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Persian Fire I

The questions and their answers in this quiz are all taken from "Persian Fire", by Tom Holland. The quiz is divided into three parts. This part contains questions about Persia and Sparta. Part two contains questions about Athens and the First Persian War, and part three deals with The Second Persian War. Enjoy, and good luck.

Author Kallistos Alexandros

1. A. Persia
Name the king of The Medes defeated by Cyrus The Great.
A) Harpagus

B) Croesus

C) Astyages

D) Ethelrod

E) Datis

2. The Esagila was called the first building in the world. In which city was it?
A) Ecbatana

B) Babylon

C) Susa

D) Sardis

E) Coln

3. Before becoming king, Darius had served Cambyses as his...
A) Cup Bearer

B) Groom

C) Satrap

D) Lance Bearer

E) Teacher

4. The prophet Zoroaster was born with...
A) A caul

B) 12 fingers

C) A beard

D) A tail

E) A laugh

5. What omen supposedly indicated the Gods choice of Darius as a king?
A) His horse neighed

B) A tongue of fire appeared over his head

C) His prayers brought much needed rain

D) He sneezed

E) The Kidaris fell at his feet.

6. B. Sparta
The Spartans were said to be...
A) Ionians

B) Dorians

C) Pelasgians

D) Of the Kurgan culture

E) Autochthonous

7. In the lydian revolt of 540, the Spartans fought on the side of...
A) Cyrus

B) Croesus

C) They didn’t fight

D) Athens

E) Xerxes

8. Who said, "they have their liberty, yes- but it is not absolute, for even the Spartans have a master, and that master- the one that rules them- is the law"?
A) Critias

B) Herodotus

C) Xenophon

D) Lycurgus

E) Anonymous

9. In Sparta, a woman who died in childbirth...
A) Received a state funeral

B) Died in disgrace

C) Was given a male name posthumously

D) Was refused burial

E) Got her name on her tombstone

10. When a Spartan man became 30, he was called a "homoios". This meant he was considered to be...
A) A peer

B) Gay

C) A non combatant who stayed home during wars

D) Unmarried

E) Without Children