A Legendary Vacation--Imagine That! Quiz

Answer: Camelot

King Arthur is the figure at the heart of the Arthurian legends. He is said to be the son of Uther Pendragon and Ygraine of Cornwall. In early Latin chronicles he is portrayed as a military leader and in later romance he is presented as a king and emperor.

One of the questions that has occupied those interested in King Arthur is whether or not he is a historical figure. The debate has raged since the Renaissance when Arthur's authenticity was vigorously defended, partly because the Tudor monarchs traced their lineage to Arthur and used that connection as a justification for their reign.

Modern scholars have generally assumed that there was some actual person at the heart of the legends, although perhaps not a king with a band of knights in shining armor. If there is a historical basis to the character he probably would have gained fame as a warrior battling the Germanic invaders of the late fifth and early sixth centuries.

Since there is no conclusive evidence for or against Arthur's existence, the debate will continue, but there is no denying the influence of the figure of Arthur on literature, art, music, and society from the Middle Ages to the present.

Answer: El Dorado

El Dorado translated means "the gilded man." When the phrase was first used it referred to an individual. The El Dorado legend originated in the Muisca territory in the highlands of present-day Colombia. Treasures were thrown into the lake as offerings for the king. Neighboring tribes knew of the practice and told the Spanish. Attempts to drain the lake for unimaginable wealth took place but were abandoned after many of the workers died and no treasure was ever discovered.

According to some theorists stories developed over the ages transforming the idea of discarded wealth at the bottom of a lake into an entire lost city of gold. El Dorado became a fixation for many explorers, some lost their own lives in pursuit of an epic treasure.

Answer: Agartha

Agartha is related to the belief in a hollow earth. The concept of a hollow earth recurs many times in folklore. Shamballa (also known as Shambalah or Shangri-La) is sometimes said to be its capital city.

According to the legend the nation was believed to be a kingdom of harmony, contentment and spiritual power. It was thought to have been situated somewhere beneath Asia and linked to the other continents by a network of tunnels. Some believe vast lengths of the tunnels still exist today.

Answer: Styx

The River Styx formed the boundary between Earth and the Underworld. Styx had miraculous powers and could make someone invulnerable. Thetis, the Greek goddess of water, tried to make Achilles immortal by dipping him in the River Styx, but forgot to wet the heel by which she held him, leaving him vulnerable. The gods respected the River Styx and swore binding oaths on it.

In order for the soul to cross the River and reach the Underworld, the dead must pay a fee to Charon, a coin placed on the mouth or two coins over the eyes. If the dead could not afford the fee, they would be forced to wander the banks of the River Styx as Wraiths (ghosts or spirits) for eternity.

Answer: Avalon

Avalon is at the heart of Arthurian mythology, home to the Lady of the Lake and spiritual centre of the old religions. There has also long been a connection with the pagan god Avalloc (Avallach) said to be the father or Morgen (Morgan le Fay) and her eight sisters, who were Celtic priestesses renowned for their ability to turn into animals, heal the incurable and prophesy the future.

The name is generally considered to be of Welsh origin, derived from Old Welsh abal (apple) or aball (apple tree).

Answer: Labyrinth

Daedalus, a renowned craftsman and inventor, built the labyrinth in King Minos' magnificent palace of Knossos. The King commissioned the labyrinth to imprison his wife's (Queen Pasiphae) monstrous son, the Minotaur (half -man, half-bull).

Since the Labyrinth was nearly impenetrable, it was almost impossible to slay the monster. For years Minos demanded a tribute of youths from Athens to feed the creature. Eventually, the hero Theseus came to Crete to attempt to slay the Minotaur. Princess Ariadne, Minos and Pasiphae's daughter, fell in love with Theseus and asked Daedalus to help him.

Daedalus gave her a flaxen thread for Theseus to tie to the door of the Labyrinth as he entered, and by which he could find his way out after killing the monster. Theseus succeeded, and escaped Crete with Ariadne. Minos, enraged at the loss of his daughter, shut Daedalus and his son Icarus in the Labyrinth.

Answer: Valhalla

In Norse mythology, Valhalla, Hall of the Slain, had 540 doors, rafters made of spears and a roof made of shields. Breast-plates littered the benches. The western door was guarded by a wolf and an eagle hovered over it. The Valkyries, Odin's messengers and spirits of war, brought half of the heroes who died in battle to Valhalla. The other half went to Folkvangr, the goddess Freyja's hall in a meadow. Accounts of how the determination was made differ.

In Old Norse "valkyrja" translates to "chooser of the slain", so it would follow that Valkyries decided which warriors died and which lived. In Valhalla, the dead become Einherjar (Old Norse meaning single fighters). In Valhalla the Einherjar feasted on the beast Sæhrímnir (resurrected and slaughtered nightly) and drank mead. But they also prepared daily for the events of Ragnarök (doom of the gods and the humans, the final battle).

Other accounts say Odin gave Freyja first choice and as "Valfreya" she led the Valkyries down to the battlefields, choosing and claiming one half the heroes slain. She is therefore often represented with corselet and helmet, shield and spear, only the lower part of her body being clad in the usual flowing feminine clothes. Some accounts of Folkvangr told of heroic Northern women who rushed into battle when their loved ones were slain, hoping to meet with the same fate; these women were also welcomed in Folkvangr.

Answer: Atlantis

Ever since the first recorded history of Atlantis, written by Plato, debate has raged as to whether or not Atlantis ever really existed. Plato described it as an extraordinary Utopian society, thriving around 9,600 BC, that valued peace, art and wisdom. The land was said to have been very fertile, with abundant food, water, animals, wood, and flowers.

After several generations of ruling, the leaders became increasingly greedy and corrupt, and waged war on neighbouring countries. They conquered parts of North Africa and Europe, and were about to attack Egypt and Athens, when the Athenian army defeated them. Shortly after, devastating earthquakes resulting in tidal waves and floods destroyed the Athenian army, as well as the entire island continent of Atlantis, submerging it beneath the sea "in a single day and night".

Even today some still question whether Plato's account was a moralistic story or a true historical account.

Answer: Hawaiki

The first Māori were said to have sailed to New Zealand from Hawaiki. The gods are believed to have lived there, including the trickster demigod Maui, whose deeds are famous throughout Polynesia. Maori believe Hawaiki is the place from which each person comes, and it is where each will return after death.

Hawaiki is a place of great importance in Māori traditions and proverbs. The first woman, Hineahuone, was fashioned from the soil of Hawaiki. It is strongly associated with the cycle of birth, life and death. Hawaiki represents all that is good and powerful. It is a place where people turn into birds or descend to the underworld.

Answer: Annwn

Both Welsh and Irish mythologies spoke of the Otherworld. Annwn (Middle Welsh) was a land abundant food, eternal youth, free from disease and believed to be located on an island or underneath the earth. The Otherworld in Irish myths and tales was also known as "the Land of the Living", "Delightful Plain", "Land of the Young".

It has been described as a land where happiness lasted forever, and a hundred years was as one day. Some believed the Otherworld was located on The Fortunate Isles in the Western Sea.