Historic and Ancient Ruins VIII Quiz

Answer: Alesia

The battle took place in Alesia during 52 BC when the Gallic forces under Vercingetorix clashed with the Roman troops under Julius Caesar. The ensuing victory by Julius Caesar meant that he had brought down the rebellion by Gallic forces, marking the end of Gallic Wars and conquering Gaul. Also, the victory at the Battle of Alesia meant that the remaining Gallic forces would no longer unify together to rebel against Roman rule. And revolts if happened, they would be weak and could be suppressed easily.

References:
Battle of Alesia (youtube.com)
The Battle and Siege of Alesia (helium.com)

Answer: Norway

Kaupang was an important trading settlement during the Viking Era, where trade was conducted extensively, with excavations even producing artifacts such as Persian jewellery and even amethyst beads from India. Kaupang was also mentioned by the Viking adventurer Othere of Hålogaland.

Reference: 'Kaupang-undersøkelsen' Website

Answer: Lumbini

Buddha was an advocate for peace, mercy and non-violence. The Maya Devi Temple was claimed to be the site of his birth. Queen Mayadevi was reported to have bathed in Puskarni, a sacred pond, before giving birth to Buddha under an ashoka tree. The Ashokan Pillar was constructed by King Ashoka during the 3rd Century BC in Lumbini to commemorate the birthplace of Buddha. Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian recorded his journey in a book called "A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms".

Answer: Kushinagar

Spoken to a huge audience beneath the sala trees, the last words of Buddha were "Decay is inherent in all composite things! Strive on with diligence!" And thereafter in his 80th year of his life and upon completion of his noble mission, he lapsed peacefully into Parinirvana. His body was taken to Makutabandhana, the shrine of the Mallas, where he was cremated. His remains, like teeth and remnants of bones, were separated into eight portions and were buried inside eight mud structures for about 200 years. They were then dug up by Emperor Ashoka and distributed to the other Stupa around his empire.

Reference: The Life of Buddha (youtube.com)

Answer: Syria

The Eastern Roman Empire, under Valens in the 370s AD, was fighting the Goths in the Gothic War. It was also fighting with the Sassanid Empire over Armenia. Queen Mavia wanted Moses, noted for his "piety, faith and miracles", to be the bishop of her nation.

However, Roman Emperor Valens was an Arian and his religious policies were at odds with Queen Mavia. She rebelled and her revolts were so devastating that Emperor Valens called for a truce. Moses then became the first Arab bishop, and Christianity was spread throughout her empire.

Answer: Iran

Built as a defensive network to protect the northern-eastern borders of Iran, it stretched west from the shores of the Caspian Sea and meandered east towards the Alborz Mountains. Many forts and castles were built along the wall. The Great Wall of Gorgan withheld Hun attacks during the 3rd-4th century AD, and also Hun-Hephthalite forces during the 6th-7th Century AD. However its fortunes dwindled thereafter, and it was subsequently occupied by the Arabs after 650 AD. Later on, it was no match against the Mongolian forces in the 13th century AD nor the raids organised by Timur the Great. And in the 17th to 18th century AD, the Russians briefly occupied Gorgan. With modern technology and warfare, the Great Wall of Gorgan had lost its defensive value. However, it retains its historic value and continues to be an important monument to the people living in the nearby regions.

Reference: 'Vehrkana Varkana, Gorgan' (heritageinstitute.com)

Answer: Izapa

Excavations at the outskirts of Izapa revealed that cocoa trees were planted. Cocoa seeds were used as currency for trade. Izapa was exposed to influences from the Olmec Civilisation. Jaguar motifs, which were typical of Olmec Civilisation, were used also in Izapa art. Izapa also showed some similarities to the Maya Civilisation.

There were similar deities that were worshiped and similarities in architecture designs. A 260-day calendar was also proposed to have originated from Izapa. In Izapa, there were many stelae erected. Izapa Stela #25 was interesting in that the stela described that the Principal Bird Deity ruled the world. To bring in a new creation, however, the Hero Twins needed to shoot the bird.

Answer: Tibur

Emperor Hadrian was a prolific traveler and patron of the arts and culture. Hadrian's Villa, with an area of 1 km², used varying architectural, religious and cultural influences from across the Roman Empire, to build the residence where he lived. Theatres, temples, fountains, gardens, baths and canals were built into his estate. However, the decline of Roman Empire gradually led to the abandonment of Hadrian's Villa. Much of the marbles and statues were removed in 16th Century AD to build Villa d'Este.

In 1998, the tomb of Antinous was found in Hadrian's Villa. Antinous was the male lover of Hadrian, and after Antinous's death, Hadrian deified Antinous and had a tomb and temple built in his residence.

Answer: Egypt

Born in Bithynium, Antinous was the favourite servant of Emperor Hadrian, and accompanied him on his travels throughout the Empire. It was during a trip to Egypt that Antinous drowned in the Nile. Antinous' death was such a serious blow to Hadrian that he "wept like a woman". Coins, reliefs, medals and amulets were made bearing a portrait of Antinous. Nearly 2000 statues of Antinous were carved, of which 115 survived. Temples dedicated to the worship of Antinous were built across the Empire. Due to the efforts of Emperor Hadrian, the image of Antinous is commonly seen in Roman antiquities. And at a time when male love was much celebrated, this remarkable love and affection was so sacred that it was seemingly divine.

Answer: Spinalonga

Spinalonga was located on the eastern portion of Crete near the town Elounda. It was once a peninsula of Kolokitha, but the Venetians removed the connecting land and this Spinalonga became an island. In the times of the Minoans, Spinalonga was fortified to protect the town Elounda.

During the years 1903-1957, Spinalonga was used as a leper colony. There was no effective treatment against leprosy, and the fear of leprosy led to a leper colony being set up in 1903. Housing conditions for lepers were miserable until the 1930s when cinemas were built, and people could even marry and have kids there. The discovery of an effective cure for leprosy in late 1930s gradually led to the foreclosure of the leper colony in 1957.

Reference: explorecrete.com/crete-east/EN-Spinalonga-leper-island.html