A Greek Idyll Quiz | Greece

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Kev and I are so excited to meet at Athens International Airport. We quickly jump into a taxi and head for the Acropolis. Our chatty taxi driver whiles away the trip by telling us that the word 'Acropolis', though now almost exclusively associated with Greece, can in reality be applied to any city built where?

Answer: On elevated ground

An acropolis is literally a city built on a hilltop or raised location. Kev and I enjoy wandering around the Athens Acropolis, which we find is littered with ancient ruins. Probably the most notable, and certainly the most recognisable, of these is the Parthenon. This structure is dedicated to Athena, goddess of law and justice, civilization, and courage, among other things.

2. Just a few steps from the Parthenon is the Erechtheion, dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon. Kev and I discover there's a porch located on the north side of the building; its roof is held up by a series of pillars in the form of maidens. These landmark ladies are known by what name?

Answer: Caryatids

We learn that the Caryatids are columns carved in the shape of women instead of the usual classic style. The real ladies (the original pillars) were removed to protect them, and all but one are on show in a museum in Athens. The last one is held by the British Museum, as it is one of the items that make up the Elgin Marbles.

3. "Let's head down the hill, away from the Acropolis", says Kev, pointing. "I hear the site over there is called the Hill of the Nymphs, but is also associated with the Athenian citizens' assembly". What is the special name given to this hill?

Answer: The Pnyx

The Pnyx is located to the west of the Parthenon. We are told by the guide that from around 500 BC, people used to gather at the Pnyx to hear public orations. It contains a bema, or raised platform, that I imagine is equivalent to a modern-day soapbox!

4. Kev and I head north to the ruins at Aigai, also known as Vergina, where we learn that it was once the capital city of the Macedonian kingdom. We are excited to see the tomb of King Philip II of Macedon; he and Queen Olympia were the parents of which famous Greek?

Answer: Alexander the Great

Queen Olympia, mother of Alexander the Great, was the daughter of King Neoptolemus (though apparently there's not a lot else to know about him, according to the guide!). Aigai is located at the base of Mount Pieria, which stretches away behind us. We're told that the area is used as a ski resort in the season, and that early excavations of the city were paid for by the Emperor Napoleon III.

5. I'm excited about the place Kev and I are to visit today. It's known as the home of the twelve Olympian gods of the ancient Greek world. True or false? The highest peak of this range is Mytikas.

Answer: True

The first National Park in Greece, Mount Olympus has fifty-two peaks, the highest of which is Mytikas. 'Mytikas' means 'nose', and it really does look like a nose jutting out above the rest of the range! The twelve Olympian gods vary according to different sources, but of course, Zeus is the king of them all, seeing as he's the ruler of Mount Olympus and god of the sky and thunder.

6. At Thessaloniki, Kev and I see a tower which has been the site of numerous significant historical events. It is a Byzantine fortress of a particular colour, due to the brick used in its construction. What colour is the Tower of Thessaloniki?

Answer: White

The guidebook informs us that because of the strategic location of the town of Thessaloniki, the fortress changed hands a number of time over the centuries. Also, aspects of the tower were changed whenever it was rebuilt after a battle. It's used for a much more peaceful purpose these days, being a tourist centre exhibiting historical artefacts. Kev and I read that a wall used to surround the tower structure, but it was removed in 1917.

7. Kev and I decide to head to Mycenae for the day, a city, according to Greek mythology, that was founded by Perseus. I love the palace complex, decayed though it is, but what especially takes my eye is the gate for which Mycenae is known. What animals enhance the gate?

Answer: Lions

Mycenae used to be a military stronghold, with a population at one stage of around 30,000. The structure is extensively decorated with carvings. Our guide tells us that when it was excavated, treasures of bronze and ivory (amongst other things) were found, and of most significance, five beaten gold burial masks.

Heinrich Schliemann, the German archaeologist who uncovered the ruins of Troy, excavated Mycenae. Now we're off to the museum that houses the burial masks - I'm dying to see them!

8. Kev and I are off to Paphos, because we've been told we shouldn't miss the Tomb of the Kings. A significant place in the worship of Aphrodite in the ancient world, and having significant periods of Hellenic occupancy, on which island do we find ourselves?

Answer: Cyprus

From the harbour in Paphos we walk a couple of kilometres to get to the site of the Tomb of the Kings. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and I'm so glad it's being preserved - it's breathtaking. We can't get too close, as they are still excavating the tombs, but from where we are allowed to go, we can identify Doric columns (we're getting really good at recognising those by now!) and are amazed by the frescoes on the walls of one of the caves.

9. Kev and I are off on a little cruise around some islands, and we make port at Santorini. Our cruise director tells us that until the mid-1600s BC this was all one island, until what natural event?

Answer: The volcano in the middle of the island exploded

The explosion of the volcano created a series of islands and a caldera (I discover that a caldera is a crater that's formed by the collapse of the volcano's cone). Kev and I are very excited because the guide tells us that when the volcano erupted again between 1866-1870, Jules Verne was one of those who was here to witness it!

10. I decide to dedicate the day to shopping! At the foot of the Acropolis, in a place now known as the Thesion, I find an open-air marketplace and indulge in a little retail therapy. By what name is this famous market known?

Answer: Agora

The Agora was initially a central meeting place where public announcements were made and armies mustered for war. Later, they became the marketplaces I am in today, full of stalls with fresh produce, fabric, shoes and food. Kev eventually manages to drag me away, but not before I buy a haul of goodies to remind me of my Greek idyll.

Source: Author VegemiteKid

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

A Greek Idyll Trivia Quiz

My FunTrivia friend, Kev, and I have decided to meet up, and as it transpires, Greece is halfway between where he lives and where I live. We're going to force ourselves to holiday there. I know, someone has to do it!

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