Uneasy Lies the Head Trivia Quiz

Answer: Wolf-headed

The Rougarou ("loup garou") has a large man's body but the head of a wolf. It is often confused with a "werewolf", but it does not change into a wolf. The Rougarou originated in medieval France, where Catholic Christians in particular believed it targeted those who did not properly observe Lent.

The Rougarou followed the French to French Canada and the French-mix Cajun culture of Louisiana. In modern times some think Rougarou may be the same as "Bigfoot", a massive furry man-creature said to be sighted in mountains and forests.

In some communities Rougarou is considered to be both intelligent and kind. In others he eats naughty children.

Answer: Head of a bull

The Minotaur is a beast best known in Greek myth as a man with the head of a bull. King Minos prayed to Poseidon to send a white bull, which he did, with the caveat Minos must sacrifice the bull to honor the god. The bull was so beautiful Minos did not, so Poseidon caused his wife to fall in love with it, and they beget a child.

She at first cared for it, but they soon realized it was a monster, required to eat human flesh. (Odd, since neither humans nor bulls eat humans, but let's go with it). Minos built a great maze under his castle to contain the creature, and demanded that annual sacrifices be fed to it.

Some versions depict the Minotaur as a pitiable being, who welcomes the death Theseus and Ariadne brought to him.

Answer: Cat-headed

In ancient Egypt this deity was originally lioness-headed, representing war, but as Egypt changed, so did its deities. Bastet developed into a cat-headed god, associated with tender motherhood, perfume and protection. Cats were so honored in Egypt they wore jewelry of gold, ate from royal plates and a hapless person could be punished by death for killing one.

They not only rid the crop of vermin, they killed cobras and other snakes, and were beautiful companions to royalty.

Answer: Crocodile head

Sobek, with varied spellings and stories of origin, was a man with the head of a crocodile, a god of ancient Egypt, perhaps the creator of the world. He emerged out of dark, primeval waters to lay eggs on the banks of the Nun, or he may have started the universe via his sweat.

Initially he was a frightening god of chaos and war, but he morphed over time into a fierce yet protective one.

Answer: Head of a frog

While today when we think childbirth and fertility "frog" may not come to mind, for the ancient Egyptians and early Christians, frogs were associated with fertility, perhaps because innumerable frogs appeared near the Nile in rainy season and so they seemed a very fertile bunch.

Hequet is a water goddess with the head of a frog. She gives the breath of life to newborns, speeds birth, and assists in resurrection. Pregnant women often wore the amulet of Hequet for protection. A Temple of Hequet was found in Qus, Egypt, on the east bank of the Nile.

Answer: Elephant head

Perhaps the favorite in the pantheon of Hindu gods, Ganesha has a human body and the head of an elephant, plus an assortment of human arms, each holding an important item. Lord of Beginnings and Remover of Obstacles, he provides fortune and success. Less often remembered, he also places obstacles in the path of those acting selfish and prideful. Ganesh is the patron of arts, sciences and letters.

Answer: Falcon-headed

Horus is perhaps the greatest Egyptian god, depicted in early Egyptian hieroglyphs as "falcon" and perhaps "one who is above", with a man's body and often the head of a falcon. He was king over all of Egypt, called the sky god. The ruling Pharaoh was seen as a human incarnation of Horus and ruled with his help. Horus represented the fight against evil, and the might and right of justice and honesty.

In battle against the violent and debauched god his uncle Seth (Set), Horus lost an eye. It is said it was returned to him, or it grew back, so wearing an amulet symbol of this "Eye of Horus" protects the bearer.

Answer: Head of a moose

Pamola is a half-man with the head of a moose and the wings and feet of an eagle. In control of the weather, he resides in the USA on Maine's tallest mountain, according to the Penobscot Indian Nation of the area. When people try to scale Katahdin, Pamola sends sudden strong winds, rain, thunder or snowstorms upon them.

In the 1800s Henry Thoreau wrote of this:
"Only daring and insolent men, perchance, go there. Their tops are sacred and mysterious tracts never visited...Pamola is always angry with those who climb to the summit of Katahdin."

Answer: Lion-headed

Narasimha, also called Pratyangira, has sometimes a male and often a female body and a lioness face. She is all-powerful, a favorite for offense and defense in war, protecting her devotees even against other gods. In Sanskrit literally "nara" means human, "Simha" means lion. Narasimha can destroy evil, stop oppression and calm a disaster, restoring balance and peace for humankind.

Answer: Dog-head

Alexander the Great said he saw cynocephali, dog-headed men, as did missionaries and explorers after him, most often in India (called Indica there). Jesus is depicted in art speaking to a group of men with dog heads, and the Argonauts battled with them. Cynocephali were assumed to be of low intellect or morals, from a long line of such ancestors, possibly beget by Cain of the Bible. Or perhaps the myth began with ancient Persians who left their dead to be eaten by dogs.

The ultra practical believe the cynocephali "sightings" are actually of the indri lemur, the largest lemur.

It often stands erect and has a dog-like head. Though "large" here means just 64-72 cm (25-28 in), and it is found only on Madagascar.