History quiz

[Avicenna]

Bully ~:(

Which pope first thought up the whole idea of the crusade?

[Aenlic]

Bully ~:(

Sorry, didn't mean to come across that way. Chalk it up to having pieces of burning ex-firework fluttering down on your roof at 1:30 in the morning. :embarassed:


Which pope first thought up the whole idea of the crusade?

I'm guessing it was probably someone before Urban II, who actually started the First Crusade; but the idea seems likely to have been somewhat older.

[naut]

Well it was sparked after the destruction of the pilgramige hospice in Jerusalem by the Fatimid Kaliph al-somethingorother. Um then IIRC, Pope Alexander II gave blessing to Christians fighting against the Moors and gave them the Papal standard to use in battle. Pope Urban II intialised the crusades, but was it not the Pope before, ...(damn got shift through some books) Pope Gregory VII?

Wait no it was Pope Urban II, he preached it at the Council of Clermont in November 1095?

Although technically the Reconquista of Spain was technically a Crusade as Pope Alexander II approved of it as a holy war 1063.

[matteus the inbred]

If I remember my Riley-Smith correctly (unlikely) Gregory VII ought to be the right answer. But if it is, Rhythmic got there first anyway...!

[naut]

Well after some shifting,

Was it Gregory VII? Or it was his successor Pope Victor III. Pope Victor III anounnced a sort of "Crusade" against the Saracens/Muslims of North Africa.

All-in-all a very tricky question.

Gregory VII, reformed the church in an attempt to strengthen the realitively weak Papacy, which included sending aid to the Byzantines. So I'll stick to what I said in my first post Gregory VII.

[Avicenna]

You got it Rythmic. Gregory VII it is.

[Csargo]

Come on Rhythmic next question

[Csargo]

I think its safe to say Rhythmic isn't going to post another question so I guess someone else can.

[Pannonian]

A slightly cryptic one. There are 2 parts to the answer. I want both.

A deflective flier now stages sports.

[Csargo]

Nope no idea.

[Pannonian]

It's an ace person and an ace location.

[Csargo]

Nope still got nothing

[matteus the inbred]

Must be Roland Garros!

[Pannonian]

A slightly cryptic one. There are 2 parts to the answer. I want both.

A deflective flier now stages sports.

It's an ace person and an ace location.

Must be Roland Garros!
Correct.

Roland Garros was a pre-WW1 aviator who joined the fledgling air force on the outbreak of war. The 2 sides tried to compete for air superiority and hence a monopoly on aerial photography by fielding specialised fighter aircraft, first with a crewman firing a machine gun while the pilot flew, later with the pilot operating both a swivelling machine gun and flying the machine.

Garros found the 2 differing tasks cumbersome, so he set his machine gun directly in front of him, and fitted metal deflectors on the props so any bullets connecting with the propellor would fly off harmlessly instead of cleaving through. This allowed him to fly and fight as one integrated task, and made him known as the first WW1 fighter ace. After being shot down and escaping to return to combat, he was killed in 1918.

In memory of their WW1 hero, the French named their new tennis stadium after Roland Garros.

Your turn matteus.

[matteus the inbred]

Which king and which battle is this chronicle passage describing?

'...he manly, vigorously, and valiantly assailed them, in the midst and strongest of their battle, where he, with great violence, beat and bore down afore him all that stood in his way, and, then, turned to the range, first on the one hand, and than on the other hand, in length, and so beat and bore them down, so that nothing might stand in the sight of him and the well assured fellowship that attended truely upon him...'

Clue: it was fought in thick fog, which helped and hindered each side alternately. For bonus points give the chronicle quoted as well.

[Aenlic]

That would be Edward IV at the Battle of Barnet.

From the chronicle Historie of the Arrivall of Edward IV, in England and the Finall Recouerye of His Kingdomes from Henry VI. A.D. M.CCCC.LXXI


"...he mannly, vigorowsly, and valliantly assayled them, in the mydst and strongest of theyr battaile, where he, with great violence, bett and bare down afore hym all that stode in hys way, and, than, turned to the range, first on that one hand, and than on that othar hand, in lengthe, and so bet and bare them downe, so that nothing myght stande in the syght of hym and the welle asswred felowshipe that attendyd trewly upon hym..."

That took a little digging! Nice question! :thumbsup:

[matteus the inbred]

Very good Aenlic! I modernised the language, glad to see you didn't, I loved reading all the 'olde' language when I was doing the degree research...

Next question please! :2thumbsup:

[Aenlic]

Ok, hmm...

How about something along the same lines as the previous question.


According to one chronicle, someone carried a cross on his shoulders for three days and three nights during a battle.

Name the battle, the person named as carrying this cross in the battle, and for extra credit name the chronicle.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

King Arthur, Battle of Badon in the Annales Cambriae. heres a link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annales_Cambriae

[Aenlic]

King Arthur, Battle of Badon in the Annales Cambriae. heres a link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annales_Cambriae

Very nice!

I read an interesting scholarly article a while back which suggested that the reference to carrying a cross on the shoulder for 3 days and 3 nights actually meant carrying a shield painted with a cross. Interesting interpretation.

The early years of the annals are probably legendary and not exactly literal; but the later years are interesting for their historical tidbits later on. One date which always fascinated me was the entry for the year 126 (c. 573 CE) and the note that "Merlin went mad."

Well done, Hannibal99! Your question, sir.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

OK this may be aeasy cause i just woke up and thought it.

OK This ancient greek literature was different from other greek writing because for the one of the first times, the gods did not affect the outcome.

I want to know the author and the book

[Pannonian]

OK this may be aeasy cause i just woke up and thought it.

OK This ancient greek literature was different from other greek writing because for the one of the first times, the gods did not affect the outcome.

I want to know the author and the book
Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

yep thats right

[Pannonian]

I was a girl prodigy who warned my father against foreigners. Later in life, I told people to remove the wax, and my husband met a famous end in subsequent events. Who am I? Who was my husband?

[Aenlic]

Well, I would guess Cassandra. But I might be wrong, because I'm pretty sure that Cassandra had no husband in any of the tales, even in later ones she appeared in like Troilus and Cressida. She was brought back by Agamemnon as his concubine, though, after the Trojan war.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

Im taking a wild guess here: helen

helens husband was paris (hector? i havent read the illiad in a while)

[Pannonian]

Both the subject and her husband were archetypes of their people. They're both historical figures.

[Aenlic]

You lost me there, Pannonian. An archetype and historical? Aren't the two mutually exclusive? One is an ideal, the other is an actuality. I think maybe I'm misunderstanding you.

[Pannonian]

You lost me there, Pannonian. An archetype and historical? Aren't the two mutually exclusive? One is an ideal, the other is an actuality. I think maybe I'm misunderstanding you.
The woman was as a woman of their people should be. The man was as a man of their people should be. The man was lionised at birth and after death. There won't be many people in the History forum who won't have heard of him.

[Aenlic]

OK, well. I'm still stumped; but I understand your usage of the words. I was misunderstanding you. My fault, not yours. :smile:

This is going to be a fun! I like the tough ones.

[Avicenna]

Gorgo and Leonidas

Leonidas' famous end and symbolisation of Spartan values led me to the answer ~:)

[Pannonian]

I was a girl prodigy who warned my father against foreigners. Later in life, I told people to remove the wax, and my husband met a famous end in subsequent events. Who am I? Who was my husband?
Gorgo and Leonidas

Leonidas' famous end and symbolisation of Spartan values led me to the answer ~:)
Gorgo was the daughter of King Cleomenes of Sparta, who allowed her to attend public affairs while still very young. She was only 8 or 9 when Aristagoras attempted to gain Spartan aid in a war by trying to bribe Cleomenes. Gorgo warned her father to leave, lest the foreigner should corrupt him.

Years later, the Spartans received a blank wax tablet which befuddled them with its lack of point. Gorgo suggested that they should scrape off the wax and the message would be found underneath. It was a message from their exiled King, Cleomenes' rival Demaratus, warning of an impending invasion by the Persian King Xerxes.

A combined Greek council decided to fight a delaying action at the chokepoint at Thermopylae, to allow time for full mobilisation of Greek forces. Sparta sent a contingent of 300 under one of their Kings, Gorgo's husband Leonidas.

Gorgo appears a number of times in Herodotus and Plutarch as the archetypal Spartan woman.



http://us.geocities.com/philolakone/spwomen.html

Plutarch also included her in his section of the sayings of Spartan women. Here they are:
'When asked by a woman from Attica, 'Why are you Spartan women the only ones who can rule men?, she said: 'Because we are also the only ones who give birth to men.'
'On her husband Leonidas' departure for Thermopylae, while urging him to show himself worthy of Sparta, she asked what she should do. He said: 'Marry a good man and bear good children.'

Your turn Tiberius.

[Avicenna]

I found it on that website as well ~;p

Question time...

I threatened to destroy a world heritage site, and I ended the life of one who has condemned mine to prison.
Not using that'n anymore, hardly counts as history. The guy's still alive. You can do it if you want.

Instead:
What peoples made the first flamethrower, and when?

[Pannonian]

I found it on that website as well ~;p

Question time...

I threatened to destroy a world heritage site, and I ended the life of one who has condemned mine to prison.
Not using that'n anymore, hardly counts as history. The guy's still alive. You can do it if you want.

Who is it?



Instead:
What peoples made the first flamethrower, and when?
Chinese, around the end of the 1st millenium AD? According to a BBC programme anyway.

[matteus the inbred]

Greek fire was invented around 673AD and pumped from ships using siphons, so presumably that counts as a flamethrower...

Anyway, I thought this was funny:
'Private ownership of flamethrowers is not restricted in the United States by the federal law, but it is restricted in some states...'

Beats a burglar alarm anyday.

[Conqueror]

Just be careful not to burn your house! :sweatdrop:

[Avicenna]

Don't think so, Pannonian.

matteus: earlier.

[Sarmatian]

The basic idea of a flamethrower is to spread fire by launching burning fuel. The earliest flamethrowers, dating roughly from the 5th century B.C., were long tubes filled with burning solid material (such as sulfur or coal). These weapons worked in the same way as a blow-gun -- warriors just blew into one end of the tube, propelling the burning matter toward their enemies.

[Perplexed]

Was it not the Boeotians of central Greece? I'm not certain of the time-period (probably after 600 BC).

EDIT: Missed an "o" in Boeotians.

[Avicenna]

I'd like the full answer please gents. ~;)

Sarmatian: peoples please?
Perplexed: a date please?

[Perplexed]

Okay, found some information.

The device I mentioned was used by the Thebans to burn down wooden sections of the Athenian defenses during the siege of Delium in 424 BC. The engine itself was composed of a tube (a hollow beam of wood lined inside with iron), with a bellows at one end and a suspended cauldron of hot burning sulphur and pitch at the other. The bellows would propel air through the tube which stirred up the fire burning in the cauldron, projecting it out onto the wooden defenses. The device was mounted on a set of cart-wheels which allowed it to be brought up close to the wall while soldiers gave the crew that kept the fire going and worked the bellows covering fire.

[Avicenna]

Good work.

On to you, perplexed.

To anyone who's interested, it was the Boeotians

[Perplexed]

Okay, now I need to think of a question of my own... ~:handball:

[Perplexed]

Question: (An easy one because I've been isolated from all of my books)

What powerful Asian kingdom (which collapsed in the 6th century BC) is credited with minting the first known gold coinage, and who was its monarch at the time of the collapse?

[Avicenna]

Croesus was the last king of Lydia until 546 BC.

[Perplexed]

Right, I told you it would be easy. Back to you.

EDIT: I just noticed that the answer to my question was within the first two sentences of the Wikipedia entry for "gold coinage". That's rather... unfortunate. :inquisitive:

[Avicenna]

Okay.. um.

Which person massacred 80,000 civilian enemies in one day, and also was a biological+chemical weapons enthusiast? So much so that he was scared of tasting his own medicine, and so chemistry failed him in his late life.

[Pannonian]

Mithridates VI?

[Avicenna]

Bingo.

He massacred 80,000 Italian citizens in one day after taking Rome's Asia province, and used many weapons which were seen as not honourable, such as maltha, a very viscous form of naptha, and barbed poison arrows. In his late life, he tried suicide by poisoning after defeat at the hands of Pompeius Magnus, but failed because of his regular dose of Antidotum Mithridatum, which made him immune to his own poison. He had a servant to kill him because of this.

[Pannonian]

One for afficionados in Commonwealth military history. It still exists today, slightly changed (reflected in the question). It also concerns one of the most famous objects in the world, which was the reason for the change.


Three men came from this path of trees, only one came back.
Three men came from this path of courage, only one came back.


What is this? Where is this? Why the change? Who were they?

[Pannonian]

Next clues, since no-one's had a go.

It's in Canada. The common link is something common to the Commonwealth, though steadily less so as the years pass. The Canadian link ended last year, and has not been renewed.

[matteus the inbred]

A Canadian acquaintance of mine has suggested it might have something to do with the unification of the Canadian military into one chain of command (formerly three) and the dropping of the 'Royal' from the title of the Canadian armed forces. Doesn't feel quite right though...
This one's keeping me researching all over the place, great question!

[Pannonian]

This is supposed to be one of the best known stories in Canadian military history.

[matteus the inbred]

I think I've got it...the famous object is the Victoria Cross, the path of trees is Pine Street in Winnipeg, and was famous because three WW1 Victoria Cross holders all lived there (Frederick William Hall, Leo Clarke, and Robert Shankland). The street was thus renamed Valour Road in honour of that. Of the three VC holders, only Robert Shankland survived the war.
They were awarded the British VC; Canada now awards its own Canadian VC, with the motto 'For Valour' changed to the Latin 'Pro Valore' to reflect the fact that this is a different award. As of 2006 no one has yet been awarded the Canadian VC.

Correct?

[Pannonian]

I think I've got it...the famous object is the Victoria Cross, the path of trees is Pine Street in Winnipeg, and was famous because three WW1 Victoria Cross holders all lived there (Frederick William Hall, Leo Clarke, and Robert Shankland). The street was thus renamed Valour Road in honour of that. Of the three VC holders, only Robert Shankland survived the war.
They were awarded the British VC; Canada now awards its own Canadian VC, with the motto 'For Valour' changed to the Latin 'Pro Valore' to reflect the fact that this is a different award. As of 2006 no one has yet been awarded the Canadian VC.

Correct?
I am speechless...brilliant!!!

The path of trees and the path of courage is the same thing, Pine Street renamed Valour Road after WW1 (the subject of the question, the change and the reason as you gave). The famous object, the common link which is common to the Commonwealth is indeed the VC. The common link grows steadily less so as VC holders pass on. The last Canadian to win the VC died in 2005. As of now there are no surviving Canadian holders of the VC, and just over a dozen of all nationalities combined.

http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10192

I would like to know how you arrived at the answer, but your turn anyway.

[matteus the inbred]

Oh good, I'd hate to think all that frantic Googling and Wiki'ing was for nothing!
How I got there was basically <dons Sherlock Holmes type hat>...Canadian military, likely to be WW1/2 (although I set off after a Boer War red herring at first), heroic action of some kind... :idea2: Victoria Cross is famous! Then I had to search the 90 Canadian VC winners one by one, and got to Clarke's entry first, which gave it away, although I had to read it several times before Pine Street/Valour Road twigged...! The rest was filled in after. Awesome question Pannonian.

I must now ask for patience from you quiz-lovers, as I want to come up with a really good sneaky question but I have to leave the office in about 5 mins! Check back early tomorrow morning folks...

[matteus the inbred]

Ok, since riddles seem to be in fashion…

I was chosen to serve the first, in Spain and Germany and Pannonian’s land.
Afterwards I went to Britain, under the sign of a pig.
My value was great, recognised when I defeated the warrior queen.
I built a wall or two, and served with the farmer.
Many of my names can be found on stone.

Who am I?

[Sarmatian]

Hadrian?

[matteus the inbred]

nope, sorry.
etymological clue in the first line.

[Pannonian]

Ok, since riddles seem to be in fashion…

I was chosen to serve the first, in Spain and Germany and Pannonian’s land.
Afterwards I went to Britain, under the sign of a pig.
My value was great, recognised when I defeated the warrior queen.
I built a wall or two, and served with the farmer.
Many of my names can be found on stone.

Who am I?
Sounds like the IX legion, which was originally levied by Julius Caesar for his Gallic campaigns, and which subsequently served in Germany, Spain, Pannonia and Britain. There are conflicting reports about its emblem, with wiki saying it was unknown but probably a bull as with Julius Caesar's othe legions, and other sources saying it was a boar. The Hispana was mauled by Boudicca under Cerialis (farmer?), but may have taken part in Paulinus' subsequent campaigns. The Hispana built a number of forts in the north of Britain.

PS. If the answer is right, and certain details are slightly off or unexplained, could the questioner fill in the details? My main interest in these quizzes is the stuff I learn from others, and I've tried to do that as best I can with my own questions.

[matteus the inbred]

You're soooo close, Pannonian, but wrong legion! nearly all the details correct though.

[Pannonian]

XX Valeria Victrix, which definitely took part at Watling Street and whose emblem definitely was a boar? It served in Germany, Spain, Illyricum and Britain, where they stayed until the 4th century AD. It helped build Hadrian's and the Antonine walls.

Please explain anything I've left out.

[matteus the inbred]

bullseye, well done.
I was chosen to serve the first, (raised by Augustus, the first emperor, in c.30-31BC, my sources differ slightly, bit of a fooler as Augustus wasn't emperor until 27BC)
in Spain and Germany and Pannonian’s land (obvious, obvious, Illyria)
Afterwards I went to Britain, under the sign of a pig. (their symbol was thought to have been a boar, Caesar's legions usually had a bull)
My value was great (one possible meaning of valeria victrix is valiant and victorious, but another relates to military value), recognised when I defeated the warrior queen (Boudicca)
I built a wall or two (Hadrian's and the Antonine) and served with the farmer (Gnaeus Julius Agricola, whose last name means precisely that in Latin
Many of my names can be found on stone (over 250 inscriptions relating to members of this legion have been found)

The etymological clue is 'chosen'; the word legion comes from legio, a collection, selection or choosing.

Right over to you for more 'Gollum and Bilbo' stylee riddling action...

[Pannonian]

bullseye, well done.

Right over to you for more 'Gollum and Bilbo' stylee riddling action...
A minister who oversaw the end of an empire, a general, an editor, a poet. I declined the title of King during my lifetime, but was deemed the first of my dynasty after my death. A famous novel was written about my conflicts, and the fruit of my editorial work is popular even today.

Who am I? What is the name of the novel written about me? What book did I edit?

PS. I warred against sworn brothers, one of whom served me for a while.

[snevets]

I've gone for a couple ideas, one was odacer, another was to think about the popes because of the title 'minister', but I'm going with Augustus, a general, declined the title of king because it killed Caesar, taking augustus instead, few realizing the power would be hereditary so it wasn't the julian dynasty until after his death, warred against the other members of the triumvirate, lepidus served him as pontifex maximus until his death, the novel was Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, the book he edited was that of roman law.

[Pannonian]

I've gone for a couple ideas, one was odacer, another was to think about the popes because of the title 'minister', but I'm going with Augustus, a general, declined the title of king because it killed Caesar, taking augustus instead, few realizing the power would be hereditary so it wasn't the julian dynasty until after his death, warred against the other members of the triumvirate, lepidus served him as pontifex maximus until his death, the novel was Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, the book he edited was that of roman law.
Julius Caesar was a play, not a novel. Also, the book that this man edited and added his commentary to is appreciated by more modern readers than the book of Roman law. Who knows, perhaps you might even have a copy. I'm willing to bet that you'll have seen quotations from it.

Aside from his literary side, his military threat was such that a grand alliance was formed against him by a legendary strategist, in which three oath brothers played a part.

[Pannonian]

Try looking further afield than Europe.

[edyzmedieval]

Dyonisios I of Syracuze? :book:

[Pannonian]

Dyonisios I of Syracuze? :book:
The subject isn't European.

[Conqueror]

A minister who oversaw the end of an empire, a general, an editor, a poet. I declined the title of King during my lifetime, but was deemed the first of my dynasty after my death. A famous novel was written about my conflicts, and the fruit of my editorial work is popular even today.

Who am I? What is the name of the novel written about me? What book did I edit?

PS. I warred against sworn brothers, one of whom served me for a while.


Cao Cao. He was prime minister during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Although he was the man who actually ruled the kingdom of Wei, he never dethroned the weak puppet emperor to usurp the throne. After his death his son did just that, and posthumously declared his father the first emperor of the new dynasty. The famous novel is of corse San Guo Yan Yi ("Romance of Three Kingdoms") by Luo Guanzhong and other authors. Cao Cao wrote his own version of the Art of War (not sure about this, my memory is a bit hazy here). He warred against the "three brothers", Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, of whom Liu Bei became the ruler of the kingdom of Shu. Liu Bei at one time served Cao Cao.

[Pannonian]

A minister who oversaw the end of an empire, a general, an editor, a poet. I declined the title of King during my lifetime, but was deemed the first of my dynasty after my death. A famous novel was written about my conflicts, and the fruit of my editorial work is popular even today.

Who am I? What is the name of the novel written about me? What book did I edit?

PS. I warred against sworn brothers, one of whom served me for a while.

Aside from his literary side, his military threat was such that a grand alliance was formed against him by a legendary strategist, in which three oath brothers played a part.

Cao Cao. He was prime minister during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Although he was the man who actually ruled the kingdom of Wei, he never dethroned the weak puppet emperor to usurp the throne. After his death his son did just that, and posthumously declared his father the first emperor of the new dynasty. The famous novel is of corse San Guo Yan Yi ("Romance of Three Kingdoms") by Luo Guanzhong and other authors. Cao Cao wrote his own version of the Art of War (not sure about this, my memory is a bit hazy here). He warred against the "three brothers", Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, of whom Liu Bei became the ruler of the kingdom of Shu. Liu Bei at one time served Cao Cao.
Correct answer. Details as above, except that it was Guan Yu who served Cao Cao when Liu Bei missing. Guan Yu agreed to serve his enemy who had spared him, until he found out where Liu Bei was, upon which he escaped. Cao Cao was the last Prime Minister of the Han dynasty, and unsuccessfully tried to hold the empire together agianst the alliance formed by Zhuge Liang.

Cao Cao took extant, corrupted copies of Sunzi's (Sun Tzu) Art of War, and collated what he deemed was probably the original version, the Thirteen Chapters we have today. He added his commentary alongside the original text, and the format has been followed ever since.

Your turn.

[Conqueror]

Hah, that's my memory. It was Guan Yu indeed. I recommend anyone interested to read the novel (you can find it online), it's not historically accurate nor even believable (ghosts and magic stuff) but it is still a wonderful story of one of the most interesting times of Chinese history.

As for my turn, I can't think of any good quiz so I'll take the lazy way out and hand my turn to the first poster to reply.

[ajaxfetish]

Well, with it wide open like that, I'll go ahead and offer one.

In the movie A Knight's Tale, several episodes are lifted from historic events (the name Ulrich von Liechtenstein, the knight losing to prove his love to his lady, etc.). What real knight probably inspired the scene where William unwittingly follows a beautiful woman into a church while on horseback?

Ajax

[Avicenna]

ajax: it's Conqueror's turn.

[Csargo]

As for my turn, I can't think of any good quiz so I'll take the lazy way out and hand my turn to the first poster to reply.

He gave it to the first person to post.

[Conqueror]

That I did :bow: ajax's post is fine.

[Avicenna]

Ah, right.

[Csargo]

I don't think anyones going to answer. I don't have any idea.

[ajaxfetish]

Guess I'd better give a hint, then.

Although wild in his early years, the knight in question later changed course and became a missionary, eventually dying in that capacity in north Africa.

Ajax

[snevets]

All of Shakespeare's plays are much more novels written in the style of plays than true plays but oh well it doesn't matter since I'm wrong anyway.

[Avicenna]

It's past 2 hours, so whoever wants to post a new question can.


If it takes longer then, lets say two hours, before a new question is asked by a person answering the previous question, then the first person noticing this can ask a new question.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

ok well i will.


This greek king's rule was described by this:

"he was neither ruthless enough to be feared, nor compassionate enough to be loved, nor competent enough to be respected"

Which greek king is it?

[Homo Sapiens]

King Otto

[danfda]

Keep this up...its a great read!

And I have no idea.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

Correct Homo Sapiens,

Your turn

[Homo Sapiens]

Hmm, ok then...

What person is this verse refering to?

"Oh! What an honor for the feminine sex!
It is obvious that God loves it
That all those vile people,
Who had laid the whole kingdom to waste-
Something more than five thousand men could not have done-
And those traitors purged forever!"

For bonus marks, who is the author of this verse?

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

im stumped Homo Sapiens, any clues?

[Kalle]

Sapiens, the time has come to give an answer to your question, no one knows or can find it out it seems. At the same time post another question if you wish.

Kalle

[Andres]

A wild guess: does it concern the liberation of Orléans by Joan of Arc?

[Homo Sapiens]

Sorry guys, for the past five days I was far too busy to even touch a computer. Andres, you are right; the quote was indeed refering to Joan of Arc after the liberation. Unfortunately, I can't remember the author: the library book I got the quote from has been returned! Can anybody help me out here?

[Andres]

May I ask one now?

Guess this is an easy one:

"O tempora, O mores!"

Who said it and on what occasion?

[Conradus]

Cicero in his "speech" against Catilina?

[L'Impresario]

Sorry guys, for the past five days I was far too busy to even touch a computer. Andres, you are right; the quote was indeed refering to Joan of Arc after the liberation. Unfortunately, I can't remember the author: the library book I got the quote from has been returned! Can anybody help me out here?

Yes, it's "Le Diti&#233; de Jeanne d'Arc (http://www.smu.edu/ijas/cdepisan/index.html)" by Christine de Pizan, a work of unique significance in the history of literature, drawing attention to the neglected role of women as artists in the Middle Ages.

[Andres]

Cicero in his "speech" against Catilina?

:2thumbsup:

[Conradus]

Since I'm short on inspiration: what's the name of a famous writer/admiral who died while he was trying to save the citizens of a city that was completly destroyed in the first century AD.

[Andres]

City: Pompeïi, admiral/writer: Plinius ?

[Conradus]

It's at Pompeiï, but you'll have to specify what Plinius ;)
Anyway you may ask the question I'm sure you'll answer it correctly

[Andres]

Hm, in Dutch it's "Plinius de Jongere".

Plinius the younger one (bad translation, I know)

[Conradus]

De oudere is er gestorven, de Jongere heeft het beschreven Andres ;)

Still your turn, but it was Pliny the Elder who died at Pompei&#239;

[Andres]

In "Das Niebelungenlied" you have a character that's called "Etzel" (sometimes written "Atzel").

This character was based on a famous nomadic leader. What was his nickname?

[Subedei]

Atilla, the Hun???? "The wrath of god"???

[Andres]

Scourge of God.

But good enough. :2thumbsup:

Your turn.

[Subedei]

Scourge of God.

But good enough. :2thumbsup:

Your turn.

Oh, cool....
Sorry I am a German native....so that&#180;s what he&#180;s called in English.

O.k., here&#180;s one of my favourite charakters in history:

- was chief judge of the Maldives
- travelled about 73.000 miles within 29 yrs.
- lived in the 14th century....

[Antagonist]

Ibn Battuta. Marco Polo's expedition is small fries compared to his travels.

Antagonist

[Subedei]

Ibn Battuta. Marco Polo's expedition is small fries compared to his travels.

Antagonist

You sure are "double-right" there..."The Advetures of Ib Battuta" is a great read...Your turn Antagonist....

[Antagonist]

"The Advetures of Ib Battuta" is a great read...

Never got round to reading that actually. I imagine it is. :book:

Anyway, much as I'd like to have spent the time researching a fiendishly difficult question, I'm afraid I've been away for the last day or so and I'll have to resort once again to recent reading:

What is considered the earliest naval engagement in recorded history?

Antagonist

[Conradus]

The battle between the Egyptian fleet and the invading "Seapeople" ?(don't know the exact translation it's Zeevolkeren in Dutch, though I doubt they're called that in any decent history book)
(Ramses III 1180 BC)

[Antagonist]

Close, and possibly correct, but the answer I was given is (slightly) earlier, though in the same general part of the world. To clarify, this could end up being pretty obscure, the exact location of this action is not recorded and thus it doesn't have a name, but an approximate date and the peoples involved should be available, possibly at least one of the leaders as well.

Antagonist

[edyzmedieval]

I found this in a Romanian history book:

1210 BC: King Suppiluliuma II, king of the Hittites, defeats a fleet of "cypriots" and sunk their entire fleet.

:book:

Correct?

[Antagonist]

Correct! (As far as I know) Of course, this is the first recorded naval battle, there is no way of knowing whether it really was the first ever military engagement on water. Such are the vagaries of history. ~:handball:

Anyway, well done. :2thumbsup:

Antagonist

[Conradus]

Ah damn, I thought I'd read it somewhere that Ramses III was the first one too win a naval battle, well edyzmedieval go ahead and ask one good question :)

[edyzmedieval]

It's gonna take a full year for me to think of a question, so I'll leave it to the first guy who posts a question. ~:)

I like answering. :book:

[Rex_Pelasgorum]

What was the name of the thracian tribe who inhabited in ancient times, the Limnos Island ? (mentioned by Homer, Strabon, etc...) :juggle2:

[Conradus]

The Sintians -robbers- ?

[Incongruous]

The Sinties?
They nursed Hephaestus back to health after he was hurled to earth by his farther Zeus.

[Tamur]

Err... this is a guess, but the Kabeiroi? I only guess this because I know they were associated with Thrace & Haephaestus. However, I don't remember them being linked with Lemnos, but rather with Samothrace.

[Csargo]

Hello is someone gonna say if the answer is right?

[Tamur]

Good question about the, err, question. I am assuming that no one will, but since this is the first time I've joined in, I have no idea what you all do in that case!

[Csargo]

Will someone else ask a question then?

[Avicenna]

After the Romans and Byzantines, which line is considered the most legitimate imperial ruling line?

[King Henry V]

I believe Otto von Habsburg is the heir to a few dozen extinct titles, such as King of Jerusalem or Emperor of Constantinople.

[Conradus]

What do you mean with Imperial? If you're referring to the old empires of rome and byzantium, then Henry V'll have given the correct answer. But if you mean Imperial line as to leaders of an empire, the Royal House of Japan has also Imperial claims, or the tsars of russia,...

Actually I just don't understand the question :oops: :help:

[Lord Winter]

If your talking about the roman empire the Russian emperors claimed that they were the third Rome.

[Incongruous]

Was it The Carolingian Dynasty? Thus I suppose the line of HRE's, so the Hapsburgs?
Yes my guess is the House of Hapsburg.

[edyzmedieval]

The Hapsburg family or the Imperial Japanese family.

[King Henry V]

Well Tiberius, could we have an answer please?

[Antagonist]

Yes, please give us an answer. :book:

Antagonist

[Tamur]

Is it just me, or is this a dysfunctional thread? :horn:

[Avicenna]

Nope, nobody got it.

Sorry for the wait.. I completely forgot :embarassed:

[Conradus]

Could you give a tip/specify what you mean with your question. I'm just wondering there have been so many empires in history, rome, persia, china, japan, russia, ... all their ruling families have a legitimate claim. And you can't say there was a ruling roman line, the first six emperors were relatives, but afterwards it was just the one with the biggest army. Byzantium had some dynastic changes too.

[Randarkmaan]

After the Romans and Byzantines, which line is considered the most legitimate imperial ruling line?


Weren't the Ottomans all from the same dynasty? Though some were pretty distant family members I think... Though in general I think nearly all (if not all) came from the same family.

[Avicenna]

Hint: if the Ottomans were to fall in Turkey, who would have the most legitimate claim to fame? This line is incredibly powerful.

[Incongruous]

I'm really confused, by you're question.

[Csargo]

The Turkish or Ottomans?

[Don Corleone]

:oops: Retracted

[Silver Rusher]

Safavid Dynasty (answer to Tib's question btw)

[Avicenna]

The Genghisids.

[Incongruous]

Silly question I fear but, how on earth did that answer warrant such a question?

[Don Corleone]

Geez, I'm sorry Tiberius. That was pretty rude of me. I thought you all had finished on that question with nobody having gotten it. Since nobody did get it, I guess you get to ask another one and I'll retract mine. My apologies. :bow:

Just out of curiousity, Tiberius, what was the meaning of the question? What made the mongols more legitimate than any other imperial line than the Romans or the Byzantines? If you're using longevity to determine the legitimacy, weren't the mongols only around for 4 or 5 generations of rulers? If you're talking about size of empire, wouldn't they be more 'legitimate' than the Romans or the Byzantines?

From your original question, I thought you were going to say the Ming dynasty in China. From your hint, I thought it was going to be the Hittites or the Persians/Parthians.

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

Hint: if the Ottomans were to fall in Turkey, who would have the most legitimate claim to fame? This line is incredibly powerful.
Seljuk Turks?

[Conqueror]

The turkish Mughals of India?

[Conradus]

Tiberius' question has already been answered... by himself.
Just curious why the ghenghishids are the correct answer. And we need a new question.

[Innocentius]

Which was the last royalist fort/castle to fall in the first English civil war?

1647...

[matteus the inbred]

Wallingford Castle was the last English one to fall, in 1646...but overall, Harlech Castle fell on March 13 1647...it says here in my big book of British Battles.
So that'd be my answer.

[Innocentius]

Yup, Harlech was the castle I was asking for. The question is all yours.

[matteus the inbred]

Hells, now I have to think of a question...

...chug...

...chug...

...chug...

....whirrrrr...clunk...insufficient memory...beeeeeeeep.

Been given loads of work. :thumbsdown: :furious3:
Afraid you're gonna have to wait till tomorrow for a question, sorry!

[Avicenna]

Oh, just found it on Wikipedia somewhere. In the Genghisid article. There was a quote from a history book, and apparently they are considered the 3rd most legitimate line of ruling. Probably because of all the lands they took and held.

[matteus the inbred]

Ok, got one...which famous general's father rejoiced in the nickname 'Lighthorse Harry'?

[Conradus]

Ok, got one...which famous general's father rejoiced in the nickname 'Lighthorse Harry'?

Robert E Lee

[Motep]

darn...you beat me to it...

[matteus the inbred]

Conradus, you are correct...fire away :2thumbsup:

[Conradus]

I hope this one's easy enough for a quick answer.

On which king's funeral could you hear the following verses:


...fortissimarum gentium dominus,
qui inaudita ante se potentia solus
Scythia et Germanica regna possedit
nec non utraque Romanis orbis imperia
captis civitatibus terruit et,
ne praedae reliqua subderentur,
placatus precibus annuum vectigal accepit:
cumque haec omnia proventu felicitatis egerit,
non vulnere hostium, non fraude suorum,
sed gente incolume, inter gaudia laetus
sine sense doloris occubuit
Quis ergo exitum putet
quem nullus aestimat vindicandum?

I didn't add the first two lines because they contained his name ;)

[Motep]

Attila the Hun.

[Conradus]

Correct, your turn.

[Motep]

what was Henry the lions father in laws third son's name, and the name of this sons wife?

[Innocentius]

Just how are you supposed to know that without consulting a book (which must be considered as cheating in a Quiz)?

[Conradus]

I didn't know the answer, so I searched the net a bit and the only name i can find right now is Kuno? But if anyone knew this without looking (or the correct answer?) please speak.

[Aenlic]

what was Henry the lions father in laws third son's name, and the name of this sons wife?

I assume you mean the family of his second wife. Henry the Lion married Clementia first, but divorced her. His second wife was more famous. She was Matilda, daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. That makes Henry II the father-in-law of Henry the Lion. And Henry II's third legitimate son was Richard I the Lionhearted. Richard married Berengaria, daughter of King Sancho IV of Navarre. (And yes, I looked - so someone else can ask another question, since I cheated).

[Innocentius]

Which is the battle that the English sometimes refered to as "A second Agincourt" and when was it fought?

[Motep]

oh darn...dont know that one...

[Antagonist]

I've never specifically heard it referred to as this, but a guess: Verneuil? Only a few years after Agincourt, a combined Franco-Scottish army was decisively defeated, though I believe it was also the last English victory of the Hundred Years' War.

Antagonist

[Csargo]

Yeah I think he's right.

The Battle of Verneuil (occasionally 'Vernuil') was a battle of the Hundred Years' War, fought on 17 August 1424. It resulted in a significant English victory

Crecy and Poitiers are also somewhat similar to Agincourt but fought before.

[Innocentius]

Verneuil is correct. As Csar could come up with the date the question is his.

[Csargo]

Who were the two main generals for Germany during WW1?

[Pannonian]

Who were the two main generals for Germany during WW1?
A somewhat vague question, but I'll put forward Hindenberg and Ludendorff who first teamed up in 1914 against the Russians, then were put in charge of the western front in 1917 or 1918.

[Csargo]

A somewhat vague question, but I'll put forward Hindenberg and Ludendorff who first teamed up in 1914 against the Russians, then were put in charge of the western front in 1917 or 1918.

Right. Sorry I should have phrased that better.:wall:

[Motep]

ooh boy...we need more questions!!

[Pannonian]

Why did manna fall from heaven in WW2?

[Motep]

darn...dont know that either, although im certain that food wont fall from the sky.
It could be though that god gave them manna because of all the starving jews.

my phrasing is probably quite pathetic, but its two in morning...

[Stig]

Food was dropped in Holland simply because the population was starving in the last war-winter ... as a punishment by the Germans for stopping railway traffic during Market Garden

[Pannonian]

darn...dont know that either, although im certain that food wont fall from the sky.
How wrong you were.



Why did manna fall from heaven in WW2?

Food was dropped in Holland simply because the population was starving in the last war-winter ... as a punishment by the Germans for stopping railway traffic during Market Garden
Correct.

Operation Manna (http://users.interstroom.nl/~heijink/welkom1.html)
460 Squadron RAAF - Operations - Manna (http://users.tpg.com.au/adsls7ld/manna.html)

Stig, it's your turn.

[Stig]

Stig, it's your turn.
Oh shit



Why was operation Fall Braun never started? (sorry I couldn't think of everything else)

[Craterus]

The Battle of the Bulge came along? There could be other reasons but, IIRC, the abortion of the plan and the Battle of the Bulge were not very far apart (time-wise).

[Stig]

Nope that's not the reason as Fall Braun was planned after the Ardennes Offensive

[Motep]

the operation was absolved because the allies destroyed the Fall Braun base in 1945.They were able to do so because germany had sent their troops up to help out in germany after the battle of the bulge.

[Stig]

nope, the what you call base (bridgehead) was destroyed after Fall Braun was cancelled

[Csargo]

This is what I got. Heeresgruppe C was far too weak too weak to do anything but hold there positions.

[Stig]

I'll settle for Csars answer.
Far to many troops were removed from Students Army, because they were needed in other areas. Student just managed to keep his own para's but was far too weak to attack.
Next to that the Ardennes Offensive failed so that would mean Student had to work on his own. He couldn't do this so he changed tactics. Occupy as many Allied troops as possible. This he did till the Bridgehead at Kapelsche Veer was destroyed.

[Csargo]

I'll settle for Csars answer.
Far to many troops were removed from Students Army, because they were needed in other areas. Student just managed to keep his own para's but was far too weak to attack.
Next to that the Ardennes Offensive failed so that would mean Student had to work on his own. He couldn't do this so he changed tactics. Occupy as many Allied troops as possible. This he did till the Bridgehead at Kapelsche Veer was destroyed.

Messed my reply up a little bit didn't I:beam:

I'll find a question in a little while and post it.

[Csargo]

Alright I got one.

After the disaster at Tannenberg by the Russians. What Russian general replied "The Emperor trusted me. How can I face him after such a disaster?" Which he never did he later wandered off into the woods and shot himself.

Who was this General?

[Antagonist]

Aleksandr Samsonov, I think.

Antagonist

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

You beat me to it.

[Motep]

Curses, I knew that one!

[Csargo]

Aleksandr Samsonov, I think.

Antagonist

Right. Antagonist your question. I love WW1 stuff don't you:beam:

[Motep]

I agree, ww1 rules!

[Antagonist]

Here's a WWI related riddle-style question then, though any WWI enthusiast will probably know it:

A certain Private Henry Tandey served his country illustriously in the First World War, becoming one of the most decorated private soldiers in the British Army by the war's end. He served in many of the major engagements of the Western Front and was wounded several times, but always returned to action. In 1918 his career reached it's zenith when he was decorated several times for bravery, culminating in his receiving the Victoria Cross in September 1918. At the action for which he received this honour, he is also alleged to have exhibited a chivalrous gesture which, while humane and admirable of itself, was to have grave consequences. What was this?

Antagonist

[naut]

Thats easy.

He had the chance to kill Adolf Hitler, but let him go because he was injured.

EDIT: IIRC in August or September 1918?

EDITEDIT: Obviously September.

[Antagonist]

Indeed. 28th September, I believe.

Interesting moral dilemma, isn't it? Most people would agree that it is noble and admirable to spare the lives of enemies where possible, but you never know what impact their future lives will have...

Anyway, your turn. :book:

Antagonist

[naut]

Can't think of a good question.

Which WWI battle contained the taking of an Allied defensive position by one man.

[Craterus]

Verdun?

[Motep]

I am pretty sure that was a very costly battle...and not lost by the french.


my answer: no place was taken like that?

[Csargo]

Marne?

[Craterus]

I am pretty sure that was a very costly battle...and not lost by the french.


my answer: no place was taken like that?

He didn't say that the enemy held onto the position for a long period of time.

[naut]

Verdun?

Correct, your turn.

A virtual cookie if you can name the Fort and soldier.

[Craterus]

I don't think I could earn your virtual cookie without cheating ~;)

Fairly easy one, I think:

Who introduced the Christmas Tree to Britain?

[The Stranger]

ehm William the Conquerer :P

[matteus the inbred]

I reckon it was George the First, I always thought the whole Xmas tree thing was a German festival dating back to pagan times...

[Stig]

Santa Claus ... I rule :bounce:


I think it were the Saxons
But if you want to know who introduced the Pine tree family I think we have to say mr. Evolution

[Craterus]

Keep guessing. None of you have got it yet.

[The Stranger]

Coca Cola?... atleast they introduced Santa Clause as he looks now... but it was indeed a Germanic figure...

[Stig]

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

[Craterus]

You got it, Stig.

That's George III's wife, by the way.

[King Henry V]

I was always under the impression that it was Prince Albert.

[Craterus]

Common misconception. ~;)

[Csargo]

I was always under the impression that it was Prince Albert.

That's when they got popular with the English people. But George III is the King who introduced it. Sad I wasn't around to post it though.:wall:

[Stig]

mmmm new question:
What was the goal of Operation Berlin? (The one by the British in 1944, as there have been more afaik)

[Csargo]

It was to rescue the survivors of the failure of Operation Market Garden.

[Stig]

correct at once, well done m8

[Csargo]

What german Captian during WW1 captured and killed scores of Italian troops in the war? What battle was it?

[Stig]

Rommel in the battle of Longarone ~D

there are things I actually know

[Csargo]

That maybe correct but it's not the battle I am talking about.

[The Stranger]

he battle of izonzo?

[Csargo]

Nope

[Stig]

Caporetto then, it has to be that one, and it has to be Rommel, he made about 9000 prisoners or such

[Csargo]

You got it Stig. Your question.

[Stig]

How many people were saved during Pegagus 2?

[Csargo]

How many people were saved during Pegagus 2?

Could you be more specific to what you are talking about?

[Stig]

How many men were evacuated during Operation Pegagus II

[Csargo]

140

[Stig]

nope

[edyzmedieval]

It's called Operation PegaSus not PegaGus. :smash:

You're talking about the WWII one or the Vietnam War where they rescued the US Marines from Khe Sanh?

[Stig]

It's called Operation PegaSus not PegaGus. :smash:
*commits ritual suicide*
I must be punished ~D


I'm talking about PegaSus (that's right isn't it) II. afaik there was only one Pegasus 2, and 2 normal Pegasus

[Csargo]

I have come to the conclusion that you made this all up cause I can't figure it out. Good day sir. I SAID GOOD DAY.

[Stig]

nono, let me help you. it followed Pegasus 1, because that was an enormous success, but this one failed ... and not just failed.

[Csargo]

nono, let me help you. it followed Pegasus 1, because that was an enormous success, but this one failed ... and not just failed.

I haven't been able to find anything about it only the two Pegasus 1's the one in Vietnam and WWII. Could you give some clues cause I can't find anything about it.

[Stig]

They tried it at the 16th of November 1944
But as said it failed, they walked into a German outpost by accident and were captured

[Csargo]

I guess that would be 0 if they were captured.

[Stig]

well it's far closer then 140, I'll tell you that

[The Stranger]

so... you mean like -10? or... is he right?

[Stig]

no he isn't right

[The Stranger]

there are more than one pegasus II missions... you mean a wwII mission, which i havent found yet, or do you mean the vietnam mission, or do you mean a mission in columbia...

[The Stranger]

oke dit is wat ik heb.

Er werd 1 persoon gered, Lt. Albert Zimmerman


2-11-1944,time 11.45,crashed;Putten,Holland,P-51D,44-13630,355 FG/354 FS,1/Lt.Albert.A.Zimmerman

Bill Marshall send me a lot of info,including a photo of the P-51D,Pittsburg Smoker.

Zimmerman was escaped and helped by the Resistance.He was on Operation Pegasus II
to cross the river Rhine on the 18th of November 1944.
From this on we have no more information.
Till 1986 he was a member of the 355 FG.Assn.He was a retired L/Col of the USAF.

Iam looking for relatives about Zimmerman,eny help is welcom
Is there in the USA an adress where I can ask information about retired USAF

[Stig]

All other missions are named Pegasus, only WW2 had a Pegasus 2

and no, 1 isn't the correct answer

[The Stranger]

no man... they were named Pegasus II believe me... but that was one of the rescued? just to confirm were about the same thing here

[Stig]

Aye afaik one of the rescued was an American pilot, but he wasn't on his own to cross the Rhine

[The Stranger]

well i doubt anyone will find it... but ill make a last guess....6 persons...

[Stig]

I'll take that person you had before and say you have the correct answer.

It was 7 persons, while in Pegasus I about 200 were saved

[edyzmedieval]

Can we get a new question? :book:

[The Stranger]

ey yes sorry for my absence... ill get a new question today... let me think about a good one

you know Stig... before I choose 6 i thought about 7 because its a lucky number but i went for 6 anyway :P

[The Stranger]

King Gustav Adolf (sp?) won a battle but the price he had to pay for his victory was his life... Which battle am i talking about

[Innocentius]

Lützen, November 16, 1632. Easy when you're Swedish:clown:

Btw: Gustavus II Adolphus is his name in English.

[Conradus]

Sounds more like Latin though ;)

[The Stranger]

Innocentus... you arent allowed to play :P... anyway... its right... but you knew that... make a question ;)

[Innocentius]

Jeopardy style:

This man was the younger brother of "the Last", although he was also the last himself. They both fought the Scotorum Malleus.

Extra points for describing in which way they both were the last:juggle2:

[Antagonist]

Dafydd ap Gruffydd?

Younger brother of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd "the Last", so called because he was the last independent Prince of Wales. However after his death in battle Dafydd claimed to succeed him and kept on the fight for a few months before he two was killed. I think...

Antagonist

[Innocentius]

Correct. Your turn.

[Motep]

...make a question already!!!

[Incongruous]

I'll take that person you had before and say you have the correct answer.

It was 7 persons, while in Pegasus I about 200 were saved

Gah! What!
Can you tell me where you found out that 200 men were rescued in Pegasus I?
Because I am fairly certain it was 140.
7 people?
No one was rescued, as far as the criteria of the mission goes. Do you mean the aftermath, as in after the people they wished to rescue were either shot or captured?

just to clarify.

[Stig]

For pegasus 1 I thought about 200 people but I did that by hard, I don't know exactly.
But you're right it were 138 men or 128 as Canadian sources say.

for pegasus 2, simply read a book about it, I don't have it here, but there's a little pocket book, about 50 pages maybe, about both Operation Pegasus 1 and 2, and about Major Tatham-Warter too (it was written by Lt. Leo Haeps, if I'm correct, as he helped organising both). It mentions 7 rescued, as that is true. If you don't believe it, don't. You say in the aftermath of the mission, but that's part of the mission, if you say "Oh that doesn't count" well do so, but I say it does count. it's also mentioned in a book Co-written by Brigadier Hacket, which is about Pegasus 1, 2 and Hackets own escape through the Biesbosch.

edit here is another book I have:
http://www.airborneshop.com/acatalog/Arnhem_Books.html
scroll down to Escape across the Rhine

[Antagonist]

Apologies for taking so long, I was away overnight Thursday and only recently returned. Here's a hopefully thought-provoking "who am I?" riddle:

"I am an old figure, in more ways then one. The East was in chaos when I was born, and the Mediterranean not much better. My father was a great warrior (though no king) and I did not lack for martial valour, though I am better remembered as an artist, and a teller of tales. I could also be considered something of a voyager; I was far-travelled myself, but with imagination I could cross over oceans. My long life encompassed both blissful youth and sorrowful age, and I lived long enough to witness great changes within my country. Posthumously, I briefly enjoyed the status of a literary Titan, and my name was known to the greatest man in the world. Some even claimed that I rivalled Homer, though I myself would be perplexed by that claim. There are those who say that I lacked vision, and others who question my very existence, yet my face can be seen in palaces, and posterity has vindicated me against pretenders."

Antagonist