Trivia: Egyptian workers were often paid with a ration of what?
Honey
Beer
Water
Papyrus
Correct Answer: Beer
So why is this answer correct? : Beer was so beloved in Ancient Egypt that it was an accepted form of currency. Many revered the drink with a belief that it promoted a lighter spirit and happy heart. The Nile River was frequently polluted, making beer a healthier beverage than plain water.
Trivia: What animal is suspected to have played a role in King Tut’s death?
A sphinx
A lion
A hippopotamus
A snake
Correct Answer: A hippopotamus
So why is this answer correct? : In a departure from traditional mummification practices, King Tut was buried without his heart or anterior chest wall. Some researchers have hypothesized that the pharaoh may have sustained crushing injuries from a hippopotamus — supported by Tut’s fractured ribs and fondness for hippo hunting.
Trivia: Which organ was typically left in the body of mummies?
Heart
Liver
Brain
None
Correct Answer: Heart
So why is this answer correct? : Most of a body’s internal organs were removed as part of the mummification process, but the heart had a special purpose. The deceased would need their heart once in the Hall of Judgment, so that organ was left in the body. Ancient Egyptian embalmers would place other organs, including the stomach, lungs, and liver, into jars that would remain next to the mummified body.
Trivia: What modern form of entertainment was also enjoyed in Ancient Egypt?
Rock, paper, scissors
Hopscotch
Board games
Hashtags
Correct Answer: Board games
So why is this answer correct? : An ancient game called “senet” was adored by many Ancient Egyptians. A painting on the wall of Queen Nefertiti’s tomb displays her playing the board game. King Tut is said to have been buried with five boxes of the game — fitting, as the goal is for players to journey through obstacles and reach eternal life.
Trivia: Which modern tradition is believed to have started in Ancient Egypt?
Wearing black to funerals
Counting down to the New Year
Celebrating Groundhog Day
Wedding rings on the left hand
Correct Answer: Wedding rings on the left hand
So why is this answer correct? : Egyptian pharaohs wore round rings to signify eternity, a practice that was adopted as a marriage symbol by the Greeks and Romans as the cultures merged (through conquest). The Ancient Egyptians also thought what we now call the “ring finger” contained a vein leading directly to the heart. It’s not anatomically correct, but it’s still a sweet tradition.
Trivia: How many large pyramids will you find at Giza?
3
8
1
12
Correct Answer: 3
So why is this answer correct? : The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still intact, but it has two accompanying pyramids. The three large pyramids at Giza are named after the kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.
Trivia: What mythical creature sits alongside the Great Pyramids?
Unicorn
Mermaid
Sphinx
Dragon
Correct Answer: Sphinx
So why is this answer correct? : The Great Sphinx of Giza is as famous as the majestic pyramids themselves. The statue takes the form of a colossal sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. This iconic monument likely dates to the time of King Khafre, between 2575 and 2465 BCE, and is one of Egypt’s most famous ancient landmarks.
David McCallum — the actor and British Army veteran who passed away on Sept. 25, 2023 — was one of the stars of which 1960’s television spy show?
Mission Impossible
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Get Smart
The Saint
I Spy
Correct Answer: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
On Sept. 24, 2023, President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would pull its troops out of which African country?
Mali
Kenya
Ivory Coast
Niger
Chad
Correct Answer: Niger
On Sept. 24, 2023, a capsule from the OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft landed in the Utah desert after successfully completing a mission to do what?
Deliver scientific equipment to the Moon
Collect a sample from an asteroid
Drop off supplies to the International Space Station
Divert a satellite from the Earth’s atmosphere
Repair the Hubble Space Telescope
Correct Answer: Collect a sample from an asteroid