THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
207-780-4249      www.usm.maine.edu/planet
70 Falmouth Street     Portland, Maine 04103
43.6667° N                   70.2667° W
Founded January 1970
Julian date:  2457765.16
            "Wishing you safe viewing and clear skies."
                                -"Radio Astronomy" salutation



*THE DAILY ASTRONOMER*
*Friday,  January 13, 2017*
*Quiz XVII: Dark Mythology*

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STAR DOME ASTRONOMY
Starting Tuesday, January 17th
Six Tuesday evenings    7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
An introductory astronomy class that combines the lecture
format with star dome presentations.
$75 enrolment
Walk ins welcome.
For more information:
http://usm.maine.edu/planet/star-dome-astronomy-level-i
To register or for more information, please call
207-780-4249 or e-mail  [log in to unmask]
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Friday the 13th!
A day that inspires dread in most, but delight in those who revel in gloom
and despair.   Today's quiz delves hip-deep into the muck, mire and misery
of the mythological world.     That's right!  We're escaping our deep
winter and fleeing to the comparatively verdant under belly of Greek
mythology.   What better place to spend a day than in the realm populated
by the shades of the languishing  dead,  the most dreaded creatures the
fire pits have ever spawned, and presided over by the most formidable gods
who ever wielded a whip?      Yes, the fire pit does sound appealing,
doesn't it?   Let's go!

1. Who presided over the Underworld?
a.   Hades
b.   Zeus
c.  Charon
d.  Hera

2.  Let's say you actually wanted to go to the Underworld on vacation
without actually having to die first.  Which ONE of the following was NOT a
recognized entrance that ultimately lead to the Underworld?
a.   The Necromanteion of Ephyra
b.  The Cape Matapan Caves
c.  The Alepotrypa on Mani
d.  The Chasm of the Chimera

3. Over which body of water did a soul need to travel to reach the realm of
the Underworld?
a. The Tigris River
b.  The River Styx
c.  The Mephitic Sea
d.  The Aegean estuary

4.  What was the task assigned to Cerberus, the three headed hound who
resided in the Underworld?
a.  Guarded the entrance
b.  Played with Odysseus
c.  Drew the Plow
d.  Fetched Minos' slippers

5.  Who did the god of the Underworld abduct and take as a wife?
a.   Helen of Troy
b.  Cassandra
c.  Circe
d.  Persphone

6.  The victim of this abduction ending up eating a pomegranate seed.
What were the consequences of this action?
a.  She fell in love with her reflection
b.  She was obligated to remain in the Underworld, for at least part of the
year each year
c.  She was turned into stone
d.  She forgot her own identity and believed that the underworld was her
home.

7.  What was the name of the Underworld region reserved only for those who
were suffering eternal punishments for their wickedness?
a.  Tartarus
b.  Plains of Asphodel
c.  Southworth Planetarium
d.  Elysian Fields

8.   Sisyphus was one of those unfortunate fellows consigned to the
punitive realm of the Underworld.  What was his punishment?
a.   An eagle ate his liver during the day. The liver regrew overnight,
only to be devoured by the same eagle the next day.
b.  Parched with burning thirst and ravaged by agonizing hunger, he was
immersed in a river just under fruit-laden tree branches.  When he stooped
to drink, the water receded.  When he reached up to eat the fruit, the wind
blew the branches away from him.
c.  He had to roll a large stone up a hill each day, only to have it roll
to the base of the hill at night.
d.  He fell in love with his reflection and was tormented by an
unfulfillable longing.

9. Which gifted musician traveled to the underworld and persuaded its ruler
to release Eurydice, who had recently died by a serpent bite?
a.  Arion
b.  Orpheus
c.  Apollo
d.   Frank Zappa

10.  Theseus (of Minotaur slaying fame) and Pirithous ended up in Hades
trapped on the chair of Forgetfulness because they foolishly attempted to
do what?
a.  Kidnap Cerberus
b.  Kidnap Persephone
c.  Infiltrate the ruler's palace
d. Free all the souls

ANSWERS

1. a.   Hades
"Hades" is a term often applied to the underworld, itself.  However, Hades
was the ruler of the underworld.   Pluto was his Roman counterpart.

2. d.  The Chasm of the Chimera
(The only choice my spell checker didn't hate.)

3. b.  The River Styx

4. a.  Guarded the entrance

5.  d.  Persphone

6.  b.  She was obligated to remain in the Underworld, for at least part of
the year each year

7.  a.  Tartarus

8. c.  He had to roll a large stone up a hill each day, only to have it
roll to the base of the hill at night.

Prometheus suffered the punishment described in choice a.
Tantalus suffered the punishment described in choice b

9. b.  Orpheus

10. b.  Kidnap Persephone
Hercules eventually rescued Theseus by pulling him off the chair.
Unfortunately, a lot of Theseus' flesh was left behind on the chair.