The "Necronomicon" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Al-Azif

"Necronomicon" is the name of the Greek translation. El-Khaliyeh are the great deserts of southern Arabia, and "Quanoon-e-Islam" is the fake title on the cover of Joseph Curwen's copy.

Answer: Theodorus Philetas

This translation was done in A.D. 950, but the book had circulated in secret among philosophers for almost 200 years. The title "Necronomicon" has been said to mean "An Image of the Law of the Dead", "Book of the Names of the Dead", "Book of Dead Names" and several other options.

Answer: Patriarch Michael of Constantinople

Hiamaldi appeared in a Mythos story by Brian Lumley, and both Clitanus and St. Augustine are mentioned in some of Auguste Derleth's stories. Patriarch Michael is mentioned by Lovecraft in his "History of the Necronomicon". In real life, Michael Cerularius was patriarch of Constantinople from 1043-1057, and held to be one of the men responsible for the schism between the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches.

Answer: Olaus Wormius

Wormius must not be confused with the Danish physician Olaus Wormius, who lived 400 years later! Ibn Khallikan was probably alive in 1228, but is remembered for being Al-Hazred's biographer. Philetas came up with the Greek translation, and Kindler was a writer who described a Gothic "Necronomicon" (which has never come to light).

Answer: Germany

Only a few copies exists of the first printing, made sometime in the 15th century. One is at the British Museum (under heavy security), and one is buried deep in the Vatican Archives.

Answer: None, only fragments

Only fragments remain of Dee's manuscript, which included his own notes and comments. Whilbur Whateley owned one such fragmented copy. "The Sussex Manuscript" was the title of another translation, made by Baron Frederic of Sussex, but it is flawed and unreliable.

Answer: A chapter on rituals of the Saracens

The "Rituals of the Saracens" was published as a separate book, but was originally a part of "De Vermis Mysteriis" by Ludwig Prinn. Yakthoob was Abdul Al-Hazred's teacher, said to have died when a ritual went wrong. Both the Voorish Sign and the ritual to call Yog-Sothoth are mentioned in "The Dunwich Horror".

Answer: A spell to switch minds with another

"He found it in the Necronomicon - the formula (...) On, on, on, body to body to body - he means never to die." This is what Edward Derby told Daniel Upton when old Ephraim was in the process of switching bodies with him. The powder of Ibn-Ghazi allows you to see invisible things, and the Vach-Viraj incantation is used against Nyogtha. The last one I made up.

Answer: Harry Widener

After Widener's death, his book collection was donated to Harvard University. However, some claim that the "Necronomicon" was stolen from the Widener Library some time later. If this is true, Harvard has kept a lid on it.

Answer: "... even death may die"

This is the most famous sentence from the "Necronomicon", and expresses Al-Hazred's hope that when the Great Old Ones come, those loyal to them will live forever. The Old Ones themselves are of course those who can "eternal lie".