pertinax's adoptive father's villa. Nero and Spot were the names for the ox part-owned by Petronius and used for transporting his family down to the Bay of Naples and by Falco and his nephew for transporting lead piping.

Source: Author bingleyausten

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