Euro Quiz number 75: Emperors, from ancient to modern times
Mar 12th, 2015, 10:19 PM
#25
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" I thought it was Constantine who made Christianity the official religion of Rome"
Incorrectly. tom_mm has what's generally held to be the accurate answer.
Constantine I abolished most laws outlawing Christianity, and passed laws giving it parity of esteem in many respects with other religions. But he retained much of the official, emperor-centric, paganism that had evolved as the Empire's central set of cults for official purposes - even though he involved himself enthusiastically in many administrative and doctrinal issues concerning Christianity.
It wasn't till 50 years after his death that the traditional trappings of vestal virgins, peering into the innards of sacrificed animals and complicated pagan holidays were abolished from public administration.
Incorrectly. tom_mm has what's generally held to be the accurate answer.
Constantine I abolished most laws outlawing Christianity, and passed laws giving it parity of esteem in many respects with other religions. But he retained much of the official, emperor-centric, paganism that had evolved as the Empire's central set of cults for official purposes - even though he involved himself enthusiastically in many administrative and doctrinal issues concerning Christianity.
It wasn't till 50 years after his death that the traditional trappings of vestal virgins, peering into the innards of sacrificed animals and complicated pagan holidays were abolished from public administration.
Mar 13th, 2015, 12:18 AM
#27
Annhig, no, the philosopher emperor was an Italian.>>
Aha - but his family came from Cordoba, according to Wiki, That must have been what I was remembering.
great questions, BTW, bvl. and from me, rubbish answers.
Aha - but his family came from Cordoba, according to Wiki, That must have been what I was remembering.
great questions, BTW, bvl. and from me, rubbish answers.
Mar 13th, 2015, 02:50 AM
#28
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I didn't know of Marcus Aurelius' Spanish roots. Was it an expat family? I thought his family belonged to Roman senatorial class.
I think the only ones we're still missing are the Spaniard and the market gardener. Should I close the quiz and divulge the answers? I've never done one of these before.
I think the only ones we're still missing are the Spaniard and the market gardener. Should I close the quiz and divulge the answers? I've never done one of these before.
Mar 13th, 2015, 04:55 AM
#29
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Should I close the quiz and divulge the answers? I've never done one of these before.>
no set rules - but the next day we usually give the correct answers - but you got a late start yesterday - again a refreshingly different quiz - thank you!
no set rules - but the next day we usually give the correct answers - but you got a late start yesterday - again a refreshingly different quiz - thank you!
Mar 13th, 2015, 09:49 AM
#31
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All right, here is the official close of the quiz.
I have to apologize for some inaccuracies in the questions. I made this up from memory, although I did do some fact checking.
1. Which emperor made his horse a high state official?
Caligula made his horse, Incitatus, a senator; he had a bejeweled statue of him put up in the Senate house. He threatened to make the horse a consul, but never carried out the threat.
2. Which emperor struggled all his life to learn how to write?
Charlemagne was a great promoter of education, and set up schools all over his empire, but he himself read with great difficulty and never really learned to write.
3. Which Roman emperor was born in Spain?
Trajan was born in Spain, of Spanish ethnicity. He adopted Hadrian, who was related to him, and named him as his successor. There is some controversy over the birthplace of Hadrian, but his first biographer says he was born in Rome.
As I said above, I remembered later that Theodosius I was also born in Spain. I remember seeing a plaque in Coca marking his birthplace.
4. Which emperor spent his free time chopping wood?
Kaiser Wilhem II went into exile in Doorn, Holland, after World War I. He was a passionate wood chopper, and was supposed to have chopped down thousands of trees around Doorn. One source I saw said that he downed at least 40,000.
5. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II was born in which small Italian town?
Frederick II was born in Jesi, province of Ancona, in the Le Marche region in the late 12 century, while his family was passing through the area.
6. Which emperor made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire?
Theodosius I made Christianity the official state religion in 380. Constantine converted to Christianity on his deathbed, but long before that he decreed that the Christian religion be tolerated, and he took a great interest in church affairs, and even meddled in theology. Christianity became the de facto religion of the empire, even though in theory the ancient religion remained. In Rome itself, Christianity was slow to take hold. After Constantine, the center of gravity of the empire turned to the east, where Christianity was much more diffuse.
7. Which emperor returned it officially to paganism?
The answer is Julian, called the Apostate, but my face is red, because the question is not accurate. Julian didn't <b>officially</b> return the empire to paganism, because he lived before the official religion had become Christianity. As I began to write this, I remembered that he was a nephew of Constantine and couldn't have been alive in 380. Anyway, the empire had become unofficially Christian, and Julian himself was brought up as a Christian, but he turned against the religion as an adult and tried to restore the pagan religion to its former glory. He reopened temples, and made laws that discriminated against Christian schools and public offices. It was by then a losing battle.
8. Which European colonial empires had their territories defined by a Pope?
Spain and Portugal divided up their claims in the western hemisphere according to the dictates of several papal bulls, and the Treaty of Tordesillas. The popes who weighed in on the division were Alexander VI, Leo X and Julius II.
9. Which emperor voluntarily retired to cultivate cabbages?
The Emperor Diocletian retired in 305 to his palace in Spalatum (modern Split), where he spent his time gardening. Once when some people begged him to come out of retirement, he boasted of the satisfaction he got from the cabbages he planted with his own hands. Which empire elected its emperors?
10. Which empire elected its emperors?
The Holy Roman Emperors were officially elected by Prince Electors, who were members of the nobility and archbishops. Their number was never more than ten. The election usually was pro forma, with the son and heir of the previous emperor being elected.
Emperors, from ancient to modern times
1. Which emperor made his horse a high state official?
Caligula made his horse a senator; he had a bejeweled statue of him put up in the Senate house. He threatened to make the horse a consul, but never carried out the threat.
2. Which emperor struggled all his life to learn how to write?
Charlemagne was a great promoter of education, and set up schools all over his empire, but he himself read with great difficulty and never really learned to write.
3. Which Roman emperor was born in Spain?
Trajan was born in Spain, of Spanish ethnicity. He adopted Hadrian, who was related to him, and named him as his successor. There is some controversy over the birthplace of Hadrian, but his first biographer says he was born in Rome.
As I said above, I remembered later that Theodosius I was also born in Spain. I remember seeing a plaque in Coca marking his birthplace.
4. Which emperor spent his free time chopping wood?
Kaiser Wilhem II went into exile in Doorn, Holland, after World War I. He was a passionate wood chopper, and was supposed to have chopped down thousands of trees around Doorn. One source I saw said that he downed at least 40,000.
5. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II was born in which small Italian town?
Frederick II was born in Jesi, province of Ancona, in the Le Marche region in the late 12 century, while his family was passing through the area.
6. Which emperor made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire?
Theodosius I made Christianity the official state religion in 380. Constantine converted to Christianity on his deathbed, but long before that he decreed that the Christian religion be tolerated, and he took a great interest in church affairs, and even meddled in theology. Christianity became the de facto religion of the empire, even though in theory the ancient religion remained. In Rome itself, Christianity was slow to take hold. After Constantine, the center of gravity of the empire turned to the east, where Christianity was much more diffuse.
7. Which emperor returned it officially to paganism?
The answer is Julian, called the Apostate, but my face is red, because the question is not accurate. Julian didn't <b>officially</b> return the empire to paganism, because he lived before the official religion had become Christianity. As I began to write this, I remembered that he was a nephew of Constantine and couldn't have been alive in 380. Anyway, the empire had become unofficially Christian, and Julian himself was brought up as a Christian, but he turned against the religion as an adult and tried to restore the pagan religion to its former glory. He reopened temples, and made laws that discriminated against Christian schools and public offices. It was by then a losing battle.
8. Which European colonial empires had their territories defined by a Pope?
Spain and Portugal divided up their claims in the western hemisphere according to the dictates of several papal bulls, and the Treaty of Tordesillas. The popes who weighed in on the division were Alexander VI, Leo X and Julius II.
9. Which emperor voluntarily retired to cultivate cabbages?
The Emperor Diocletian retired in 305 to his palace in Spalatum (modern Split), where he spent his time gardening. Once when some people begged him to come out of retirement, he boasted of the satisfaction he got from the cabbages he planted with his own hands. Which empire elected its emperors?
10. Which empire elected its emperors?
The Holy Roman Emperors were officially elected by Prince Electors, who were members of the nobility and archbishops. Their number was never more than ten. The election usually was pro forma, with the son and heir of the previous emperor being elected.
I have to apologize for some inaccuracies in the questions. I made this up from memory, although I did do some fact checking.
1. Which emperor made his horse a high state official?
Caligula made his horse, Incitatus, a senator; he had a bejeweled statue of him put up in the Senate house. He threatened to make the horse a consul, but never carried out the threat.
2. Which emperor struggled all his life to learn how to write?
Charlemagne was a great promoter of education, and set up schools all over his empire, but he himself read with great difficulty and never really learned to write.
3. Which Roman emperor was born in Spain?
Trajan was born in Spain, of Spanish ethnicity. He adopted Hadrian, who was related to him, and named him as his successor. There is some controversy over the birthplace of Hadrian, but his first biographer says he was born in Rome.
As I said above, I remembered later that Theodosius I was also born in Spain. I remember seeing a plaque in Coca marking his birthplace.
4. Which emperor spent his free time chopping wood?
Kaiser Wilhem II went into exile in Doorn, Holland, after World War I. He was a passionate wood chopper, and was supposed to have chopped down thousands of trees around Doorn. One source I saw said that he downed at least 40,000.
5. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II was born in which small Italian town?
Frederick II was born in Jesi, province of Ancona, in the Le Marche region in the late 12 century, while his family was passing through the area.
6. Which emperor made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire?
Theodosius I made Christianity the official state religion in 380. Constantine converted to Christianity on his deathbed, but long before that he decreed that the Christian religion be tolerated, and he took a great interest in church affairs, and even meddled in theology. Christianity became the de facto religion of the empire, even though in theory the ancient religion remained. In Rome itself, Christianity was slow to take hold. After Constantine, the center of gravity of the empire turned to the east, where Christianity was much more diffuse.
7. Which emperor returned it officially to paganism?
The answer is Julian, called the Apostate, but my face is red, because the question is not accurate. Julian didn't <b>officially</b> return the empire to paganism, because he lived before the official religion had become Christianity. As I began to write this, I remembered that he was a nephew of Constantine and couldn't have been alive in 380. Anyway, the empire had become unofficially Christian, and Julian himself was brought up as a Christian, but he turned against the religion as an adult and tried to restore the pagan religion to its former glory. He reopened temples, and made laws that discriminated against Christian schools and public offices. It was by then a losing battle.
8. Which European colonial empires had their territories defined by a Pope?
Spain and Portugal divided up their claims in the western hemisphere according to the dictates of several papal bulls, and the Treaty of Tordesillas. The popes who weighed in on the division were Alexander VI, Leo X and Julius II.
9. Which emperor voluntarily retired to cultivate cabbages?
The Emperor Diocletian retired in 305 to his palace in Spalatum (modern Split), where he spent his time gardening. Once when some people begged him to come out of retirement, he boasted of the satisfaction he got from the cabbages he planted with his own hands. Which empire elected its emperors?
10. Which empire elected its emperors?
The Holy Roman Emperors were officially elected by Prince Electors, who were members of the nobility and archbishops. Their number was never more than ten. The election usually was pro forma, with the son and heir of the previous emperor being elected.
Emperors, from ancient to modern times
1. Which emperor made his horse a high state official?
Caligula made his horse a senator; he had a bejeweled statue of him put up in the Senate house. He threatened to make the horse a consul, but never carried out the threat.
2. Which emperor struggled all his life to learn how to write?
Charlemagne was a great promoter of education, and set up schools all over his empire, but he himself read with great difficulty and never really learned to write.
3. Which Roman emperor was born in Spain?
Trajan was born in Spain, of Spanish ethnicity. He adopted Hadrian, who was related to him, and named him as his successor. There is some controversy over the birthplace of Hadrian, but his first biographer says he was born in Rome.
As I said above, I remembered later that Theodosius I was also born in Spain. I remember seeing a plaque in Coca marking his birthplace.
4. Which emperor spent his free time chopping wood?
Kaiser Wilhem II went into exile in Doorn, Holland, after World War I. He was a passionate wood chopper, and was supposed to have chopped down thousands of trees around Doorn. One source I saw said that he downed at least 40,000.
5. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II was born in which small Italian town?
Frederick II was born in Jesi, province of Ancona, in the Le Marche region in the late 12 century, while his family was passing through the area.
6. Which emperor made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire?
Theodosius I made Christianity the official state religion in 380. Constantine converted to Christianity on his deathbed, but long before that he decreed that the Christian religion be tolerated, and he took a great interest in church affairs, and even meddled in theology. Christianity became the de facto religion of the empire, even though in theory the ancient religion remained. In Rome itself, Christianity was slow to take hold. After Constantine, the center of gravity of the empire turned to the east, where Christianity was much more diffuse.
7. Which emperor returned it officially to paganism?
The answer is Julian, called the Apostate, but my face is red, because the question is not accurate. Julian didn't <b>officially</b> return the empire to paganism, because he lived before the official religion had become Christianity. As I began to write this, I remembered that he was a nephew of Constantine and couldn't have been alive in 380. Anyway, the empire had become unofficially Christian, and Julian himself was brought up as a Christian, but he turned against the religion as an adult and tried to restore the pagan religion to its former glory. He reopened temples, and made laws that discriminated against Christian schools and public offices. It was by then a losing battle.
8. Which European colonial empires had their territories defined by a Pope?
Spain and Portugal divided up their claims in the western hemisphere according to the dictates of several papal bulls, and the Treaty of Tordesillas. The popes who weighed in on the division were Alexander VI, Leo X and Julius II.
9. Which emperor voluntarily retired to cultivate cabbages?
The Emperor Diocletian retired in 305 to his palace in Spalatum (modern Split), where he spent his time gardening. Once when some people begged him to come out of retirement, he boasted of the satisfaction he got from the cabbages he planted with his own hands. Which empire elected its emperors?
10. Which empire elected its emperors?
The Holy Roman Emperors were officially elected by Prince Electors, who were members of the nobility and archbishops. Their number was never more than ten. The election usually was pro forma, with the son and heir of the previous emperor being elected.
Mar 13th, 2015, 07:50 PM
#35
Urinals is the device and there are many nice green ones in Paris.
Mar 14th, 2015, 04:24 AM
#37
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Not urinals but squat toilets - A K A Turkish toilets - no toilet - just two places for the feet and then squat and let go - these are Vespasiennes - Pissoirs used to dot Paris streets - urinals behind a curving wall - Amsterdam still has many but there is only one pissoir left in Paris - yes the modern automatic cleaning toilets dot Paris streets.
Mar 14th, 2015, 04:27 AM
#38
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Oops - percy is right - see pictures of Vespasiennes A K A pissoirs in Paris of old:
https://www.google.com/search?q=vesp...=1600&bih=1075
Well my French in-laws always called the squat toilets vespasiennes - I guess at one time pissoirs may have had squat toilets in them - well I learnt something from percy!
https://www.google.com/search?q=vesp...=1600&bih=1075
Well my French in-laws always called the squat toilets vespasiennes - I guess at one time pissoirs may have had squat toilets in them - well I learnt something from percy!
