Archaeologist Lecture

After skating on the pond with the high school hockey players, our family went to a lecture by Dr. Koloski-Ostrow from Brandeis University. She has not only dug in Pompeii, North Africa, and all over the world, but she is the world's leading expert on ancient Roman plumbing and toilets. Quite a specialty! So, I knew that my boy would like this talk: archaeology and scatology!

Both boys listened with wide eyes as she gave background information about Pompeii, its people, customs, bathing, and yes, its toilets. While Shawn had to get out of his chair to wake up some dozing high schoolers, Lachen and Aksel were totally into it. (If anything, Lachen was giving a running commentary about which Greek gods correlated to the Roman ones the professor was discussing.) When the professor opened for questions from audience of over 100, guess who raised their hands first. Lachen took the microphone and asked the first question, closely followed by questioner number two, Aksel. I was bursting with pride. My two little classicists!!!

In honor of their impressive showing tonight, Lachen has given me permission to post a quiz on Greek mythology he wrote for us tonight. He wanted me to write the quiz for him to answer, but I reminded him that he knows more about the subject than I do. After tonight, we're clearly going to have to do some reading on Pompeii. The Head of School caught us after the talk and asked when the Reids were going to take a trip to Pompeii. Had I been thinking quicker, I might have asked when he would like to fund one! Okay, here's the quiz. Answers will be posted below.
Lachen is anxious to hear how you do.

1. How many tasks did Hercules have?
a. 11 b. 12 c. 5

2. How was Athena born?

3. What did the Hydra do after you cut off one of its heads?
a. die b. grow two more c. nothing

4. How did Hercules kill the Hydra?

5. Who is the god of healing?
a. Hermes b. Zeus c. Apollo

6. Who are the big three? What are their names?

7. Who invented the chariot?

8. If there is a party, which god comes?
a. Zeus b. Dionysus c. Apollo

9. What did Poseidon make a horse out of?
a. sea foam b. coral c. water

ANSWERS
1. b (12)
2. She was born from Zues's head in full battle armor
3. b (grown two more heads)
4. He cut off all the heads and put fire on them before they could re-grow.
5. c (Apollo)
6. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades
7. Poseidon
8. b (Dionysus--who is Bacchus in Roman mythology)
9. a (sea foam)

Let us know how you do in the comments section! Lachen wrote this quiz from 7:45 until 8:00 tonight. All I did was put a mask on my face and pluck my eyebrows. Clearly, I'm going to have to be a more serious academic if I'm going to keep up in this house!