History Quiz!

Manach

Correct - your turn.

springbok

What unusual did Alexander the Great see when he came to the walls of Babylon, where he died - according to the latest theory it might have something to do with the reason of his death

Chinafoot

hmmm well i know he died of malaria but wasn't it something about the astronomers/prophets telling him he must enter the city while facing the east? if he entered the other gate he would be facing the west which is where the sun sets and a setting sun was a symbol for decline?? but in the end he had to enter facing the west.

thats the only unusual thing i can think of.

Chinafoot

shít it was something about crows fighting!!! where there crows or ravens fighting at the walls and some of them falling dead in front of him?

springbok

yes, ravens they were - and the latest theory is that Alexander died of West Nile virus infection, often carried by ravens

Chinafoot

ok so heres one for ya, pretty easy.

Which US President was in office at the time of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant meltdown?

Victor

Carter.

Chinafoot

yup, told ya it was easy!:D

Victor

Who was the American president when Fermi's "reactor" went critical?

Chinafoot

Lyndon Johnson

Victor

Eh, no, Fermi died in 1954. Try again.

Capt'n Midnight

Roosevelt

Victor

Correct, it went critical in 1942.

Hairy Homer

Must be due a new question any day now.

Capt'n Midnight

Question about Richard the Lion Heart / Coeur-de-Lion.

What did he die of ?

springbok

in a battle in France

Capt'n Midnight

WHAT did he die of ?

Manach

An arrow wound?

martarg

I agree with Manach, if I remember correctly from my distant college days, it was an arrow wound during a "hunting accident" ... I don't know why, but I came away with the idea that dear brother John was a suspect....

bizmark

cross bow bolt

Capt'n Midnight

Haven't had the time to check up on this recently
The answer I was looking for was Gangrene, since that's what killed him otherwise there's a good chance he would have survived the flesh wound.
BTW: The founder of the pinkerton detective agency was out walking his dog, tripped on the leash and bit his tongue, he also died of gangrene...

So Manach's arrow WOUND would be the closest.

It was while besieging the castle at Chalus in France that he was shot by an arrow in the shoulder. Gangrene set in and Richard ordered the archer who had shot him, to come to his bed-side. The archer’s name was Bertram, and Richard gave him a hundred shillings and set him free.

King Richard died at the age of 41 from this wound. The throne passed to his brother John.

A sad end for the Lion-Heart, and alas, also for poor Bertram the archer. Despite the King’s pardon he was first flayed alive and then hanged.

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/England-History/RichardTheLionHeart.htm

Manach

From the rather excellent 'Rubicon' by Tom Holland
Q: What is the name of the Prophetess who sold King Tarquin of Rome 3 books of prophecies?

Hairy Homer

martarg wrote:

I agree with Manach, if I remember correctly from my distant college days, it was an arrow wound during a "hunting accident" ... I don't know why, but I came away with the idea that dear brother John was a suspect....

No. Richard was killed by an arrow wound during a siege at a castle in France. I respectfully suggest that you may be mixing him up with William II (Rufus) who was killed by an arrow during a hunting expedition and there were some rumours that it may not have been an accident.

Hairy Homer

Manach wrote:

From the rather excellent 'Rubicon' by Tom Holland
Q: What is the name of the Prophetess who sold King Tarquin of Rome 3 books of prophecies?

Wild Guess: Cassandra

(or is that a stupid statement from somebody who hasn't seen Troy yet?)

martarg

Hairy Homer wrote:

No. Richard was killed by an arrow wound during a siege at a castle in France. I respectfully suggest that you may be mixing him up with William II (Rufus) who was killed by an arrow during a hunting expedition and there were some rumours that it may not have been an accident.

You may be right, after all it has been over ten years since I took those notes.... I will fish them out one of these days and brush up a little.... Thanks for the information

Manach

Wild Guess: Cassandra
Nope wrong - she was a harbringer of doom at times, rather like Basil's wife in Faulty Towers

Manach

As the 24 hours are up, the answer is Sibyl.
So, does anyone wish to post a question?

Victor

Me, me ME!

Which war was the first to see "smart" bombs, cruise missiles and short range ballistic missiles used in the same war?

Healio

I'll try WWI

Victor

Healio wrote:

I'll try WWI

OK, I'll ask you to, shall I say, explain / justify your answer.