Tag: myth

Mount Olympus meets Hollywood | Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier today.

One

Minerva McGonagall.
Image harrypotter.com

What is the first name of Professor McGonagall, a staff member at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? 

Answer: Minerva

Maggie Smith portrayed Minerva McGonagall in seven Harry Potter films, enjoying the franchise for bonding with her grandchildren.

Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory and the arts. She is often depicted with her sacred creature, an owl, and is revered as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.

Two

Lyra Belacqua and Pantalaimon or ‘Pan’.
Image BBC

In the 2007 film, The Golden Compass, Lyra Belacqua has a short pet name for her dæmon. What is it?

Answer: Pan

Lyra’s dæmon is named Pantalaimon but she generally shortens this to Pan.

Pan, the Greek god of shepherds and goatherds, originated in Arcadia and was worshipped in caves. He is depicted as a lecherous figure who roams the mountains and plays the syrinx.

Three

The Poseidon Adventure.
Image the MovieDB

Released on 12 December 1972, this disaster film featured Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Albertson, Shelley Winters and Red Buttons. What was its title?

Answer: The Poseidon Adventure

The Poseidon Adventure is a disaster film about a luxury liner capsized by a tsunami. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $125 million worldwide and winning two Academy Awards.

Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, earthquakes and horses, was worshipped in coastal and inland areas. He is the son of Cronus and Rhea, brother of Zeus and Hades and husband of Amphitrite.

Four

The Martian.
Image Disney.

In Ridley Scott’s 2015 film, Dr. Mark Watney becomes stranded. But where is he stranded? 

Answer: Mars

In The Martian, Matt Damon plays Dr. Mark Watney, an astronaut stranded on Mars after being presumed dead.

Mars is the Roman god of war and agriculture, embodying the dual role of protecting the Roman people and securing peace through military power. He is the son of Jupiter and Juno, and father of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.

Five

Die Hard with a Vengeance.
Image MovieDB

What was Samuel L. Jackson’s character name in Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)?

Answer: Zeus Carver

Zeus Carver, a resourceful shopkeeper, reluctantly assists John McClane, forming a love-hate relationshipship as his ingenuity helps solve Gruber’s puzzles.

Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, is the most powerful deity and the only one of Indo-European origin. He overthrew his father Cronus and the Titans in the Titanomachy, becoming the father of many heroes and progenitors of prominent family lines.

Mount Olympus meets Hollywood 

Today’s film-related questions all share a connection: each answer features a deity from Greek or Roman mythology.

Hogwarts castle at Universal Islands of Adventure amusement park in Orlando, Florida. Image Wikipedia

One

What is the first name of Professor McGonagall, a staff member at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? 

Two

In the 2007 film, The Golden Compass, Lyra Belacqua has a short pet name for her dæmon. What is it?

Three

Released on 12 December 1972, this disaster film featured Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Jack Albertson, Shelley Winters and Red Buttons. What was its title?

Four

In Ridley Scott’s 2015 film, Dr. Mark Watney becomes stranded. But where is he stranded?

Five

What was Samuel L. Jackson’s character name in Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

R is for… | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

One

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!
Aboon them a’ yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’a grace
As lang’s my arm.

– the opening stanza of Address to a Haggis
Reproduced from Burns Country.

Identify the poet who wrote the above, and who, or what is the ‘Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!’ that is referred to?

Answer: Robert Burns and Haggis

Address to a Haggis is a Scots language poem by Scottish poet, Robert Burns. One of the more well known Scottish poems, the title refers to the national dish of Scotland, haggis, which is a savoury pudding. The poem is most often recited at Burns suppers, a Scottish cultural event celebrating the life of Robert Burns where everybody stands as the haggis is brought in on a silver salver whilst a bagpiper will lead the way towards the host’s table. The host or a guest will then recite the poem while slicing open the haggis at the right moment with a ceremonial knife. The full poem is available, with translations to English and other languages, on Burns Country.

Robert Burns, Scottish poet and lyricist.
Portrait by Alexander Nasmyth.
Image Wikipedia

Two

In what urban location do the games in the Resident Evil series take place?

Answer: Raccoon City

Raccoon City, the setting of the Resident Evil series, was chosen to evoke a sense of American horror. Inspired by George A. Romero’s zombie films, the name was intended to connect with the Western audience.

Three

Hydrophobia is defined as 

extreme or irrational fear of water, especially as a symptom of _ in humans.

What word is missing from the above definition?

Answer: Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease causing encephalitis in humans and mammals, characterised by fever, abnormal sensations, and later, fear of water, confusion and loss of consciousness. The incubation period is usually one to three months but can vary.

Statue of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest.
Image Wikipedia

Four

Sir Guy of Gisbourne is featured in the legends of which English folk hero?

Answer: Robin Hood

Originally, Sir Guy of Gisbourne, a hired assassin, attempted to kill Robin Hood but was defeated in a fight. Later depictions portray him as a romantic rival for Maid Marian’s love.

Five

Max Cady, a character in the 1991 film Cape Fear, was played by…

Answer: Robert De Niro

Max Cady, the antagonist in John D. MacDonald’s novel The Executioners, is a criminal with a grudge against attorney Sam Bowden, who sent him to prison for rape. After his release, Cady terrorises Bowden and his family, seeking revenge for his imprisonment and the loss of his wife and child. The character was played by Robert Mitchum in the 1962 film of the same name.

R is for…

The alphabet theme continues with some questions where all the answers begin with ‘R’.

One

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!
Aboon them a’ yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’a grace
As lang’s my arm.

Identify the poet who wrote the above, and who, or what is the ‘Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!’ that is referred to?

Two

In what urban location do the games in the Resident Evil series take place?

Three

Hydrophobia is defined as 

extreme or irrational fear of water, especially as a symptom of _ in humans.

What word is missing from the above definition?

Four

Sir Guy of Gisbourne is featured in the legends of which English folk hero?

Five

Max Cady, a character in the 1991 film Cape Fear, was played by…

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

H is for… | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

National flag of Haiti.
Image is from CRW Flags
  1. Added to the Liechtenstein flag in 1937 the prince’s crown distinguishes it from what other national flag?
    • Haiti—Liechtenstein’s flag, originally plain blue and red, was changed in 1937 to include a golden crown to avoid confusion with Haiti’s flag. The fact that both were identical had been first noticed at the previous summer’s Olympic games.
      Haiku.
      Image Pinterest
  2. In Japanese literature what is an unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables respectively.
    • Haiku—is an unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines with a pattern of 5, 7 and 5 syllables. Traditionally, it evokes images of the natural world.
      Happy Mondays.
      Image Pinterest
  3. The original line-up of what band included the brothers Shaun and Paul Ryder?
    • Happy Mondays—an English rock band from Salford, pioneered the Madchester sound by blending Manchester alternative rock with funk, house and psychedelia. They achieved commercial success with albums like Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches before disbanding in 1993. They have since reunited several times with variations in the line-up.
      Flyer for the 1979 stage production of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. In The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Galactic President Zaphod Beeblebrox steals a prototype spacecraft. What was it named?
    • Heart of Gold—Arthur Dent, the protagonist of the stories, and his friend Ford Prefect are improbably rescued from interstellar space by the Heart of Gold, stolen by Zaphod Beeblebrox. The ship, powered by the infinite improbability drive, carries Trillian (Tricia McMillan, also from Earth) and the depressed Marvin, the Paranoid Android. Eventually, the ship moves into orbit around the legendary planet of Magrathea.
      Hercules and the Wagoner or Hercules and the Carter.
      Image is from Fables of Aesop
  5. _ and the Wagoner is one of Aesop’s Fables. What mythical hero’s name is missing from the title?
    • Hercules—Hercules and the Wagoner. A Wagoner, stuck in the mud, prayed to Hercules for help. Hercules appeared and advised the Wagoner to help himself by pushing the wagon. Aesop’s Fables, initially aimed at adults, have been adapted for children and reinterpreted over time. The fables, covering religious, social and political themes, have been adapted into various media, reinforcing their ethical dimension and enduring popularity.

H is for…

A few questions where all the answers begin with ‘H’. As you know the starting letter, there are no multiple-choice options.

Flag of Liechtenstein.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Added to the Liechtenstein flag in 1937 the prince’s crown distinguishes it from what other national flag?
  2. In Japanese literature what is an unrhymed poetic form consisting of 17 syllables arranged in three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables respectively?
  3. The original line-up of what band included the brothers Shaun and Paul Ryder?
  4. In The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy Galactic President Zaphod Beeblebrox steals a prototype spacecraft. What was it named?
  5. ___ and the Wagoner is one of Aesop’s Fables. What mythical hero’s name is missing from the title?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

A is for… | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

The Admiral Benbow in Penzance, reportedly an inspiration for Stevenson’s Inn.
Image Wikipedia
  1. An inn featuring in the first chapter of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is the…
    • Admiral Benbow—The narrator recounts the arrival of a mysterious seaman, the Captain, at the Admiral Benbow inn. The Captain, a silent and brooding figure, pays for a long stay and requests the narrator to keep watch for a one-legged seafarer. The narrator, haunted by dreams of this ominous figure, becomes entangled in the Captain’s web of secrecy and fear.
      The view of destroyed interior of briefing room in Hitler’s headquatter Wolfsschanze near Rastenburg (Ketrzyn) in East Prussia.
      (from left to right Heinz Linge, Martin Bormann, Julius Schaub, Hermann Göring, Bruno Loerzer, unknown.)
      Image Wikipedia
  2. In the film Valkyrie (2008) who do the German army officers plot to assassinate?
    • Adolf Hitler—During World War II, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise), disillusioned with Nazi Germany, joins the German Resistance. He proposes using Operation Valkyrie to seize power after assassinating Hitler, but the plan fails when Hitler survives the bomb attack. The plotters are arrested, and Stauffenberg, along with other leaders, is executed.
      Alain Prost, 1990, US Grand Prix, Phoenix.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. Who is missing from this chronological list of motor racing’s Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champions from the 1990s: Ayrton Senna, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, …, Michael Schumacher, Michael Schumacher?
    • Alain Prost—nicknamed “the Professor”, is a French former racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1980 to 1993. He won four Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles and held records for most wins, fastest laps and podium finishes at the time of his retirement. After retiring from Formula One, Prost competed in various racing series, including the FFSA GT Championship and the Andros Trophy, and was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999.
      Uluru/Ayers Rock.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. In 1873, William Gosse became the first European to visit Uluru. What did he name it?
    • Ayers Rock—Uluru, a landmark in the Northern Territory, is known as Uluṟu by the local Aṉangu people. It was named Ayers Rock in 1873 after Sir Henry Ayers, but officially became Uluru/Ayers Rock in 1993 and Uluru/Ayers Rock in 2002.
      Theseus slaying the Minotaur by Bayre.
      Image Wikipedia
  5. In Greek myth, which daughter of King Minos helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth?
    • Ariadne—Ariadne, a Cretan princess, helped Theseus escape the Minotaur but was abandoned on Naxos. There, Dionysus fell in love with her, married her, and created the Corona Borealis constellation.

A is for…

Robert Louis Stevenson.
Image Wikipedia

A few questions where all the answers begin with ‘A’. As you know the starting letter there are no multiple-choice options.

  1. An inn featuring in the first chapter of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is the…
  2. In the film Valkyrie (2008) who do the German army officers plot to assassinate?
  3. Who is missing from this chronological list of motor racing’s Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champions from the 1990s: Ayrton Senna, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, …, Michael Schumacher, Michael Schumacher?
  4. In 1873, William Gosse became the first European to visit Uluru. What did he name it?
  5. In Greek myth, which daughter of King Minos helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Day 111 | Answers

The answers to the questions posed earlier are in bold below.

Lupa Capitolina: she-wolf with Romulus and Remus.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Where was traditionally founded on 21 April 753 BCE?
    • Rome—Archaeological evidence indicates that Rome originated from hilltop villages during the Bronze or Iron Age, while Roman myth attributes its founding to Romulus in 753 BC, who, with his twin, Remus, was raised by a she-wolf. Roman historians connected Rome to Troy through a fictional lineage of kings, culminating in Romulus and Remus, who established Rome after a fratricidal conflict. This narrative, a typical Mediterranean folktale, was adapted to account for Rome’s beginnings and tradition holds that April 21st marked the day Romulus began building Rome, making it the city’s dies natalis—birthday.
      John W. Young on the Moon during Apollo 16 mission jumping about 42 Centimeters high. Charles M. Duke Jr. took this picture. The LM Orion is on the left. April 21, 1972.
      Image NASA/Wikipedia
  2. The Lunar Lander Orion landed on the Moon’s surface today in 1972. This, the tenth crewed US Apollo mission, was which of these?
    • Apollo 16—the tenth crewed US Apollo mission, landed in the Descartes Highlands on the Moon. The crew, Commander John Young, Lunar Module Pilot Charles Duke and Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly. Young and Duke spent 71 hours on the lunar surface, collecting samples and conducting moonwalks.
      Andrea McArdle, Reid Shelton and Sandy, 1977.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. The original Broadway production of Annie opened on this day in 1977. What is the musical based on?
    • Comic strip—is a musical based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It premiered on Broadway in 1977, winning seven Tony Awards and spawning numerous productions worldwide.
      Brasilia. Image Wikipedia
  4. What planned capital city, designed by a team including Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, was inaugurated today in 1960?
    • Brasilia, Brazil—Brasília, Brazil’s federal capital, was founded in 1960 and is known for its modernist architecture and unique urban planning. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
      The Surgeon’s Photo
      Image Wikipedia
  5. The Surgeon’s Photograph, published in the in the UK’s Daily Mail on 21 April 1934, is the most famous photo allegedly showing the…
    • Loch Ness monster—The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is a mythical creature said to inhabit Loch Ness in Scotland. Sightings of a large, long-necked creature have been reported since the 6th century, with the most famous account from 1933. Despite numerous alleged sightings and disputed evidence, the scientific community explains these as hoaxes, misidentifications, or wishful thinking.

Day 111

The post title Day 111: 21 April is the 111th day of 2025.

Day 111

See #2. Lunar Module.
Image Wikipedia

All of these are questions based on today’s date, 21 April.

  1. Commemorated annually on the 21 April by the festival of the Parilia, where was traditionally founded on this day in 753 BCE?
    • Athens
    • Paris
    • Rome
  2. The Lunar Lander Orion landed on the Moon’s surface today in 1972. This, the tenth crewed US Apollo mission, was which of these?
    • Apollo 14
    • Apollo 15
    • Apollo 16
  3. The original Broadway production of Annie opened on this day in 1977. What is the musical based on?
    • Comic strip
    • Novel
    • German folk tale
  4. What planned capital city, designed by a team including Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, was inaugurated today in 1960?
    • Abuja, Nigeria
    • Brasilia, Brazil
    • Canberra, Australia
  5. The Surgeon’s Photograph, published in the UK’s Daily Mail on 21 April 1934, is the most famous photo allegedly showing the…
    • Bigfoot
    • Loch Ness monster
    • Yeti

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.