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Nicosia-Leukosia Trivia Quiz

A brief historical journey through the capital of Cyprus.

A multiple-choice quiz by gme24. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
gme24

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
343,595

Updated
Apr 21 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
252

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Nicosia can boast continuous habitation since ancient times. From around what date is the earliest evidence of continuous habitation? Hint

1500 BC

2500 BC

2000 BC

1000 BC

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Question 2 of 10

2. Nicosia is the English name of the city, the Greek name being Lefkosia. According to Greek mythology what was she? Hint

A nymph

A muse

A siren

A grace

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Question 3 of 10

3. In antiquity, Nicosia was one of the city-kingdoms of Cyprus but under what name? Hint

Soloi

Chytroi

Amathus

Ledra

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who was the first King of Nicosia? Hint

Onasagoras

Tefkros

Evagoras

Onesillus

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Question 5 of 10

5. Guy de Lusignan bought Cyprus and made Nicosia the capital of the entire island kingdom. Who sold the island to Guy? Hint

Knights Templar

Arabs

Byzantines

Richard the Lionheart

6. The Venetians ruled Cyprus from 1489-1571. Nicosia was the administrative centre of the island. Due to the Ottoman threat the Venetians constructed new walls, that still exist today. The walls are shaped like a star and have how many bastions? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. The Ottomans captured Nicosia in 1570 and converted all Latin churches into mosques. What was the name of the cathedral that now carries the name Selimiye Mosque? Hint

St.Nicolas

St.Sophia

St.Barnabas

St.Helen

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Question 8 of 10

8. When was administration of the island transferred to Great Britain? Hint

1901

1878

1898

1914

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Question 9 of 10

9. In 1960 Nicosia became the capital of the newly established Republic of Cyprus.
On what date was Cyprus proclaimed as an independent country? Hint

October 1

September 11

March 25

August 16

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Question 10 of 10

10. Cyprus gained independence in 1960 but three years later and following fights between the Greeks and Turks of the island the city of Nicosia was divided into Greek and Turkish quarters by a line that was drawn on a map of the city. What colour was that the line? Hint

Green

Blue

Red

Yellow

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Nicosia can boast continuous habitation since ancient times. From around what date is the earliest evidence of continuous habitation?

Answer: 2500 BC

Nicosia is probably the only area in Cyprus than can boast continuous habitation since the early Bronze Age, 2500 years BC. (Some places in Cyprus were settled earlier, but have not been inhabited continuously).

2. Nicosia is the English name of the city, the Greek name being Lefkosia. According to Greek mythology what was she?

Answer: A siren

Lefkosia was one of the daughters of Acheloos and the muse Melpomene. The name is translated as 'white substance' ('Lefkos' is the Greek word for 'white').

3. In antiquity, Nicosia was one of the city-kingdoms of Cyprus but under what name?

Answer: Ledra

Nicosia started as Ledra and then Kallinikisi, Lefkothea, Lefkousia and finally Lefkosia.
Soloi was named after Solon and is in the north western part of the island.
Amathus is just outside present day Limassol, and Chytroi is near present day Kythrea.

4. Who was the first King of Nicosia?

Answer: Onasagoras

Onasagoras was the first king of Ledra.
Evagoras was the king of Salamis, Tefkros (brother of Ajax) was the founder of Salamis, and Onesillus was the brother of the king of Amathus.

5. Guy de Lusignan bought Cyprus and made Nicosia the capital of the entire island kingdom. Who sold the island to Guy?

Answer: Knights Templar

The Arabs conquered the island in 650 AD and ruled Cyprus jointly with Byzantium for 300 years but Byzantium lost control of the island to Richard the Lionheart, who sold the island to the Templars.
Then, in 1192, Guy de Lusignan purchased the island from the Templars.

Answer: 11

The eleven bastions were named after the families who funded the reconstruction of the fortifications.

7. The Ottomans captured Nicosia in 1570 and converted all Latin churches into mosques. What was the name of the cathedral that now carries the name Selimiye Mosque?

Answer: St.Sophia

The cathedral of Saint Sophia was built on top of the ruins of a Greek Orthodox church with the same name.
The name Selimiye was given in 1954.
St.Nicolas is the Cathedral in Famagusta which was also turned into a mosque.
St. Barnabas is the patron saint of Cyprus.
St. Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine, built a number of churches in Cyprus.

8. When was administration of the island transferred to Great Britain?

Answer: 1878

Following the war between Russia and Turkey and the Congress of Berlin (1878) the administration of the island was transferred to Great Britain and Cyprus became a crown colony in 1925.

9. In 1960 Nicosia became the capital of the newly established Republic of Cyprus. On what date was Cyprus proclaimed as an independent country?

Answer: August 16

Cyprus was proclaimed as an independent republic on August 16.
October 1 is celebrated as the official independence day.
March 25 is the Greek indepedence day.

Answer: Green

The Green line still divides the city.

Source: Author gme24

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