Mixed Middle East Trivia

1. The city of Tyre in Lebanon lent its name to what expensive colour made from the secretions of sea snails?

From Quiz Leaving on a Jet Plane

Answer: Purple

Tyre, which means "rock" in Semitic languages, was built on a rocky formation. It has been inhabited from as early as 8000 B.C. and was a Phoenician metropolis. The Phoenicians developed a way to extract pigment from the mucus of Murex sea snails and the resulting dye was called Tyrian purple. Other names for Tyrian purple include Phoenician purple, royal purple and imperial purple. Tyrian purple was extremely laborious and costly to produce, not least because of the sheer number of snails needed. As a result, Tyrian purple became a status symbol and for a period of time only the Roman emperor had the privilege of wearing it. This question was tirelessly tinged purple by Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing with a rock-steady hand.

From Quiz What Do We Know About the Middle East?

Answer: On three continents

While the Middle East is thought to be predominantly in Western Asia, it also encompasses part of Africa and Europe. As an example, although Israel and Egypt border each other, Israel is in Asia while Egypt is in North Africa. To add to the confusion, Cyprus and parts of Turkey are considered to be in Europe. The Middle East seems to be more of a political region than a geographic one. With all the continued tensions in the area, it is certainly a hot-bed of tension, mistrust and violence.

From Quiz Costs An Armenia Leg

Answer: Dram

The Armenian dram comes in many different size banknotes, from 1,000 drams to 100,000 drams. Smaller banknotes, such as the 10 dram notes up to 500 dram notes, are no longer in circulation, and considered illegal tender in Armenia (though, curiously, a 1999 version of a 500 note is still in circulation).

From Quiz Middle East Madness!

Answer: United Arab Emirates

This is a country that borders the Persian Gulf. In the 19th century the U.A.E. was called the 'Pirate Coast', because it was a notorious home of pirates.

From Quiz Iraq and the Middle East

Answer: Tigris & Euphrates

The Sumerians were the first to develop a city-state government and phonetic writing.

From Quiz East Africa and Middle East

Answer: Mohammed Siad Barre

There's been a number of 'leaders' since 1991, the year Siad Barre was deposed, but they are usuall self-proclaimed and not even recognized by other clans, let alone other governments. Former British Somaliland in the North seceded in 1991.

From Quiz Middle East

Answer: Bahrain

From Quiz Ten Categories of Yemen

Answer: Sanaa & Sana & Sana'a

Sana'a, also spelled Sanaa or Sana, has an altitude of 7500 ft (2300 m), thus it is one of the world's highest capital cities. It has been inhabited since antiquity, and legend says that it was founded by Shem, the son of Noah. The Old City has been declared a World Heritage site, and has many sights to see, such as the seventh century Great Mosque, or Jami' al-Kabir. The Bab al-Yaman, or the Yemen Gate, is over a millennium old and leads into the city.

From Quiz Touring the United Arab Emirates

Answer: It is shaped like a dhow

This luxury hotel (which claims itself to be 7-star, despite the fact 5-star is the internationally recognized top of the rankings) is built on an island 280 m (920 ft) offshore from Jumeirah beach in Dubai. It was designed to mimic the sail of a dhow, the iconic Arabian sailing vessel seen in the local waters. It is hard to describe precisely, but when seen from the side there is one flat edge representing the mast, and one curved side which suggests a billowing sail.

From Quiz Middle East Madness!

Answer: Rub' Al Khali

The Sahara is in Africa, the Gobi in Mongolia, and the Kzyl-Kum in Uzbekistan. Because of the Rub' Al Khali and its harsh climate, there are no official borders between Saudi Arabia and parts of Yemen, Oman, and the U.A.E.

From Quiz Iraq and the Middle East

Answer: Iran

Most of Iran's border with Iraq winds through mountains, whereas the border with Saudi Arabia lies linear through deserts.

From Quiz East Africa and Middle East

Answer: Ethiopia

Crusaders are fabled to have helped carve these beautiful churches.

From Quiz Middle East

Answer: Arabs

From Quiz Leaving on a Jet Plane

Answer: King Solomon's Temple

Hiram, the king of Tyre, provided Solomon with the cedar of Lebanon used in the construction of the first temple (I Kings 5). In fact, the temple was almost completely paneled with cedar (I Kings 6). This cedar was also used in the construction of King David's palace (2 Samuel 5:11; 7:2), King Solomon's palace (1 Kings 7:2), and the second temple (Ezra 3:7). The cedars of Lebanon have been prominent throughout the region's history and are first recorded in the Epic of Gilgamesh. They are so much a part of Lebanon's identity that the flag is adorned with the tree. It is also the logo of Middle East Airlines, the national airline of Lebanon. This question was chopped down and carved up by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619.

From Quiz What Do We Know About the Middle East?

Answer: Saudi Arabia

While all of the above countries have large oil reserves, it is Saudi Arabia which is the largest Arab state in Western Asia by land area and contains the greatest oil supply. Ten Middle Eastern countries, i.e. the four mentioned along with Syria, Bahrain, Qatar, U.A.E., Oman and Yemen total about 3.4% of the Earth's land surface, but 60% of the known oil reserves and 41% of the natural gas reserves. This makes the area of great importance throughout the industrialized world.

From Quiz Touring the United Arab Emirates

Answer: Saadiyat Island

Most of the city is on Abu Dhabi Island, but there are residential and commercial districts on the mainland and on Reem Island, both reached by bridges. Saadiyat Island is being constructed, and plans include not only business and residential areas, but also a large arts precinct. By the time it is completed it is planned to include the Sheikh Zayed National Museum (national culture), the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (modern art), the Louvre Abu Dhabi (classical art), a maritime museum, a performing arts centre, a campus of New York University, and an 18-hole golf course.

From Quiz Middle East Madness!

Answer: Manama

Bahrain is a small country located in the Gulf of Bahrain. The Gulf of Bahrain is a small gulf located between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. That means it's also located in the Persian Gulf.

From Quiz East Africa and Middle East

Answer: Omani

From Quiz Middle East

Answer: Saudi Arabia

From Quiz Leaving on a Jet Plane

Answer: Beirut

The shrine is dedicated to Mary, Mother of Jesus. The bronze statue of the Virgin Mary is 8.5 m (27.9 ft) high and weighs more than 10 tons. It was made in France and the surface was painted white. The shrine is one of the most important Marian shrines in the world and attracts about two million visitors each year. This question was hefted into the quiz by Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing.

From Quiz Ten Categories of Yemen

Answer: Queen of Sheba

The city of Ma'rib in Yemen was the capital of the Saba kingdom, believed by many scholars to be the same place as the kingdom of Sheba mentioned in the Bible. The kingdom existed from approximately the 10th century BC until around 300 AD. The Sabaeans, who are mentioned various times in the Bible, traded in spices, which gives a possible explanation for the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon, accompanied with many gifts including spices. The story of her visit can be found in 1 Kings 10.

From Quiz What Do We Know About the Middle East?

Answer: Haile Selassie

Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) ruled Ethiopia as emperor from 1930 to 1974 under the titles of: His Imperial Majesty, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God and Emperor of Ethiopia; his dynasty traced its origins back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. In 1936, he made a speech in front of the League of Nations demanding the cessation of Italy's use of chemical weapons, and was even named Times' Man of the Year on January 6, 1936. He was deposed in 1974 and died less than a year later under mysterious circumstances. Although Ethiopia in not included in the Middle East, the Ethiopian Empire included parts of Egypt, Saudia Arabia, the Sudan and all of Yemen.

From Quiz Costs An Armenia Leg

Answer: President

As a Presidential Republic, it makes sense that Armenia's ruler is known as a President. Armenia gained independence in 1918, joined the Soviet Union in 1922, and became a republic in 1991. Its first President of the republic in 1991 was Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

From Quiz Middle East Madness!

Answer: Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is actually a lake, and one of the lowest exposed land locations in the world. The Dead Sea is so salty, you could float in it while reading a newspaper!

From Quiz East Africa and Middle East

Answer: Haile Selassie

From Quiz Middle East

Answer: Iran

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Last Updated Apr 11 2026 5:54 AM

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