They Came to Baghdad Trivia Quiz

Answer: National Museum of Iraq

The National Museum of Iraq was not bombed during the war, but it suffered extensive looting, with over half its precious artifacts disappearing during April of 2003. The museum was originally established in 1926 (as the Baghdad Archaeological Museum) by the British traveler and author Gertrude Bell.

It housed a record of over 5,000 years of Mesopotamian history. Efforts to locate and restore the looted items have been conducted internationally, with about half of the missing items having been restored for the opening day in 2009.

Answer: Manchester United

Manchester United is a very successful football team based in the English city of Manchester. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (an Airforce club), Al-Shorta (Police Club) and Al-Talaba (Students) are all among the most popular teams in Iraq. Al-Shorta is generally considered Iraq's best team, and are one of the only two Iraqi teams to win a competition outside of Iraq, winning the Inaugural Arab Champions League (then called the Arab Club Champions Cup) in 1982.

While in Baghdad, you may see them playing at Al-Shaab Stadium, the largest stadium in Baghdad at the start of the 21st century.

Answer: Al Kadhimiya

Al Kadhimiya Mosque, also referred to as the Kadhimain Shrine, contains the tombs of two descendants of the prophet Mohammad, as well as those of two famous historical scholars. With its large gilded dome, gold-coated minarets, mirror mosaics, marble floors and glazed ceramic tiles featuring geometric engravings and Quranic verses, it is a stunning site.

Al Qa'ed Ibrahim Mosque can be seen in Alexandria, Egypt; Pul-e-Khishti Mosque is located in Kabul, Afghanistan; Baitul Futuh Mosque, currently the largest mosque in western Europe, is in London, England.

Answer: Tigris

The Tigris and the Euphrates define the Mesopotamian region, with the Tigris being the more easterly of the two. Baghdad was established on the banks of the Tigris in 762 by the caliph Al-Mansur, who originally named his city Madinat al-Salaam, or 'City of Peace'.

The name Baghdad had become common usage by the 11th century. The Tigris splits Baghdad in half; the eastern part of the city is called 'Risafa' and the western 'Karkh'.

Answer: June to August

Baghdad is one of the hottest cities in the world, with average maximum summer temperatures up to 44 C (111 F). Because of the low humidity and almost complete lack of rainfall during the summer, dust storms from the western deserts are a common summer occurrence. Winter temperatures are a lot more comfortable for the visitor, ranging from overnight lows around 4 C (39 F) to maxima between 15.5 C (60 F) and 18.5 C (65 F).

Answer: Swords of Qadisiyyah

There are actually two arches, marking the entrance to a parade ground built as part of Grand Festivities Square for the victory display; each consists of a pair of hands holding crossed swords. Part of the metal used to construct them came from guns and tanks of Iraqi soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq war. The arches were opened to the public on August 8, 1989.

The other options are also tourist sights in Baghdad. Al Shaheed is a monument to the Iraqi soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq war. Al Jundi Al Majhool is Iraq's Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Sahat Al Tahrir is also known as Liberation Square.

Answer: 2003

In December 2003, the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra performed a joint concert with the U.S. National Symphony Orchestra and Yo-Yo Ma at the Kennedy Center in Washington, where they were introduced by Colin Powell. The orchestra was founded as the Baghdad Symphony Orchestra in 1944, and adopted its current name in 1959.

Answer: Abbasid Palace

The Abbasid caliphate, often referred to as the Golden Age of Islam, lasted from 750 CE until the sacking of Baghdad by Mongols under the leadership of Hulagu Khan (a grandson of Genghis Khan) in 1258. The Abbasid Palace is one of the oldest buildings remaining in Baghdad, and is believed to have been built by Caliph Al-Naser Ledinillah who ruled from 1179 to 1225 CE.

Answer: a water-powered alarm clock

Mustansiriya Madrasah was established in 1227 by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mustansir. In 1235 a water-powered alarm clock that announced the appointed prayer hours and displayed the time both in daylight and at night was constructed in the entrance hall.

The university survived the Mongol invasion of 1258, and is a major tourist attraction. Nearby can be found the Saray souq (market), the Baghdadi Museum (featuring waxworks and dioramas of life in the first half of the 20th century), the Abbasid Palace, and Mutanabbi Street, the bookselling centre of the city.

Answer: Baghdad Zoo

The Baghdad Zoo, once the largest in the Middle East, housed 650 animals before the 2003 war. After keepers had been forced to abandon the zoo, some animals died of starvation, some were taken for food by looters, some escaped and roamed the city. Only 35 survived to the eighth day after the city came under attack, when South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony arrived to start the rescue operation. On July 20, 2003 the zoo reopened to the public, featuring 86 animals, including all 19 surviving lions.