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Quiz about Great Greeks
Quiz about Great Greeks

Great Greeks Trivia Quiz


The Athens agora is bustling as you make your way to the temple of Athena. As you go along you run into some of the most notorious Greeks of antiquity. Let's see how many of them you recognize!

A multiple-choice quiz by BigTriviaDawg. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
399,401
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
265
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. I am sometimes called the "blind bard", and chances are you have read one or both of the works attributed to me. Though there are doubts whether I even existed as one person, there are no doubts about the power of the two epic works of poetry which bear my name. Teachers have been teaching about my hero, wily Odysseus, since Plato's time. Who might this bard be? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The first time students encounter me is usually in math class, and it is true that I loved numbers. In fact, I believed each number from 1 to 10 had a special meaning. During my time in the 6th century BCE, I was one of the first to study metempsychosis - the belief that the soul is eternal and, upon death, enters into a new body. I gathered many disciples who lived in monastic style communities that were sworn to secrecy. Who might this be? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. I am a famous Greek woman who was well known for my poetry, but, sadly, only a few lines are still available to the modern reader. The most amazing act I supposedly accomplished was to take up the defense of my town against King Cleomenes of Sparta after the men of my town, Argos, were killed in battle. My actions saved my town from certain plunder. Who was this brave woman? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. I was born in 495 BCE to the wealthy Alcmaeonid family and became a leading statesman. Often my name is associated with the Golden Age of Athens. My leadership helped transform the Delian League into the Athenian Empire. I also loved the arts, philosophy, and architecture, on which I spent vast resources. Who was this "first citizen of Athens?" Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Apparently, everyone loved the tragedies I wrote as I almost always won every competition I entered. I was one of the first playwrights to use a third actor allowing for deeper dialogue. Two of my best known plays were "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone". Who might this playwright be? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Well, the Oracle of Delphi said there was no one in Athens wiser than me but I found that impossible to believe! You see, I do not believe myself to be wise at all! So I proceeded to go around Athens asking the wise and the proud if they indeed knew what true virtue was. However, my questions left them frustrated and they often went away angry. I came to realize that maybe I am indeed wise because at least I know I am not wise! Who might this philosopher be? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Legend has it that I was the first female doctor in Athens. Sadly, I had to pretend to be a man since it was punishable by death for a woman to practise medicine. I was so good at being a midwife that many of the men of the city became jealous of me and wanted to kill me when they discovered I was a woman. Thankfully, the leading ladies of the town came to my rescue and had the law changed instead! Who was this brilliant physician? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. I was probably the most learned man of my age and have been given the title "Father of Western Philosophy." When I was a youth, I studied at Plato's academy. Later in life, I opened my own school of learning called the Lyceum. I had a very curious mind and wrote on the subjects of physics, biology, ethics, and music, to name a few. Who might this philosopher be? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. My father was a powerful king of Macedon. I was given the best education both in knowledge and leadership. When my father had an untimely death, I took his place at the head of his army and we conquered most of the world we knew including Egypt, Persia, and even parts of India. It is said I never lost a battle. Who might this mighty king be? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. I am considered by many to be the greatest mathematician of antiquity. I figured out a close estimate for pi, the area of a circle, and the volume of a sphere. Many of you have heard that I uttered "Eureka!" when I solved a problem that was vexing my king. In my last days, I designed many inventions to help protect my city of Syracuse from the invading Romans. Which wizard of mathematics might I be? Hint





Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. I am sometimes called the "blind bard", and chances are you have read one or both of the works attributed to me. Though there are doubts whether I even existed as one person, there are no doubts about the power of the two epic works of poetry which bear my name. Teachers have been teaching about my hero, wily Odysseus, since Plato's time. Who might this bard be?

Answer: Homer

Scholars can not agree on even what century Homer might have existed within, but ranges have him living sometime between 800 and 650 BC. The epic poems the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey" are thought to have been orally passed down for centuries before they were first actually written down. Also, many scholars consider the two ancient works to be the work of two different authors due to significant differences in writing style and vocabulary.

However, traditionally they have been considered the work of one brilliant blind bard named Homer.
2. The first time students encounter me is usually in math class, and it is true that I loved numbers. In fact, I believed each number from 1 to 10 had a special meaning. During my time in the 6th century BCE, I was one of the first to study metempsychosis - the belief that the soul is eternal and, upon death, enters into a new body. I gathered many disciples who lived in monastic style communities that were sworn to secrecy. Who might this be?

Answer: Pythagoras

Pythagoras is by far best known today for the Pythagorean theorem that is named after him. However, the properties of triangles were not a major focus for his life's work. Pythagoras was much more interested in the eternity of the soul and living a virtuous life.

He organized his followers into communal living where no one owned property and everyone lived an ascetic and secretive way of life. Pythagoras also proposed the theory that the sun, moon, and planets emitted celestial music which he called the "Harmony of the Spheres" which affected the quality of life on earth. Pythagoras was very progressive for his time, having several female disciples. Metempsychosis is the study of the transmigration of the soul.
3. I am a famous Greek woman who was well known for my poetry, but, sadly, only a few lines are still available to the modern reader. The most amazing act I supposedly accomplished was to take up the defense of my town against King Cleomenes of Sparta after the men of my town, Argos, were killed in battle. My actions saved my town from certain plunder. Who was this brave woman?

Answer: Telesilla

As the legend goes, all the men of the town were defeated and killed by King Cleomenes outside the city. When the Spartans then started marching on the town to loot and plunder, our hero, Telesilla, gathered up all the weapons and armor left in town and armed all the women and slaves and went out for battle! Some legends suggest that the women had a decisive victory while others suggested King Cleomenes's only option was a retreat.

There was no honor in killing women, and even worse to the Spartans would be the shame of losing to an army of women. Either way, King Cleomenes retreated and the town of Argos was saved.
4. I was born in 495 BCE to the wealthy Alcmaeonid family and became a leading statesman. Often my name is associated with the Golden Age of Athens. My leadership helped transform the Delian League into the Athenian Empire. I also loved the arts, philosophy, and architecture, on which I spent vast resources. Who was this "first citizen of Athens?"

Answer: Pericles

Pericles was born at the right time. He had wealth, charisma, and the best education for the time. The Golden Age of Athens is often called the Age of Pericles at which time cultural growth blossomed. Pericles worked to keep Athens democratic and labeled himself as the first citizen rather than a king. Pericles was shrewd and was adept at having key rivals ostracized.

He used public funds to build temples and the agora of Athens and when some of the citizens objected to the lavish spending he offered to pay for it himself.
5. Apparently, everyone loved the tragedies I wrote as I almost always won every competition I entered. I was one of the first playwrights to use a third actor allowing for deeper dialogue. Two of my best known plays were "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone". Who might this playwright be?

Answer: Sophocles

Sophocles was born into a wealthy family. His father was an armorer by trade but well educated with a love of learning. Sophocles was born around 496 BCE and lived for about 90 years. His life saw the rise and fall of the Golden Age of Athens. Sadly only seven of the plays that Sophocles wrote have survived. Sophocles was well trusted by the leaders of Athens as he was trusted to help keep the treasury accounts accurate.
6. Well, the Oracle of Delphi said there was no one in Athens wiser than me but I found that impossible to believe! You see, I do not believe myself to be wise at all! So I proceeded to go around Athens asking the wise and the proud if they indeed knew what true virtue was. However, my questions left them frustrated and they often went away angry. I came to realize that maybe I am indeed wise because at least I know I am not wise! Who might this philosopher be?

Answer: Socrates

Socrates is thought to have not written any of his thoughts down so we have to depend on his students to tell us about his life and philosophies. Socrates loved ethics and trying to find the true "form" of things, like virtue and righteousness. The types of questions Socrates would ask have led to the term Socratic Method.

This questioning often left the proud and powerful Athenians feeling foolish which made Socrates many enemies. In the end, the authorities had enough, and they convicted Socrates of corrupting the youth and forced him to drink hemlock.

In Plato's "Phaedo", which tells the account of Socrates' last day, it is apparent that the only one who was not upset was Socrates himself.
7. Legend has it that I was the first female doctor in Athens. Sadly, I had to pretend to be a man since it was punishable by death for a woman to practise medicine. I was so good at being a midwife that many of the men of the city became jealous of me and wanted to kill me when they discovered I was a woman. Thankfully, the leading ladies of the town came to my rescue and had the law changed instead! Who was this brilliant physician?

Answer: Agnodice

When Agnodice was young, she dressed up as a boy and studied medicine which was forbidden for women to do at the time. Legend says that Agnodice even studied in far away Egypt to become more skilled. Once she was skilled enough to be a physician, she continued to hide her female identity and proceeded to help women through childbirth. Agnodice became so popular with the women she helped that the men of the city accused her of foul play.

As a result of the law changing, Agnodice helped open the door for other women to become physicians.
8. I was probably the most learned man of my age and have been given the title "Father of Western Philosophy." When I was a youth, I studied at Plato's academy. Later in life, I opened my own school of learning called the Lyceum. I had a very curious mind and wrote on the subjects of physics, biology, ethics, and music, to name a few. Who might this philosopher be?

Answer: Aristotle

Aristotle has had a profound effect on western thought even to this day. He was one of the first to really study logic, and his vast work was the backbone of the traditional classical education. One of Aristotle's greatest gifts was his keen observation of his world.

Many of his theories have been refined in modern times, but his overall contribution was a giant step in scientific understanding in every field he wrote on.
9. My father was a powerful king of Macedon. I was given the best education both in knowledge and leadership. When my father had an untimely death, I took his place at the head of his army and we conquered most of the world we knew including Egypt, Persia, and even parts of India. It is said I never lost a battle. Who might this mighty king be?

Answer: Alexander

Alexander the Great conquered most of the world he knew before the age of 30. His army was undefeated in battle including many encounters where he was significantly outnumbered. His great gift as a general was his ability to think outside the box and exploit his enemies' weaknesses. Alexander fell in love with Persian culture and adopted many Persian customs.

He died very young at the age of 32 in Babylon. He is supposed to have declared on his deathbed that his empire should go to the strongest.

As he had no designated heir, fighting almost immediately ensued and resulted in Alexander's empire being broken up.
10. I am considered by many to be the greatest mathematician of antiquity. I figured out a close estimate for pi, the area of a circle, and the volume of a sphere. Many of you have heard that I uttered "Eureka!" when I solved a problem that was vexing my king. In my last days, I designed many inventions to help protect my city of Syracuse from the invading Romans. Which wizard of mathematics might I be?

Answer: Archimedes

The father of Archimedes was supposedly a mathematician as well and encouraged his son to learn mathematics. Archimedes traveled to Alexandria, Egypt, to finish his mathematical education where he learned from the great Euclid. He became invaluable to the king of Syracuse as an inventor of mechanical tools and then later as a fortifier of the city.

Some of his inventions included the Archimedes screw which helped miners bring dirt to the surface and the claw which used levers to upend an enemy warship. Archimedes was a scholar to the death as he was reported to of been working on a math problem when he was killed by a Roman soldier.
Source: Author BigTriviaDawg

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