Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. I am sometimes called the "blind bard", and chances are you have read one or both of the works attributed to me. Though there are doubts whether I even existed as one person, there are no doubts about the power of the two epic works of poetry which bear my name. Teachers have been teaching about my hero, wily Odysseus, since Plato's time. Who might this bard be?
2. The first time students encounter me is usually in math class, and it is true that I loved numbers. In fact, I believed each number from 1 to 10 had a special meaning. During my time in the 6th century BCE, I was one of the first to study metempsychosis - the belief that the soul is eternal and, upon death, enters into a new body. I gathered many disciples who lived in monastic style communities that were sworn to secrecy. Who might this be?
3. I am a famous Greek woman who was well known for my poetry, but, sadly, only a few lines are still available to the modern reader. The most amazing act I supposedly accomplished was to take up the defense of my town against King Cleomenes of Sparta after the men of my town, Argos, were killed in battle. My actions saved my town from certain plunder. Who was this brave woman?
4. I was born in 495 BCE to the wealthy Alcmaeonid family and became a leading statesman. Often my name is associated with the Golden Age of Athens. My leadership helped transform the Delian League into the Athenian Empire. I also loved the arts, philosophy, and architecture, on which I spent vast resources. Who was this "first citizen of Athens?"
5. Apparently, everyone loved the tragedies I wrote as I almost always won every competition I entered. I was one of the first playwrights to use a third actor allowing for deeper dialogue. Two of my best known plays were "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone". Who might this playwright be?
6. Well, the Oracle of Delphi said there was no one in Athens wiser than me but I found that impossible to believe! You see, I do not believe myself to be wise at all! So I proceeded to go around Athens asking the wise and the proud if they indeed knew what true virtue was. However, my questions left them frustrated and they often went away angry. I came to realize that maybe I am indeed wise because at least I know I am not wise! Who might this philosopher be?
7. Legend has it that I was the first female doctor in Athens. Sadly, I had to pretend to be a man since it was punishable by death for a woman to practise medicine. I was so good at being a midwife that many of the men of the city became jealous of me and wanted to kill me when they discovered I was a woman. Thankfully, the leading ladies of the town came to my rescue and had the law changed instead! Who was this brilliant physician?
8. I was probably the most learned man of my age and have been given the title "Father of Western Philosophy." When I was a youth, I studied at Plato's academy. Later in life, I opened my own school of learning called the Lyceum. I had a very curious mind and wrote on the subjects of physics, biology, ethics, and music, to name a few. Who might this philosopher be?
9. My father was a powerful king of Macedon. I was given the best education both in knowledge and leadership. When my father had an untimely death, I took his place at the head of his army and we conquered most of the world we knew including Egypt, Persia, and even parts of India. It is said I never lost a battle. Who might this mighty king be?
10. I am considered by many to be the greatest mathematician of antiquity. I figured out a close estimate for pi, the area of a circle, and the volume of a sphere. Many of you have heard that I uttered "Eureka!" when I solved a problem that was vexing my king. In my last days, I designed many inventions to help protect my city of Syracuse from the invading Romans. Which wizard of mathematics might I be?
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BigTriviaDawg
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bloomsby before going online.
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