Latest answers

Latest answers

Thursday, October 9, 2008

166. We, the people

This city had been an English possession since the time of Edward III who captured it after an eleven-month siege, following which he ordered the citizens to be massacred. He was, however persuaded to spare the citizens and accepted a token of six men, provided they would volunteer for execution. Six courageous volunteers duly appeared, with ropes around their necks, in accordance with the king’s demand. When Edward’s queen, Philippa, saw the sight, she was moved with pity and begged Edward to relent, which he duly did.

Either identify the city or mention how has this incident been immortalized in the world of art?

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

165. Big Ones....

Tucked away in a crescent of mountains lies a beautiful secluded valley. Long ago, when men first came here, they found the earth so fertile that they named the valley after the ancient Roman Goddess of Fruitfulness: _____. Here the fruit grows so big and sweet and juicy that you'd think that it's magic.

Straight off the packaging. Fill in the blanks.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

164. Indian Date?

It get its common as well as generic name from Arabic for "Indian date". It is native to tropical Africa, including Sudan and parts of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. It was introduced into India so long ago that it has often been reported as indigenous there, and it was apparently from India that it reached the Persians and the Arabs who called it "Indian date" giving rise to both its common and generic names. However, the specific name "indica", also perpetuates the illusion of Indian origin. The fruit was well known to the ancient Egyptians and to the Greeks in the 4th Century B.C.

Which fruit?

Monday, October 6, 2008

163. The Maltese Penalty.....

Which famous citizen of Malta has suggested the following alternative to the penalty shootout in football:

"If the number of times each goalkeeper touches the ball is recorded throughout the game the results can be compared in the event of a draw. The team whose goalkeeper has touched the ball more often is the loser. The winner will then be the team that has had more attempts at scoring goals and is more aggressive (and therefore exciting) in their style of play. This mechanism would avoid the tension of the penalty shoot out"

Sunday, October 5, 2008

162. Chateau de Trifle

The château de X was initially built as a small hunting lodge in 1720 with X, meaning a trifle, or decorative thing. In 1775, the Comte d'Artois, Louis XVI's brother, purchased the property. The Comte soon had the existing house torn down and rebuilt in 63 days ( Marie-Antoinette wagered against the Comte, her brother-in-law, that the new château could not be completed within three months)


In 1777 a party was thrown in the recently completed house in honor of Louis XVI and the Queen. Something unveiled during the party and named X after the chateau went on to become a rage across France and is still around today, albeit in technologically improved versions. What?