Question 1: Why did Zeus swallow his wife Metis?
Question 2: When was the symbol for 'zero' first used?
The concept of zero as a number and not merely a symbol for separation is attributed to India, where by the 5th century AD, practical calculations were carried out using zero. The Indian scholar Brahmagupta is credited with being the first to formalize arithmetic operations using zero.
Question 3: Who is the alter ego of Bruce Wayne in DC Comics?
Bruce Wayne is the billionaire playboy who moonlights as the caped crusader Batman in Gotham City, fighting crime with his intellect, martial arts skills, and high-tech gadgets. Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939 and has become one of the most iconic superheroes in comic book history.
Question 4: Why do Jewish men wear a kippah or yarmulke?
Jewish men traditionally wear a kippah or yarmulke as a sign of respect, humility and reverence before God. It is a reminder that there is always something above them, and it is meant to inspire respectful behavior.
Question 5: In Greek mythology, who was the wife of Orpheus?
In Greek mythology, Eurydice was the wife of Orpheus, a legendary musician and poet. The tragic story of Orpheus and Eurydice involves Orpheus journeying to the underworld in an attempt to bring Eurydice back from the dead. He charmed Hades with his music, but ultimately failed to bring her back due to his impatience.
Question 6: How many sides does an icosahedron have?
An icosahedron is a polyhedron with 20 faces. It is one of the five Platonic solids, along with the tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, and dodecahedron. The name comes from Ancient Greek εἴκοσι (eíkosi), meaning 'twenty'.
Question 7: Why is the Golden Gate Bridge painted in an orange color?
The Golden Gate Bridge's distinctive orange color was chosen to enhance its visibility in the fog. The US Navy had wanted it to be painted in black and yellow stripes to ensure visibility by ships.
Question 8: In the musical "The Phantom of the Opera", what is the name of the opera house where the story takes place?
The Phantom of the Opera musical is set in the Paris Opera House, a grand and opulent building in the heart of Paris, France. The opera house serves as the backdrop for the mysterious and haunting tale of the Phantom and his obsession with the young soprano, Christine Daaé.
Question 9: Which iconic American landmark began construction in 1933 and was completed in 1937?
The Golden Gate Bridge, spanning the Golden Gate strait between San Francisco and Marin County, California, is an iconic suspension bridge known for its distinct orange color. Construction on the bridge began in 1933 and was completed in 1937, at a cost of $35 million.
Question 10: When referring to wine, what does "brut" mean?
In the world of wine, "brut" is a French term that means "dry, raw, or unrefined." It is most commonly used to refer to a dry style of sparkling wine or Champagne, indicating that little to no sugar has been added.
In Greek mythology, Zeus swallowed his wife Metis because of a prophecy that she would give birth to a son more powerful than him. Ironically, this led to the birth of Athena, who sprang forth from Zeus's head fully grown and armed.