Eye of Toad and Tail of Newt Multiple Choice Quiz | Mythology Mixture

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Mixing humans with beasts is a popular theme in mythology, and one such creation is that which combines a horse and a man. However, this is not the well-known Centaur, but the Tikbalang, which possesses the head and hooves of a horse and the body of a man. In which country do stories of the Tikbalang originate?

Answer: The Philippines

The Tikbalang is able to imitate the voices of friends and family members of unsuspecting travellers. It uses this ability to lure them into the forest. By walking silently in the forest, you may avoid disturbing the Tikbalang and so will not be lured away. Wearing one's shirt inside-out is also said to be an effective way of avoiding the Tikbalang.

2. Deriving from a Farsi word meaning "man-slayer", which mythical creature is often depicted as a red lion with a scorpion's tail and human face?

Answer: The Manticore

This animal is, in all respects, deadly. Although some sources depict the Manticore as having a giant scorpion tail, others show it with a fanned tail capable of shooting deadly quills at its prey. This, combined with the powerful paws of a lion and triple row of sharp teeth, has led to the Manticore being seen as a symbol of doom.

The legend of the Manticore is wide ranging - it origins lie in Persia, but the beast itself is said to come from Ethiopia, and stories are told to this day of the wild beast roaming the jungles of Indonesia.

3. Despite having fearsome paws reminiscent of those of a lion or tiger, the Baku of Japanese folklore is seen as a gentle creature, and a symbol of good fortune. Which other animal's features help to construct this magical beast?

Answer: An elephant's

Much like the Hindu deity Ganesha, the Baku is the remover of obstacles - it takes away bad spirits and replaces them with good fortune. This can be achieved, it is said, by sleeping on a Baku's pelt or exclaiming "Baku, eat my dreams" thrice after awakening from a nightmare.

Although now mostly associated with Japanese mythology, the Baku has its roots in China. Along with the face of an elephant and paws and mane of a lion, the Baku is said to include features of animals such as the horse and cow.

4. One of the most well-known hybrid creatures is the Chimera, a monster born from the union of Echidna and Typhon, as told in Greek mythology. A fire-breathing, swift-footed monster, how many heads is the Chimera usually depicted as having?

Answer: 3

The usual depiction of the Chimera is as having the head and forelegs of a lion, the neck and head of a goat, a snake for a tail (with the snake's head at the end), and the hind legs of a dragon. The fire-breathing quality of the goat's head seems to be a relatively recent addition.

The Chimera gained fame as the terrible monster that was eventually slain by Bellerophon, with the help of Pegasus (also a hybrid creature of Greek myth).

5. Said to be found in Wyoming, the Jackalope is a deceptive, odd, and almost believable creature. So believable, in fact, that many naturalists believed it to be real until the 18th century. The Jackalope is made up of part deer and what other animal?

Answer: A killer rabbit

Essentially a set of deer antlers on a rabbit's body, the Jackalope looks, even now, as if it could be roaming the land of North-West America.

The Jackalope is a trickster and can imitate human voices. Another oddity is that the creatures only mate during electrical storms - something which accounts for their rarity.

6. Another group of human-beast hybrids are the Cynocephali. What is the meaning of this Greek name, which accurately describes the physical appearance of these semi-human creatures?

Answer: "Dog-heads"

These creatures have the bodies of men, but the heads of dogs, often on elongated horse-like necks. They are also said to be able to breathe fire.

This is another beast said to come from Ethiopia, or, if we are to believe the words of Marco Polo, somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

St. Christopher, who was often depicted as having the head of dog, was rumoured to be a Cynocephalus.

7. Throw together a monkey's head, a tiger's legs, the body of a raccoon dog, and a venomous snake in place of a tail and you get the Nue - a mystical creature from Japanese mythology. What symbol of bad fortune is the Nue often associated with in Japanese folklore?

Answer: A black cloud

It is said that in 1153, Emperor Konoe of Japan began to have nightmares and became very ill. Some noticed that this was due to a black cloud which appeared over the emperor's palace each night. Yorimasu Minamoto - a samurai - shot the cloud with an arrow, causing the Nue which dwelt within it to fall from the sky. (Info taken from "The Tale of the Heike").

8. This next beast possesses the legs of a horse, the jaws of a boar, the tail of an elephant, and a set of huge horns, capable of facing in a range of directions. Which university does this hybrid share its name with?

Answer: Yale

The horns of the Yale are huge! They can swivel to face either forwards or backwards (or one in each direction).

Its body is relatively small - about the size of a goat. Its name actually comes from yael - the Hebrew word for mountain goat.

Despite sharing its name with the large American university, the Yale also has links to Cambridge, appearing on a coat of arms above Christ's College's gateway.

9. When the terrific Griffin (itself a hybrid creature) mates with a horse, the offspring is said to be the Hippogriff, a stunning beast with the head, wings and talons of an eagle, and the body and hind legs of a horse. What is the *usual* relationship of a horse to a Griffin?

Answer: Prey

The Griffin is seen to be one of the most powerful creatures in all mythology, as it combines the king of the beasts (the lion) with the lord of the sky (the eagle). It is often depicted as the guardian of treasure.

The Hippogriff is said to be lightning fast, tremendously intelligent and notoriously short tempered. Due to the usual relationship between their parents - as predator and prey - they are said to be one of the rarest mythological beasts.

10. Travel north to Scandinavia and we find tales of a gluttonous creature which is said to be part dog and part cat. Called a Jerff in Sweden, what other name is this greedy, furry, sharp-clawed beast known as?

Answer: The Gulon

The Gulon feeds on so much carrion that it can be rendered almost immobile by the amount it consumes. Its stomach expands and the Gulon seeks two trees standing close to each other so it can squeeze itself in and push the food through its digestive tract. The Gulon will continue to feed until there is nothing left, thus its link to gluttony.

Source: Author doublemm

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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Eye of Toad and Tail of Newt Trivia Quiz

As well as to brew odd witches' concoctions, parts of different animals have been thrown together in the minds of storytellers throughout the years to create hybrid mythological creatures. This quiz looks at just 10 of them.

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