A Site and a Prayer Trivia Quiz

Answer: Angkor Wat

The majestic temple of Angkor Wat ("City Temple") is located in the north-western Cambodian province of Siem Reap. The vast, mountain-shaped complex , built in the 12th century by the Khmer, was initially dedicated to the worship of Hindu gods Shiva and Vishnu, then - when the Khmer adopted Mahayana Buddhism - to the Buddhist deity Avalokitesvara. Though the Angkor area contains many other significant archaeological sites, Angkor Wat is by far the largest and most visited, and still a revered Buddhist pilgrimage site.

The other three choices are also religious complexes situated in Asia and inscribed in the World Heritage list. The Buddhist sites of Borobudur and Sukhothai are found respectively on the Indonesian island of Java and in Thailand, while the Hindu sanctuary of My Son is in Vietnam.

Answer: Santiago de Compostela

For centuries pilgrims have been flocking to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain to visit the tomb of St James the Apostle and be shriven from their sins. The church's construction began in 1060 and was completed in 1201, though elements - such as the Baroque facade - were added in later ages. The road leading to the sanctuary, the Camino de Santiago, still used by thousands of pilgrims every year, starts in France and crosses the Pyrenees.

The other three choices are also important religious sites in the Iberian peninsula, as well as masterpieces of medieval architecture. The majestic Gothic cathedral of Burgos is also in Spain, on the Camino de Santiago, while the monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha are in Portugal.

Answer: Delphi

Located in central Greece, Delphi is surrounded by magnificent natural scenery that complements the beauty of its many monuments. The sanctuary was the seat of the Oracle of Apollo, spoken in cryptic words by the Pythia, a specially trained priestess who was said to be possessed by the god. Considered the centre of the world by the ancient Greeks, Delphi was a sacred site since 1500 BC, though the temple itself dates back from the 4th century BC. Delphi was also home to the Pythian Games, one of the four Panellenic games, which included a chariot race as well as music and poetry contests.

All the remaining three choices are ancient Greek religious sites. Olympia, famous for its sanctuary of Zeus and the original Olympic Games, is also in Greece, while Pergamon is in Turkey, and Paphos on the island of Cyprus.

Answer: Mexico City

Mexico City's massive Metropolitan Cathedral, or Catedral Metropolitana, looks out on the Zócalo, the city's huge main square. Most of the materials from the Aztec Templo Mayor were used for its construction, which started in 1576 and ended in 1788. The cathedral contains many works of art from the colonial era

The historic centres of Quito (Ecuador), Havana (Cuba) and Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) are all inscribed in the World Heritage List, and include noteworthy Baroque churches.

Answer: Timbuktu

One of the regional capitals of Mali, Timbuktu is a place rich in history and cultural traditions. At the height of its prosperity, in the 16th century, the city numbered over 100,000 inhabitants Unfortunately, its distinctive mud-brick landmarks are now threatened by the encroaching desertification, and require constant maintenance.

Of the remaining three choices, Agadez and Ouadane are ancient cultural and religious centres in the neighbouring countries of Niger and Mauritania, while Fes (or Fez) is the former capital of Morocco.

Answer: Kandy

The sacred city of Kandy, founded in the 14th century, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings of Sri Lanka before the island was occupied by the British, and its name changed to Ceylon. It is the spiritual capital of Buddhists, and every summer the feast of Esala Perahera is celebrated with a splendid procession, whose participants wear elaborate costumes.

The three remaining choices are all sacred Buddhist sites: Sanchi is in India, Pyu in Myanmar (Burma), and Dambulla also in Sri Lanka.

Answer: Krakow

The district of Kazimierz is part of the historic centre of Krakow, the former capital of Poland. During World War II, the whole Jewish community (between 60,000 and 80,000 people) was forcibly moved into a purposely-built, walled ghetto, and subsequently deported to various Nazi concentration camps, and only 6,000 returned at the end of the war. At present, only one of the seven synagogues, the 19th-century Tempel Synagogue, is still used for religious services. In 1993, most of the Academy Award-winning movie "Schindler's List" was filmed in Kazimierz.

The three remaining choices are, of course, major Eastern European cities, capitals of their respective countries, and home to sizable Jewish populations before WWII.

Answer: Chartres

The town of Chartres lies about 100 km southwest of Paris, in the fertile region of Beauce. When the original cathedral burned to the ground in 1194, a new one was built in its place. The construction, started almost immediately after the fire, took 66 years to complete. The remarkably well-preserved stained glass windows are renowned for their intense blue colour, which has proved impossible to replicate.

Also in France, Reims Cathedral is another masterpiece of Gothic architecture, as is Canterbury Cathedral in south-eastern England. Durham Cathedral, in north-eastern England, is the country's finest example of Norman architecture.

Answer: Samarkand

Founded in the 7th century BC, Samarkand is the third-largest city in Uzbekistan. In the 14th century it became the capital of the empire of Timur, the Mongol conqueror known in the West as Tamerlane. The madrasas framing the Registan (public square), the replica of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and other notable monuments bear witness to the city's glorious past.

The other three choices are all World Heritage sites on the Silk Road: Bukhara is also in Uzbekistan, Sulaiman-Too in Kyrgyzstan, and Merv in Turkmenistan.

Answer: Tiwanaku

The majestic ruins of Tiwanaku (also spelled Tiahuanaco) dominate the southern shore of Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. The city flourished between 400 and 900 AD, and its culture had a strong influence on the development of the Inca civilisation. Though the Gate of the Sun is the city's most representative monument, all the buildings in Tiwanaku reflect a high level of architectural technology.

The other three sites are all related to the pre-Columbian cultures of the Andean region: Samaipata is also in Bolivia, while Cuzco and Caral-Supe are in Peru.