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Quiz about Out Of the Forest Primeval Amber

Out Of the Forest Primeval: Amber Quiz

People have been intrigued for millenia by this mysterious and precious material. This quiz provides only a sample of amber lore! (In memoriam LAC 1923-1999.)

A multiple-choice quiz by ragiel. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
ragiel

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
149,630

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
2077

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Some of the oldest amber carvings have been found in Mesopotamian graves.

True

False

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Question 2 of 15

2. Amber is obviously not a type of stone; before the development of plastics it was unique in many respects. Which of the following properties is not found in amber? Hint

light in weight, floats on saltwater

burns when heated, releasing fragrant smoke

poor conductor of heat, feels warm to the touch

only moderately hard, yet very tough

3. The nature of amber remained mysterious for many centuries. One Greek myth says the Heliades (daughters of Apollo) angered their father by weeping and were turned into amber trees. What were the Heliades grieving for? Hint

Their brother had recklessly tried to drive Apollo's chariot. He nearly destroyed the earth before being struck down by Zeus.

Apollo had given away their treasure, a golden apple tree, in order to impress Aphrodite.

Their mother had cursed them, condemning them to cry all their lives.

Apollo had found them annoying for a long time, but their brother's behavior was the last straw.

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Question 4 of 15

4. The "amber road" was a precarious route by which amber was transported over the Alps to Italy and the Mediterranean. It was established by Iron Age traders before 400 BC. What was the source of this amber? Hint

Burma

the Caspian Sea

Lake Baikal, in Russia

the Baltic Sea

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Question 5 of 15

5. An important commercial source of amber developed in the 20th century is which? Hint

Latvia

Lithuania

Malaysia

Dominican Republic

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Question 6 of 15

6. "Look at this pendant; it has a whole butterfly trapped in it! That proves it's real!" Hint

No. Forgers have been including insects in their fakes for centuries.

No. The butterfly or moth evolved too recently to be included in amber.

No. It's impossible for an insect the size of the butterfly to be preserved in amber.

No. Insects preserved naturally in amber are always distorted and crushed.

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Question 7 of 15

7. According to local legend, the ghost of Anselmus of Lozenstein wanders the shores of the Baltic Sea calling out "Free amber, oh God, free amber." Why was Anselmus condemned to this fate? Hint

He wrote a long poem about the spirit of amber, which he declared must always be free from the grasp of human avarice. He was declared insane and died in prison.

He manipulated the yield and the price of amber in order to amass a huge personal fortune. He was assassinated by local peasants.

He was a judge responsible for trying anyone suspected of having picked up amber illicitly. As little as a crumb could mean immediate hanging.

He raised a rebellion against the Knights of the Teutonic Order, who claimed ownership of all amber found on Baltic beaches. He was burned on the beach with 74 other rebels.

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Question 8 of 15

8. Rocket scientist Willy Ley was a writer of science fiction, but also wrote a book about amber. What is its title? Hint

Dragons in Amber

The Amber Testimonies

The Princes of Amber

From the Forest Primeval

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Question 9 of 15

9. The Norse goddess Freya was condemned to wear a fabulous amber necklace forever, and as a result wept so bitterly that her tears generated more amber as they fell into the sea. Why was she so unhappy about wearing the beautiful necklace? Hint

She could hear the voices of the ancient trees that died to make it.

She had destroyed the source of the amber to collect enough for the necklace, and was haunted by the faces of the local inhabitants as they starved.

She was remorseful because she had committed adultery to obtain it.

Her mother had been murdered while wearing it, and Freya did nothing to help because she was distracted by the necklace's beauty.

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Question 10 of 15

10. Other attempts to explain the origins of amber included which of these? Hint

It was the solidified urine of a lynx.

It was the solidified urine of a Gryphon.

It was the solidified urine of a dragon.

It was the solidified urine of Pegasus, the winged horse.

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Question 11 of 15

11. "African amber" beads worn in the 20th century for ornamental and mystical purposes were actually often made of what substance? Hint

Orange opaque glass

Dyed balsa wood

Stones, such as yellow jasper

Bakelite or similar plastics

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Question 12 of 15

12. A substance frequently used as an amber substitute is called copal. It is formed from saps that have not gone completely through the process of becoming amber. Some types are reportedly thousands or millions of years old; others are still being harvested from copal trees. What are some ways to tell copal from true amber? Hint

becomes sticky when wiped with rubbing alcohol

deteriorates and crackles more rapidly in air than amber

burns more rapidly than amber with a stronger fragrance

all of these

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Question 13 of 15

13. Other fossil resins found associated with Baltic amber include beckerite, gedanite, stantienite, and glessite.

True

False

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Question 14 of 15

14. A famous carved amber artifact was found in a Bronze Age burial mound in Hove, UK. It is now exhibited at Hove Museum and Art Gallery in Brighton. What is it? Hint

a spoon

a helmet in three parts

a cup

a sword pommel

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Question 15 of 15

15. Amber which has been heated and compressed into blocks ("ambroid") has been commercially produced since the 19th century. Which is not one of the advantages of using pressed amber? Hint

Merchants were more likely to stock it because they claimed the extra processing justified a higher price.

Compression results in a denser and less brittle texture, making the products more durable.

The resulting material is more consistent in color and better suited to producing such commodities as sets of buttons.

The product could be produced less expensively and sold to a wider market.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Some of the oldest amber carvings have been found in Mesopotamian graves.

Answer: False

Obviously prized amber artifacts dating to Paleolithic homesites have been excavated.

2. Amber is obviously not a type of stone; before the development of plastics it was unique in many respects. Which of the following properties is not found in amber?

Answer: only moderately hard, yet very tough

Amber is both soft and brittle, making it hard to carve. Genuine amber beads that have been worn will show scratches and chips around the holes.

Answer: Their brother had recklessly tried to drive Apollo's chariot. He nearly destroyed the earth before being struck down by Zeus.

Phaeton later bequeathed his name to a horse-drawn coach, but his driving style was rarely imitated by responsible coachmen. As far as we know, Apollo had been well-disposed toward his daughters prior to this tragedy.

Answer: the Baltic Sea

The most important source of amber in antiquity, and still productive today, the Baltic mines supply amber which sets the standard by which all other sources are judged.

5. An important commercial source of amber developed in the 20th century is which?

Answer: Dominican Republic

The amber prized in Latvia and Lithuania is from the Baltic; not at all a new discovery. Dominican amber is highly fluorescent in daylight and frequently contains larger and more complete insects than Baltic specimens.

6. "Look at this pendant; it has a whole butterfly trapped in it! That proves it's real!"

Answer: No. Forgers have been including insects in their fakes for centuries.

Well-preserved whole insects including moths and butterflies are found more commonly in Dominican amber than in Baltic, but they're not really common anywhere. The popularity of insects, particularly prettier ones, raises the price and continues to encourage faking.

7. According to local legend, the ghost of Anselmus of Lozenstein wanders the shores of the Baltic Sea calling out "Free amber, oh God, free amber." Why was Anselmus condemned to this fate?

Answer: He was a judge responsible for trying anyone suspected of having picked up amber illicitly. As little as a crumb could mean immediate hanging.

Anselmus was notorious in his own day for his eagerness to hang all suspects immediately. Even his peers, who were also loathed and feared, considered Anselmus to be unreasonably severe at times.

8. Rocket scientist Willy Ley was a writer of science fiction, but also wrote a book about amber. What is its title?

Answer: Dragons in Amber

Ley was of Lithuanian heritage and this book, part nonfiction and part fantasy, reflects his love of his homeland.

Answer: She was remorseful because she had committed adultery to obtain it.

Her husband Odur was informed of her acts by Loki. When Odur was confronted with the necklace, he became distraught and left her. She confessed her crime to Odin and received forgiveness, but was ordered to wear her necklace as a reminder of her guilt and its consequences.

10. Other attempts to explain the origins of amber included which of these?

Answer: It was the solidified urine of a lynx.

The Biblical reference to a stone called "lyncurius" may reflect this belief.

11. "African amber" beads worn in the 20th century for ornamental and mystical purposes were actually often made of what substance?

Answer: Bakelite or similar plastics

Plastics were imported in broomstick-size cylinders, explaining the consistent size and patterns observed in many necklaces. Tribal bead-makers could hardly have been unaware that they were using a manufactured substance, but the beads were highly valued nonetheless. They may have been considered a variation of amber.

Answer: all of these

Copal is gathered and used as an incense. Its fragrance is stronger than that of amber, and it will melt on hot coals. Old copal beads and carvings can be quite desirable.

13. Other fossil resins found associated with Baltic amber include beckerite, gedanite, stantienite, and glessite.

Answer: True

These resins are usually drab in color and too brittle for commercial use, but make interesting collectors' specimens.

14. A famous carved amber artifact was found in a Bronze Age burial mound in Hove, UK. It is now exhibited at Hove Museum and Art Gallery in Brighton. What is it?

Answer: a cup

Clearly the property of a wealthy and powerful man, this famous cup is a deep red and is translucent except for some surface crazing.

15. Amber which has been heated and compressed into blocks ("ambroid") has been commercially produced since the 19th century. Which is not one of the advantages of using pressed amber?

Answer: Merchants were more likely to stock it because they claimed the extra processing justified a higher price.

Buttons and pipe mouthpieces are now made of tougher composite materials, but pressed amber is still used in inexpensive jewelry and in larger carvings. It can resemble naturally-occurring amber quite closely.

Source: Author ragiel

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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