A short January Quiz

[Jochen]

A short January Quiz

For a long time we haven't seen a quiz on our Forum. So here is a new one. The subjects of the questions are mixed up of various areas, and so are the difficulties. This quiz has appeared some times before on the German Forum.

(1) Why or how Homer is said to have died?
      solved

(2) Why the runners in Olympic Games had to run nude?
      solved

(3) Which was the last Roman coin depicting a 'pagan' deity?
      solved

(4) When and where a real woman was depicted for the first time on a Roman coin?
      solved

(5) An easy one: When and why Spes was depicted for the first time on a Roman coin?
     solved

(6) It seems to exist only one ancient coin depicting a biblical theme. What is depicted
      and from where is this coin?
      solved

(7) When Alexander's favourite horse has died he founded a city named in memory
      after his horse. Which city is it?
      solved

(8) We know the year of birth of most of the Roman emperors, even their days of birth
     are mostly known. Who is the first Roman emperor whose year of birth is
     unknown?
     solved

(9) What's the meaning of the bull depicted on the denarii of Augustus?
      solved

(10) Why the year 46 BC was so remarkable?
        solved

(11) And now a bit bizarre question:
      Assumed that in 2000 years the entire air is wholy mixed, how many molecules
      from Caesar's last breath each of us takes in by each inspiration?   

(12) And a last one for aficionados of Provincial coins. What is the solution of this
       legend: TVANEΩNTΠTIEKACVKA
       solved

Hope that there is some new for you. Happy puzzling!

[gb29400]

6.  Noah's ark on a couin from Apameia
7. Alexandria Bucephalus or Bucephalia
8. I think Balbinus

continuing puzzling

[Akropolis]

"(12) And a last one for aficionados of Provincial coins. What is the solution of this legend: TVANEΩNTΠTIEKACVKA"

TVANEΩN = Tyana, Cappadocia
TΠT = ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟC ΤΑΥΡΟ = on/at the foot of the Taurus mountains
IEKAC (I think you mean ΙΕΡΑC) = Holy/sanctuary
V = ?
K A = ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤΟΝΟΜΟΥ = and autonomous
PeteB

[Jochen]

Thanks for your answers!

@gb29400
(6) is correct. It's Noah's arc, Kelainai/Apameia SNG von Aulock 3506
(7) is correct. Today Jhelum in Pakistan  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jhelum
(8) not Balbinus. Balbinus was born AD 238. The quested emperor is some years earlier.

@Pete
(12) Tyana is correct. You have the solution almost correct. But it is actually a K and the solution of IEKACV is missing.

Best regards

[Akropolis]

"(12) Tyana is correct. You have the solution almost correct. But it is actually a K and the solution of IEKACV is missing."
Well, how about IEPAC KAI ACYΛOY?
PeteB

[gb29400]

8. as it isn't Balbinus than Pescennius Niger
4. must be Fulvia
5. Spes on Claudius I Sestertius

puzzling

[284ad]

Could 8 be Macrinus?

[commodus]

#8 is Macrinus. His exact year of birth is unknown.

Pescennius Niger's year of birth also is unknown, but he was a usurper and never a true emperor.


#10: the year Caesar introduces his calendar reform (i.e. the Julian Calendar). This was extremely important and would remain the world standard for some 1,600 years.

Also in 46BC Caesar was defeated at Ruspina but in the same year himself defeated Pompey and his cohorts at Thapsus. Cato killed himself at Thapsus and Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio was also killed.

Julius Caesar made Octavian his heir that year.

Caesar celebrated his Gallic Triumph in 46BC and Vercingetorix was executed.

A major year in Roman history with many turning points that set the Republic on the course toward Empire.

There were also some very nice coins made that year!

[gb29400]

1. Homer couldn't resolve a puzzle like this  so he died

[nikos k]

2. to prevent foul play?  Talking for sports in general..

[Jochen]

Oh, you are very good, congrats!

@Pete
(12) Yes, that's correct!

@gb29400
(4) Yes, it's Fulvia, wife of Marcus Antonius from Eumeneia in Phrygia.
(5) Correct. Claudius was born on August 1 and on that day vows for Spes were undertaken.
(8) Yes, Pescennius was the 1st emperor without known year of birth (between 135 and 140)
(1) Yes, you have it! But it would be nice to hear the puzzle!

@284ad
(8) Yes, Macrinus is said to be born 164 or 166, but Pescennius Niger was the 1st one. But look at the post of commodus.

@commodus
(8) You are right that Pescennius Niger was an usurper. If we take that in account then Macrinus is correct.
(10) Yes, in 46 BC the Julian Calendar was introduced. And in contrast to the introduction of the Gregorian Calender in 1582 not only 15 days were subtracted or added. The 1st year of the Julian Calendar started on 14. October 47 BC (= 708 AUC) and ended on 1. January 46 BC. So this 'annus confusionis maximus' had 445 days, 80 days more than the usual solar year.

@Nikos K
(2) The correct solution goes into that direction.

Best regards

[nikos k]

But i guess there is no certain answer,yes?
My mind easily goes to that nudity has to do with Gods,etc..?
Or the simulation of the athlete with Gods?

[Jochen]

Hi Nikos!

I think there is a real answer to the Olympic Games, not connected with deities.

Best regards

[284ad]

Hi Nikos!

I think there is a real answer to the Olympic Games, not connected with deities.

Best regards

Is it to stop women competing?

I know this was why trainers had to be naked, due IIRC to Kallipateira the Pherenice sneaking in dressed as a trainer to watch her son compete.

[Jochen]

Yes, I know that story. But it is not the reason for the runners to be nude.

Best regards

[nikos k]

Hallo 284ad

I have heard of this before but i think that is an urban legend..
I can't believe that a certain fact like this could change the rules..

[284ad]

(1) Why or how Homer is said to have died?

He slipped and bumped his head trying to figure out the riddle of the young fishermen on Ios, as predicted by the Delphic oracle.

I think the riddle went along the lines of...

"What we caught we threw back, what we didn't catch we kept"

(That is according to the "Origin of Homer and Hesiod" a text written in Trajanic times)

[284ad]

Yes, I know that story. But it is not the reason for the runners to be nude.

Best regards

I can't believe I forgot....

didn't an Athenian runner trip over his clothes, so they passed a law that everyone should run naked.

[Steve Minnoch]

For 4) Fulvia is not necessarily correct - the vestal virgin Aemilia is the usual identification of the portrait on denarii issued by Lepidus also showing the Basilica Aemilia (Crawford 419/3, dated by him to 61 BCE, by Hersh & Walker to 58).

Steve

[Jochen]

@284ad
(1) Yes, that was the riddle. I think we can reveal the solution: The young fishermen meant their fleas! I know that story so that Homer died by an apoplexia.
(2) I think your suggestion is very near to the story: At the 15th Games of 720 BC Orsippos of Megara is said to have lost his trousers during a run and has won. Because his win was led back to the lost of his clothes since that time all runners ran only nude.
 
Thanks Steve for the hint! I wasn't aware of this coin. The Fulvia coin from Eumeneia is dated 41/40 BC. Then Aemilia is a bit earlier. I have attached a pic from Wildwinds.

Best regards

[Jay GT4]

#3: Is it Julian II Bull reverse?  Although one could make the arguement that Victory is a Roman deity that appeared well into Byzantine times...

[Jochen]

Hi Jay!

It is actually a deity appearing on Byzantine coins. But I have not considered Victoria, because I think she was adopted as symbol of victory only.

Best regards

[Jochen]

Any attempts for the missing answers?

[wandigeaux (1940 - 2010)]

For #3, you could say the Tyche of Antioch (on coins of Justinian), insofar as a tyche can be considered a diety.  George S.

[Jay GT4]

Augustus bull: Egyptian Apis bull?