It's All Greek to Me Trivia Quiz

Answer: Troy

The tell (artificial hill) of Hissarlik ("place of fortresses" in Turkish) is located near the city of Çanakkale, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles. In the early 19th century, the 30-metre (98-ft) mound was identified as the possible site of ancient Troy (called "Ilion" in Greek) by a number of amateur archaeologists. The first exploratory excavations were conducted in 1865 by English expatriate Frank Calvert - then, seven years later by his partner, German businessman Heinrich Schliemann. By digging a trench across the mound, Schliemann found out it contained the remains of a series of cities dating from the Bronze Age to the Roman era. Among Schliemann's most significant finds there is a cache of gold and other artifacts - most of which are held by the Pushkin Museum in Moscow - known as Priam's Treasure.

The various layers found at Hissarlik have been designated with Roman numbers from I to IX. The first five layers (Troy I-V) predate writing, while Troy VI-VII are both likely candidates for the Late Bronze Age city (1750-1350 BC) referred to as Wilusa and Taruisa (both names clearly reminiscent of "Ilion" and "Troy") in Hittite records. As described in the Homeric poems, Troy VI consisted of a high, fortified citadel with a sprawling town below it; its sublayers show signs of possible violent destruction, consistent with the events narrated in the "Iliad", the "Odyssey", and other ancient literary sources. There is, however, no definitive historical evidence of a large-scale conflict with a foreign nation having ever occurred. The left side of photo shows part of the citadel walls of Troy VI, made of close-fitting ashlars (finely-cut stone blocks); the walls on the right belong to Troy IX, the Roman city, which probably survived well into the Byzantine era.

In 1996, the Turkish government created the Historical National Park at Troy, which two years later was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Troy Museum was opened in 2018 close to the archaeological site: many of the artifacts displayed there were moved from other museums in Turkey. A large, wooden Trojan Horse stands outside the entrance to the site.

Answer: Mycenae

The archaeological site of Mycenae - located in the north-eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula - is built on a hill standing 274 m (900) above sea level. The city (whose name is of likely pre-Greek origin) was inhabited since the Early Neolithic period (c. 5000-c. 4000 BC). In the 2nd millennium BC, it became one of the major centres of Greek civilization, which later gave its name to the historical period between 1600 and 1100 BC. First identified in 1700 by Venetian engineer Francesco Vandeyk, Mycenae was excavated on various occasions during the 19th century. Those excavations yielded a wealth of precious gold artifacts - especially those of the large beehive tomb ("tholos") known as Treasury of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon. In the Homeric poems, Agamemnon, son of Atreus, was the king of Mycenae, the elder brother of Menelaus (Helen's husband), and the supreme leader of the Greeks during the Trojan War.

The Lion Gate, the main entrance to the citadel of Mycenae, owes its name to the two lionesses that stand above the entrance. The lionesses, carved in high relief, stand on either side of a pillar above the gate's massive lintel; as their heads are missing, some scholars believe they might have been sphinxes inspired by Egyptian art. The walls of the citadel are a remarkable example of Cyclopean masonry, built with huge limestone boulders fitted together without mortar. South of the Lion Gate stands a 16th-century BC royal cemetery known as Grave Circle A, where in 1876 Heinrich Schliemann found five gold masks - one of which has become known as the "Death Mask of Agamemnon".

Together with the nearby site of Tyrins (also noted for its imposing Cyclopean walls, and believed to be Heracles's birthplace), Mycenae was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Answer: a wrestling school

The archaeological site of Olympia is located in the western Peloponnese, in the historic region of Elis. Though its name is not connected to that of Mount Olympus (which lies in northern Greece), the mythical residence of the Ancient Greek gods, Olympia was known as a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary - meaning that it was open to all Greek citizens and not linked to any particular city-state. The sanctuary, named Altis ("the grove"), was dedicated to Zeus, the king of the gods, and was believed to have been founded by Heracles to honour his divine father. The ancient Olympic Games, a series of competitions among representatives of city-states, were established in 776 BC, and were celebrated until 393 AD.

The archaeological site - first excavated in 1829 a group of French archaeologists - contains the remains of hundreds of buildings that were erected in the sacred precinct throughout the centuries. The most important of these buildings was the Temple of Zeus, whose cult image was a gigantic statue of the god - one of the Seven Wonders of the World - sculpted by Phidias in ivory and gold on a wooden frame. The Temple of Hera, Zeus's consort, was the oldest temple in the sanctuary, at whose altar the torch of the Olympic flame was lit (and still is to this day). Between these two temples stood the Pelopion, the alleged tomb of Pelops, grandfather to Agamemnon and Menelaus. The Palaestra, a training school for wrestling and other martial arts, was located on the northwestern side of the precinct, near the Gymnasion and various bath houses. Like all wrestling schools in the Graeco-Roman world, the Palaestra at Olympia was a square courtyard, enclosed by a roofed portico bordered by rooms.

The Archaeological Site of Olympia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989. In 2004, when the Summer Olympic Games were held in Athens, the shotput events were hosted at Olympia's stadium, located to the east of the main precinct.

Answer: Artemis

The ruins of the famed city of Ephesus, founded in the 10th century BC by Greek and Ionian colonists, are located near the town of Selçuk in Turkey's Izmir Province. During the Classical Greek period, Ephesus was one of the twelve city-states of the Ionian League, most of them located in Asia Minor (now known as the Anatolian Peninsula). A site sacred to Artemis ("temenos") already existed when the Greek colonists arrived; however, no trace of the original building remains, as it was destroyed by a flood in the 7th century BC. The temple (known as "Artemision") was rebuilt around 550 BC, and was allegedly burned to the ground by a notoriety-seeking arsonist named Herostratus - in 356 BC. The final and largest version of the temple was built in the late 4th century BC, and was so grandiose that it became known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This temple was destroyed by the Goths - together with much of the city - in 263 AD. It is believed that in the following centuries the stone from the ruins of the huge temple was used in the construction of other buildings.

The site of the Artemision was rediscovered in 1869, though only the foundations and some fragments of sculpture were found. The column in the photo, reconstructed with various fragments found on the site, marks the place where the famed temple once stood. The Ephesus Archaeological Museum houses the statue of the goddess retrieved from the temple, whose appearance is quite different from that of the virgin huntress of Classical Greek myth. The Ephesian Artemis is believed to have been a mother goddess like the Phrygian Cybele. While her lower body is a tapering, pillar-like shape, her upper body is covered with oval objects that have traditionally been interpreted as breasts.

The Ancient City of Ephesus, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015, comprises buildings from the Hellenistic, Roman Imperial, and early Christian periods - such as the magnificent Library of Celsus and the Temple of Hadrian.

Answer: medicine

The municipality of Epidaurus, where the archaeological site is located, lies in the Argolid Peninsula of the Peloponnese. An independent territory, named after its mythical founder, the hero Epidauros, son of Apollo, the city was believed to have been the birthplace of another son of Apollo - Asclepius, the god of medicine. The Sanctuary of Asclepius, located about 8 km (5 mi) from the town, was a renowned healing centre that drew people from all over Greece looking for a cure for their ailments. The patients would spend a night in a dormitory (known as "enkoimeterion"); the god or one of his helpers would appear to them in their sleep, and recommend the best treatment for their illness. Built in the 4th century BC, the sanctuary continued to be active for some time after the introduction of Christianity.

Interestingly, the Sanctuary of Asclepius in Epidaurus (as well as the other "Asclepieia" of the Classical world) was known for practices that promoted healthy lifestyles. As the "catharsis" (purification) that preceded the incubation ("temple sleep") featured cleansing diets and thorough bathing, the sanctuary complex included structures dedicated to these preparatory activities. While only the foundations of the temple have survived, other structures have left more substantial remains. The theatre, located on the southeast end of the sanctuary, is considered the most perfect example of Ancient Greek theatre in terms of both aesthetics and acoustics. The performances it hosted - which included music and singing as well as drama - were viewed as an integral part of the worship of Asclepius, and a means of improving the patients' mental and physical health. Still used for performances today, the theatre of Epidaurus can seat up to 14,000 people.

The Sanctuary of Asclepius at Epidaurus (which also includes an archaeological museum) was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Answer: Delphi

Located in the region of Phocis in central Greece, Delphi is probably the most famous Ancient Greek archaeological site after the Acropolis of Athens. The extensive site lies on the south-western slopes of Mount Parnassus, a scenic, wooded mountain that in Greek mythology was associated with the gods Apollo and Dionysus and the nine Muses. Delphi was the seat of the ancient world's most important oracle, the Pythia - a high priestess of Apollo; an ancient marble monument found at the site, known as the "omphalos" (navel), marked the centre of the world. Like Olympia, Delphi was a Panhellenic sanctuary, not linked to any city-state, but open to all Greeks. The first systematic excavation at Delphi, conducted in 1892, led to the creation of the first on-site museum.

The gorgeous natural setting of the Mount Parnassus region creates a perfect backdrop for the imposing remains of the Delphi sanctuary. Most of the buildings were erected between the 6th and the 4th century BC - a number of them (known as "treasuries") by various Greek city-states as votive offerings to the oracle, whose advice had helped them achieve important military victories. The ruins of the Temple of Apollo, the sanctuary's patron deity, date from the 4th century BC. The Tholos of Delphi (shown in the photo), also built in the 4th century, was a vaulted temple dedicated to Athena. The site also comprises a stadium, a gymnasium, a hippodrome, a theatre, and a retaining wall made of massive polygonal stones. Many priceless artifacts, including the famous 5th-century bronze statue of the Charioteer of Delphi, have been found on the site, and are preserved in the Delphi Archaeological Museum.

The Archaeological Site of Delphi was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The island of Delos (the mythical birthplace of Apollo and Artemis) and the Temple of Apollo Epicurus at Bassae are also World Heritage Sites, while the Palace of Knossos on the island of Crete is on the Tentative List of properties that have not yet been nominated for addition.

Answer: Pythagoras

The island of Samos lies in the North Aegean Sea, just off the coast of western Turkey, from which it is separated by a strait only 1.6 km (1 mi) wide. Known since ancient times for its vineyards and wine production, Samos was a powerful city-state, and one of the twelve members of the Ionian League. The island's wealth, due to its extensive trade relations and naval power, encouraged the construction of remarkable structures such as the aqueduct of Eupalinus - a tunnel running through a mountain, excavated at both ends - and the Heraion, a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hera. The ancient city of Samos is now known as Pythagoreion, from the nearby town of Pythagoreio - which in turn was named after the island's most famous native son, 6th-century philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras.

Besides the monumental Temple of Hera - only one of whose standing columns has survived - the Heraion included various other temples and buildings, a sacred way (which was repaved in the 3rd century AD) that ran from the city of Samos to the sanctuary, and a large number of statues. Many votive offerings have been found at the site, which was first excavated in the 1890s. The ancient town at Pythagoreion is surrounded by fortification walls dating from the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Excavations have revealed the street plan of the town, as well as the remains of Roman-era buildings. Parts of the mole of the ancient Samos harbour have also survived, incorporated into modern structures.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Samos, designated in 1992, includes the Heraion, the Pythagoreion, and the Eupalinian aqueduct. Samos was also the birthplace of 4th-century philosopher Epicurus and 3rd-century astronomer Aristarchus; according to some ancient sources, fabulist Aesop also lived there as a slave.

Answer: Albania

Located in southern Albania, close to the border with Greece, the archaeological site of Butrint stands on a hill that overlooks the lagoon of the same name. The site is believed to have been inhabited since prehistory, though the city of Bouthroton was founded by the Chaonians, one of the Greek tribes of Epirus, around the 7th century BC. In Book III of Virgil's "Aeneid", Aeneas and his companions stop at Bouthroton, where they meet Helenus, son of Priam, king of Troy, and his consort Andromache, Hector's widow - who built the city as a replica of the lost Troy. With its strategic location between mainland Greece and the colonies of Magna Graecia in southern Italy, the city expanded considerably in the 4th century BC, when walls were erected around the acropolis.

The site of the ancient city - which also includes noteworthy remains from the Roman and Byzantine eras - was first excavated in 1928 by an expedition sent by Benito Mussolini. After the end of the Communist era, in the 1990s, excavations resumed, uncovering further Roman and Byzantine remains. The most significant remains of the Greek city, dating from the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, are the agora (public square) and the theatre (shown in the photo). The latter, remarkable for the large number of inscriptions of slave manumissions carved on its stones, was one of the first monuments discovered during the 1928 excavations.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the archaeological site is part of Butrint National Park (established in 2000), which also includes extensive wetland areas.

Answer: Campania

The stunningly beautiful ruins of Paestum lie in the south of the Italian region of Campania, close to the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Founded in the 7th century BC by Greek settlers from Sybaris (located further south, in present-day Calabria) with the name of Poseidonia, the city flourished in the 6th and early 5th century, when the three temples were erected. In the late 5th century BC, the city was conquered by the Lucans, an Italic people that gave it the name of Paistos (Paestum in Latin). The city, however, kept its Greek character: in particular, the 4th century BC was the golden age of the production of Paestum's celebrated painted vases, many of which can be admired in Paestum Archaeological Museum.

Abandoned during the Middle Ages (probably because of malarial conditions), Paestum was rediscovered in the 18th century. Its magnificent temples inspired many eminent artists of that period; however, the first excavations did not occur before the early 20th century. After the end of WWII, many important discoveries were made - such as a large number of splendid frescoed tombs. The walls surrounding the city are almost completely intact. Of the three Doric temples to which Paestum owes much of its fame, two were dedicated to Hera (though the largest of the two, shown in the photo, has also been referred to as Temple of Poseidon), and one to Athena.

The archaeological sites of Paestum and the nearby city of Velia (known in Greek as Elea, the birthplace of the philosophers Zeno and Parmenides), together with the National Park of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano, and the monastery complex of the Certosa di Padula, were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

Answer: Syracuse

One of Sicily's provincial capitals, Syracuse (Siracusa in Italian) lies on the island's southeastern coast, on the Ionian Sea. The city was founded around 734 BC by Greek settlers from Corinth. In the following centuries, it developed into a powerful city-state with a thriving cultural life, whose population in the 5th century may have been as large as that of Athens. Syracuse was conquered by the Romans in 212 BC after a three-year siege. Celebrated scientist and inventor Archimedes, who had contributed to his home town's defense by designing several weapons, was killed by a Roman soldier when the city was taken.

Boasting a wealth of remarkable monuments from various historical periods, Syracuse is known for its Greek and Roman buildings, most of which are located in the Archaeological Park of the Neapolis ("new city"), established in the 1950s. The Greek theatre, built in the 5th century BC on the side of a hill, was extensively renovated in the 3rd century BC. Abandoned after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, it was rediscovered in the 18th century, and excavated in the 19th century. Now it is used for performances of Classical Greek drama, as well as concerts and official ceremonies. The remains of the Doric Temple of Apollo are visible in the city centre, while the city's Cathedral was built over a temple dedicated to Athena, which was the most significant religious building of the Greek Syracuse.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in the list in 2005 includes the city of Syracuse and the nearby Rock Necropolis of Pantalica (13th-7th centuries BC). Another major Ancient Greek site in Sicily (added to the World Heritage List in 1997) is the spectacular Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, which includes the remains of seven Doric temples.