A Lion and a Half Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Greek sphinx has wings

Asian and Greek versions of this half-lion have definite human heads whereas the Egyptian sphinx is depicted with both human and cat-like heads. The Greek sphinx has wings and is female, whereas the Egyptian sphinx is wingless and, while mostly depicted as male (androsphinx), can also be female. The Egyptian sphinx was also shown as a benevolent beast and a temple guardian; the Greek sphinx was thought to be merciless and those who could not answer her riddle were killed and eaten by the treacherous sphinx.

Answer: Pegasus

Pegasus is the winged horse of Greek mythology, sired by Poseidon and foaled by Medusa.

Chimera (Chimaera) was a female Greek fire-breathing creature composed of a goat, lion and a serpent. The griffin (gryphon), a lion with the head and wings of an eagle, is most common in ancient Greek lore but is also depicted in that of Ancient Egypt and Persia. The manticore is the only one of the listed creatures that is part-human - having the body of a lion and the head of a human, although with shark-like teeth.

Answer: Male lion and ligress

A tigon (or tiglon) is a cross between a male tiger and a lioness, whereas a liger is a cross between a male lion and a tigress. Both the male tigon and liger are sterile and cannot produce any offspring. However the female tigon and the ligress (female liger) are not sterile and can produce offspring on rare occasion.

A male tiger and female tigon cross is called a titigon, and a liliger is the cross of a male lion and a ligress.

So, a tigon and a liger are both half lion, half tiger; a titigon is three-quarters tiger to one quarter lion; and a liliger is one quarter tiger to three-quarters lion. Confused yet?

Answer: Courage

Bert Lahr played the Cowardly Lion in the 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz'. The film was based on L Frank Baum's novel of the same name. The novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' has been reprinted many times since 1900, although usually entitled 'The Wizard of Oz' - which is the name of the film mentioned in the question and also the 1902 stage play.

Answer: Orix - Nippon Professional Baseball (Japan)

The Orix Buffaloes play in the Pacific League of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The Orix Group owns the team, which is based in Kobe and Osaka, Japan. The Zürcher Schlittschuh Club Lions (ZSC Lions) are based in Zürich, Switzerland and play in the National League A ice hockey. The Detroit Lions were originally the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL in 1930. The Brisbane Lions Football Club (AFL) was formed in 1996 as an amalgamation of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions.

Answer: Sierra Leone

Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra first named the area 'Serra Leoa', which means 'Lioness Mountains', after he first visited in 1462. The surrounding mountains were named 'Serra de Leao', meaning 'Lion Mountains'. The Italian derivative of these Portuguese words gave the country its name - 'Sierra Leone'.

Tunisia is located in central north Africa, Malawi (Republic of Malawi) can be found in southeast Africa, and Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa region.

Answer: The Chronicles of Narnia

There are seven novels that make up 'The Chronicles of Narnia': 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe', 'Prince Caspian', 'The Voyage of the Dawn Treader', 'The Silver Chair', 'The Horse and His Boy', 'The Magician's Nephew', and 'The Last Battle'. 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' was originally the first novel in the series, yet recent printing of the series has the novel placed second as they are now sequenced according to the history and timeline of Narnia.

Answer: The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Solomon Linda wrote the original version which has since been adapted to English and had lyrics added in places which there were none. 'The Weavers' recorded a version in the early 1950s called 'Wimoweh', before being covered by many other musical acts. 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' first became a Billboard Hot 100 number one hit in 1961 when recorded by 'The Tokens'.

Of the incorrect answer options, all are recorded and released songs. 'Listen to the Lion' was from Van Morrison, 'Mentality of a Lion' was from Wyclef Jean, and 'Heart of a Lion' is the name of several different songs, sung by various artists.

Answer: Daniel

Daniel is an official of King Darius of the Persian Empire. He is thrown in the lion's den in violation of a decree that no one was to pray to anyone else other than Darius for a thirty day period. Daniel broke the decree by praying otherwise, even though he knew his life was at stake. Darius then arrested Daniel and had him thrown in the lion's den, from which he remained unharmed and was released the next day. Daniel's accusers (those who insisted Darius pass the original decree for the sole purpose of ridding themselves of Daniel) and their families were then thrown into the lion's den and were eaten before they reached the bottom of the pit.

Answer: Animated film

Although the animated film and first video game were released in the same year (1994), the film was released prior to the video game. According to Wikipedia, the film premiered in June 1994, whilst the first video game was released in December 1994 by Virgin.

A Broadway musical debuted in July of 1997 and was based on the original animated film. The television series 'Timon & Pumbaa' was a spin-off series that was originally broadcast between 1995 and 1999.