Weekly Wisdom Quiz

Phantoms and Philosophy

Dear Classical Wisdom Reader,

Halloween may be over… but like a restless spirit, it’s not quite done with us yet.

Because it’s time for the Weekly Wisdom Quiz!

As always, all questions are based on resources published this week at Classical Wisdom. And this week we looked at the spooky and supernatural in the ancient world… With a little bit of philosophy thrown in there for good measure.

But don’t worry if you missed anything, as a roundup of it all is available just after the quiz, alongside the answers.

Now, no more delay, let’s get to it!

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1. Which ancient Greek word refers to a journey to the underworld?
A. Eudaimonia
B. Xenia
C. Katabasis
D. Kleos

2. Which ancient leader famously did not decay after his death?
A. Julius Caesar
B. Leonidas
C. Pericles
D. Alexander the Great

3. Which Greek philosopher wrote of the Ship of Theseus paradox?
A. Plutarch
B. Socrates
C. Aristotle
D. Democritus

4. The festival of Anthesteria was dedicated to which god?
A. Hermes
B. Dionysus
C. Apollo
D. Zeus

5. In the Iliad, Agamemnon has a shield depicting which mythical female entity?
A. The Furies
B. The Sirens
C. Medusa
D. The Sphinx

6. Which later thinker used the Ship of Theseus to discuss identity?
A. Thomas Hobbes
B. Friedrich Nietzsche
C. Jean-Paul Sartre
D. Immanuel Kant

7. What was thought to cause someone to return as a vampire?
A. Improper burial or sacrilege
B. Theft from a temple
C. Cursing the gods
D. Murder in daylight

8. In the podcast, what emotion did the hosts suggest the vampire myth helps humans process?
A. Fear
B. Grief
C. Desire
D. Boredom

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Answers

1. C. Katabasis (Ancient Greece’s Original Horror Stories)

2. D. Alexander the Great (Podcast: Making Sense of the Restless Dead and Vampires)

3. A. Plutarch (From Planks to People… The Paradox of Change)

4. B. Dionysus (Ancient Greece’s Original Horror Stories)

5. C. Medusa (Ancient Greece’s Original Horror Stories)

6. A. Thomas Hobbes (From Planks to People… The Paradox of Change)

7. A. Improper burial or sacrilege (Podcast: Making Sense of the Restless Dead and Vampires)

8. B. Grief (Podcast: Making Sense of the Restless Dead and Vampires)

🏛️ The Wisdom Scale 🏛️

0-2 Correct: Novice Philosopher
You have begun your journey, young thinker! The ancients await your further study.

3-4 Correct: Aspiring Sophos
You have glimpsed the wisdom of the greats, but there’s more to learn! Keep at it.

5-6 Correct: Agora Adept
You could hold your own in a lively philosophical debate. The Agora welcomes you!

7-8 Correct: Master of the Classics
You are truly wise, Plato and Aristotle themselves would be impressed.

So, how did it go? Let us know in the comments below!

All the best,

Sean Kelly

Managing Editor

Classical Wisdom