Here be awesomely difficult questions. Scarier than dragons. If you want stuff you already know, probably best go somewhere else. It's all the choice of steins;gate.
Through geography and up to the administrative divisions. Feel like I’ve broke the back of the Wikipedia slog now and will get to the end before too long.
Questions
Lying south-east of Mount Elbrus in the Greater Caucausus, what is the name of Georgia’s highest mountain?
SHKHARA
Double-peaked Mount Ushba is said to be the home of which Georgian hunting goddess associated with animals like the ibex? She is a supposed rival of St. George and has a name that is the same as the surname of a famous painter.
DALI
Situated in the south of Georgia in the Lower Caucasus, which volcanic plateau that has wetlands and lakes has a name that makes up a mkhare with Samtskhe?
JAVAKHETI
Known in ancient times as the Phasis, which main river in the west of Georgia flows through the city of Kutaisi and empties into the Black Sea near Poti?
RIONI
Found on the slopes of Erusheti Mountain in the south of Georgia, what is the name of a monastic complex where excavated caves contain hundreds of rooms including churches and wine cellars?
VARDZIA
Both found in Georgia, the West and East Caucasian tur are members of which genus of animals that sits within the Bovidae family?
CAPRA
Born in France, who was the first woman appointed to be president of Georgia in 1998, this being considered a more ceremonial role with the major power being exerted by the Prime Minister?
SALOME ZOURABICHVILI
Mentioning a ‘global war party’ in his speeches that has been seen as anti-Western sentiment, which Georgian Prime Minister who came into the role in 2024 has labelled sanctions made against members of his government as offensive?
IRAKLI KOBAKHIDZE
Running from Baku to the Turkish city of Ceyhan via Tbilisi, the BTC pipeline was the supposed influence for an incomplete oil pipeline that was an important feature in the plot of which 1999 film?
THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
Sites to visit there including Okatse Canyon and the Katshki Pillar, which mkhare of Georgia has Kutaisi as its capital?
This is really just a bunch of questions I’ve collected over a long period of time, many of which needed a re-write. Along with a bunch of others that I’m procrastinating on that seemed like a good idea at the time.
Questions
Nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction four times, which writer finally won on the last of these occasions for “Annals of the Former World”, a collection of books on geology?
JOHN MCPHEE
Later responsible for “A Christmas Story”, who directed the 1981 sex comedy “Porky’s”? Works by him that are probably best avoided include “Rhinestone” and “Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2” as he received Worst Director nominations for both at the Razzies.
BOB CLARK
Produced simply to retain the legal rights to a future remake, what was the ashcan version of “Porky’s” that was released in 2009 called?
PORKY’S PIMPIN’ PEE WEE
Other highly regarded films by her being “It Felt Like Love” and “Beach Rats”, “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” was directed by which American from New York City?
ELIZA HITTMAN
Established by skull seller Jay Villemarette in 2010, the Museum of Osteology can be found in which American city? There was a second one in Orlando, but it closed its doors in 2020.
OKLAHOMA CITY
One example being a baker’s dozen where a merchant would throw in a 13th item when someone has only bought 12, what Cajun word meaning ‘a little extra’ is used when someone adds something of additional value that is only worth a small portion of the overall total?
LAGNIAPPE
Popular in Louisiana and having a two word name, which Cajun side dish that contains corn, pepper and onion is considered to be the regional equivalent of succotash?
MAQUE CHOUX
It requiring a photo finish to determine that he had beaten Jamaican sprinter Herb McKenley, who won the men’s Olympic 100m gold in 1952 for USA?
LINDY REMIGINO
Where an incriminating skateboard was thrown into in the Gus Van Sant film “Paranoid Park”, on which river can the Oregon cities of Portland, Salem and Eugene all be found?
WILLAMETTE
Tales that are all linked by a typewriter, what is the first collection of fiction to be published by Tom Hanks?
UNCOMMON TYPE: (SOME STORIES)
His tasks while in office including opening the 1932 Olympics in Herbert Hoover’s absence, which vice president of the United States was the first in that role to have native American ancestry?
CHARLES CURTIS
Giving her name to a prize that rewards good writing about the history of women in science, which American coined the term ‘Matilda effect’?
MARGARET ROSSITER
Along with Linda Denham, who was the co-creator of the “Care Bears” franchise when she provided drawings for American Greetings? She is also known for her “Little Blessings” books.
ELENA KUCHARIK
Known for his novel “We Need to Talk About Kevin”, which other book by Lionel Shriver provided a biting criticism of the US healthcare system?
I feel like I’m getting somewhere now. The history slog is done and I’m on to geography and starting to get some appreciation of just how awkward it is to navigate your way around massive mountain ranges.
Questions
Second Prime Minister of Georgia during its short-lived independence from 1918 to 1921, who subsequently led the Democratic Republic of Georgia in Exile from France until his death in 1953?
NOE ZHORDANIA
Only existing for just over a month in the fallout from the October Revolution, what did TDFR stand for in the name of a state that included Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan?
TRANSCAUCASIAN DEMOCRATIC FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC
Joseph Stalin’s mother Keke Geladze, Ilia Chavchavadze and Niko Pirosmani are among those buried in which Tbilisi pantheon that has a name meaning ‘holy mountain’? You can reach it via funicular and whilst there why not visit the nearby hilltop amusement park.
MTATSMINDA
Arrested in the late 1970s following a crackdown on human rights activists by Leonid Brezhnev’s government, who became the first President of Georgia when independence was restored in 1991?
ZVIAD GAMSAKHURDIA
Their flag containing a roundel of St. George slaying the dragon, which paramilitary group founded in 1989 was active in the Georgian Civil War and was involved in removing Zviad Gamsakhurdia from power in 1992? The organisation was outlawed in 1995, though it tried to reinvent itself as the Union of Patriots.
MKHEDRIONI
Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1985 to 1990 under Mikhail Gorbachev, who was the Georgian president who ultimately resigned following the non-violent Rose Revolution in 2003?
EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE
Called the ‘Russian law’ by its detractors, which four words follow ‘Proposed law on’ in the controversial bill that led to significant demonstrations within Georgia during 2023 and 2024?
TRANSPARENCY OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE
Also known as the Surami range, which group of mountains that connect the Greater Caucasus in the north to the Lesser Caucasus in the south effectively splits Georgia into western and eastern halves, these historically being known as Colchis and Iberia respectively?
LIKHI RANGE
Access to the Russian Republic of North Ossetia-Alania from Georgia is most commonly through the Roki Tunnel. This can be accessed via the breakaway state of South Ossetia from which Georgian mkhare that has Gori as its capital and still lays claim to the breakaway state?
SHIDA KARTLI / INNER KARTLI
The Terek river runs through which gorge that lies south of Vladikavkaz and north of the Georgian mkhare of Mtskheta-Mtianeti? Ancient names it was known by including the Iberian Gates, it is one of the few routes through the Northern Caucasus.
I need a concerted effort to get this Georgia research finished. May just need to say at least ten questions a day until it’s clear, however long that takes. Other tasks will have to take a back seat for now.
Questions
Having a four-letter name, which medieval defensive towers built during the Georgian golden age are associated with a specific region that makes up part of a mkhare’s name in north-western Georgia?
SVAN (TOWERS) (In the Svaneti region)
Named for a region in ancient Armenia that now lies within Turkey’s borders, which treaty of the late 4th century saw the Eastern Roman Empire confirm the loss of Iberia to the Sassanid Empire of Shapur III?
PEACE OF ACILISENE
Tbilisi was supposedly founded when which 5th century Iberian king discovered some hot springs while out hunting? An equestrian monument to him can be found on a cliff in the capital’s Metekhi district.
VAKHTANG
Also known as the Colchidian War or Great War of Egrisi, which conflict that lasted from 541 to 562 and is named for a historical region that lay on the Black Sea coast saw the Byzantines pitted against the Persians during the respective reigns of Justinian I and Khosrow I?
LAZIC WAR
Founded by David the Builder and providing great views of the surrounding valleys, which monastic complex that is not far from Kutaisi has been listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites?
GELATI MONASTERY
David the Builder moved the Georgian capital from Kutaisi to Tbilisi in the aftermath of victory over the Seljuks at which 1121 battle? The country celebrates a festival named after it on August 12 each year.
DIDGORI (The festival being Didgoroba)
Queen Tamar of Georgia helped establish which empire that claimed to be the successor state of Byzantium after the Fourth Crusade ended with the 1204 Sack of Constantinople? Situated on the southern Black Sea coast, its rivals included the Empire of Nicaea and Empire of Thessalonica.
EMPIRE OF TREBIZOND
Called ‘the Brilliant’ and sharing his name and regnal number with a monarch from the United Kingdom, who expelled the Mongols from Georgia in the 14th century after a lengthy period of rule under them?
GEORGE V
Having its capital at Batumi, which autonomous republic in the south-west of Georgia was incorporated into the Russian Empire following the 1878 Treaty of Berlin after a period of over 200 years under Ottoman rule?
ADJARA
Lying to the north of the autonomous republic of Adjara, which mkhare with its capital at Ozurgeti lost its status as a principality when it was annexed by the expanding Russians during the 19th century? In ancient times it was part of the Kingdom of Colchis.
GURIA
Canonised as St Ilia the Righteous by the Georgian Orthodox Church, which writer who is considered to be the father of Georgian nationalism was ambushed and murdered by assassins near Mtskheta in 1907?
This completes my re-write of questions I already had for this country. I won’t be happy if I don’t at least get through making notes on its Wikipedia page before I head there in September, but I also need to do the same for Armenia.
Questions
Georgia is an exonym that was presumably not created to sow confusion with the well known American state. How is the country known in its own language, this being partly derived from a central historical region where Tbilisi can be found?
SAKARTVELO (The region being Kartveli)
Adopted in 2004 following the Rose Revolution and composed by Zacharia Paliashvili, how does the Georgian national anthem “Tavisupleba” translate into English?
FREEDOM
Named for a neighbouring country and making up over 5% of the population, what is the second largest ethnic group in Georgia?
AZERBAIJANIS
Resigning in 2024, who during his three years in the office of Georgian Prime Minister submitted an application for his country to join the European Union? He had also been in the role from 2013 to 2015, becoming one of the youngest world leaders when he first started.
IRAKLI GARIBASHVILI
Occurring on the death of Gurgan II, the King of Iberia at the time, which year is traditionally given as the founding of the United Georgian Monarchy? Bagrat III had been the Abkhazian king at the time and became known as the ‘Unifier’.
1008
After a period of struggle that had seen fighting against the Ottoman Empire and the burning of Tbilisi by the Persians, in which year was Kartli-Kakheti annexed by Russia? Other parts of Georgia like the port of Poti were added in subsequent decades.
1801
An important source on the history of the Crusades, which French theologian wrote “Historia Orientalis”? This bishop of Acre explained Georgia’s name by the popularity of St. George.
JACQUES DE VITRY
A set of works compiled over centuries, the “Georgian Chronicles” gives which legendary descendant of Japheth as the father of the Georgian people?
KARTLOS
Located east of Kutaisi and north-west of Tbilisi, which city in Georgia has a name that means ‘Land of hornbeams’?
TSKHINVALI (The capital of South Ossetia)
A clear reference to a famous Soviet, what was the name of the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali between 1934 and 1961?
STALINIRI
Also known by the Georgian name of Mtkvati, on which river that rises in Turkey does Tbilisi stand? Its tributaries include the Aras and it empties into the Caspian Sea within Azerbaijan’s borders.
KURA
Having a ‘Great’ prefix to distinguish it from the ‘Little’ tributary that feeds into it, on which river do Gori and Tskhinvali stand? Its source is found in South Ossetia and it ultimately flows into the Caspian Sea via the Kura, a river that also has the native name Mtkvari.
LIAKHVI
Queen Tamar’s Bridge is a medieval construction situated not far from which Black Sea coast city that has a beach and serves as the capital of Abkhazia?
SUKHUMI
Excerpts from it being adapted into Georgia’s national anthem, which opera by Zacharia Paliashvili is based on a medieval Georgian folk poem and features two names in its title?
ABESALOM DA ETERI / ABESALOM AND ETERI
Featuring the tried and tested narrative of a love story with tragic consequences, on which medieval Georgian folk poem is Zacharia Paliashvili’s opera “Abesalom da Eteri” based?
ETERIANI
In 2017 it was reported that the earliest evidence of what product had been found in Georgia following investigations into 8,000 year old pottery shards? The earliest known example to still contain its full contents was found near Speyer in Germany.
WINE
Thought to be one of the earliest known from the Neolithic period, which double-barreled culture takes its names from sites in Georgia and Azerbaijan respectively? The Armenian site of Aratashen is sometimes added to make it a triple-barreled.
SHULAVERI-SHOMU / SHULAVERI-SHOMUTEPE
Around at the same time as Constantine the Great, which King of Iberia and founder of the Chosroid dynasty is credited with establishing Christianity as Georgia’s state religion? He is buried at Samtavro Church in Mtskheta.
MIRIAN III
Egrisi was located on the coast of the Black Sea in present-day western Georgia. An important location in Greek mythology, by what exonym is it much better known?
COLCHIS
The incorporation of the Golden Fleece into the famous Greek myth may have come from using that woolen product to sift gold dust from rivers in the Georgian region. One of those to incorporate this into their telling of the story was which writer of “Argonautica”?
All of these are super hard. But judging by the sort of monsters that the World Quizzing Championships is now throwing up, maybe none of them are off the table?
Questions
Following “The Three-Body Problem” and “The Dark Forest”, what is the title that completes Liu Cixin’s trilogy “Remembrance of Earth’s Past”?
DEATH’S END
Containing 40 biographies of notable figures like executed general Yue Fei, which book of woodcut prints from 1694 translates as ‘Table of Peerless Heroes’?
WU SHUANG PU
Its name meaning ‘music bureau’, what is a Chinese poem composed in a folk song style, one example being the “Wu Shuang Pu”?
YUEFU
Much younger than his rivals Cao Cao and Liu Bei, who founded the Wu dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period? He was portrayed by “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” star Chang Chen in the 2008 John Woo film “Red Cliff”.
SUN (QUAN)
Documented in Sima Qian’s “Records of the Grand Historian” and taking place in roughly 2,500 BC, which legendary battle in Chinese history saw the Yellow Emperor match up against the Flame Emperor?
BANQUAN
Containing a number and a title, which war during the Jin Dynasty lasted from 291 to 306 AD? All of the main figures had the family name Sima.
WAR OF THE EIGHT PRINCES
Occurring when the Wu Hu barbarians sacked Luoyang in 311 AD, which massacre is thought to have resulted in over 30,000 civilians being killed and led to the fall of the Western Jin dynasty?
DISASTER OF YONGJIA
When China was divided during the Northern and Southern dynasties period what was the first of the four groupings that ruled the south? Lasting from 420 to 479 AD and made up of two words, the first from its founder and the second shared with a later dynasty, its notable figures included astronomer Zu Chongchi who calculated pi to 7 decimal places.
LIU SONG
Associated with a people who were the subject of an 18th-century genocide, which geographical region roughly corresponds to the area between the Altai and Tian Shan ranges in northern Xinjiang?
DZUNGARIA
At which Chinese archaeological site in Shaanxi were tools found that date back prior to Dmanisi Man, this representing one of the earliest pieces of evidence for hominids outside of Africa? It was discovered in 1964 and first excavated during the early 2000s.
I’m sure I’ve seen them splitting watermelons on one of the “Dangaronpa” games, but didn’t realise it was an actual thing. Presumably they don’t use the expensive cubed ones.
Questions
Happening during US President Franklin Pierce’s time in office, the Convention of Kanagawa that forced Japan to end its long period of isolation called ‘sakoku’ was signed in which year?
1854
One of the ports forced to open following Matthew Perry’s negotiation of the 1854 Convention of Kanagawa was Shimono, this lying in which southern prefecture that is home to the HQ of both Suzuki and Yamaha as well as the Fuji Speedway, a regular in the “Gran Turismo” video game series?
SHIZUOKA
Shared with the first name of the main character in the 2023 anime “The Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist in Another World”, which type of ikebana also known as shoka uses principal lines that represent ‘heaven’, ‘human’ and ‘earth’?
SEIKA
Having a huge number of shrines dedicated to him in Japan, which Shinto archer god who was venerated by samurai warriors is spritually linked to Emperor Ojin, a legendary ruler from the 3rd and 4th centuries?
HACHIMAN
Exiled 12th century Emperor Shotoku was said to become what kind of vengeful spirit upon his death? He is considered to have been one of the three ‘Great’ ones of this type of ghost, with Heian period poet Sugawara no Michizane and samurai Taira no Masakado being the other two.
ONRYO
Appearing on UK-based restaurant chain Wagamama’s menu alongside pork belly ramen, which soup base has a name that means ‘white soup stock’ in Japanese?
SHIRODASHI
Mentioned in the 2023 Wim Wenders film “Perfect Days”, author Aya Koda provides the name of a character in which manga that first appeared in 2012? Other authors honoured within its pages include Osamu Dazai, Ryunosuke Akatagawa and Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
BUNGO STRAY DOGS
Site of an eruption in 1888, Mount Bandai and the nearby Lake Inawashiro can be found in which Japanese prefecture that was the origin of the red cow toy known as an akabeko?
FUKUSHIMA
Carried out blindfolded on a visit to the beach and ultimately resulting in a refreshing treat, what is the Japanese term for a group activity where people attempt to split watermelons?
SUIKAWARI
Yoko Ono is an alumni of which private Tokyo university that has a five leaved flower as its logo? Members of the imperial family have studied here as well as Hayao Miyazaki and Yukio Mishima.
GAKUSHUIN
Though it closed in 2010, Yoko Ono funded a John Lennon museum in which Japanese city that lies north of central Tokyo? It is the capital of a namesake prefecture and home to 2006 J1 League champions Urawa Red Diamonds.
As Georgia is one of the countries I’m aiming to tick off my checklist in September it’s time to start doing some research.
Questions
Plying his trade at Dinamo Kutaisi and Dinamo Tbilisi during the 1940s and 1950s, Otar Korkia was a Georgian player of which sport? He has an Olympic silver medal from 1952.
BASKETBALL
Thought to have reached the country through its location on the Silk Road, the Georgian speciality khinkali would see you eating what type of food if you ordered it in a restaurant?
DUMPLING
His works including “Giraffe” and “Fisherman in a Red Shirt”, Georgian naive painter Niko Pirosmani was also known by which shorter mononym?
NIKALA
A version performed by Alla Pugacheva featured lyrics inspired by Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani. Which Russian song’s music was composed in 1981 by Latvian Raimonds Pauls?
MILLION ROSES / MILLION SCARLET ROSES
Home to a museum displaying works by Niko Pirosmani that is located in Kakheti, the easternmost region of Georgia, which picturesque town with cobblestoned streets is a popular tourist destination that lies at the heart of a wine growing region?
SIGNAGI
Which politician and military commander played an important but contradictory role in Georgia’s history in the early 17th century? He was known as Grand Mouravi and has an equestrian statue in an eponymous Tbilisi square that shows him unsheathing his sword.
GIORGI SAAKADZE
Five skulls were discovered between 1999 and 2005 at which archaelogical site in Georgia, with these being some of the oldest hominin fossils that have been found outside of Africa?
DMANISI
Major administrative divisions in Georgia that are equivalent to regions are known by what native term? There are nine of them including Imereti, Kakheti and Mtskheta-Mtianeti.
MKHARE
Situated in the south-east of the country, which mkhare has Rustavi as its capital and was where Dmanisi Man was found? Natural wonders include the waterfalls of Tsalka Canyon.
KVEMO KARTLI
Ultimately emptying into the Caspian Sea via the Khrami and Kura, which river gives its name to the valley where Dmanisi Man was found?
It’s very tempting to spend some time learning how to read hieroglyphics and I imagine any future trip to Egypt would be greatly enhanced if I did.
Questions
A different member of the same suborder being used for the letter J, an image of which creature associated with a particular family represents the letter F or V in Egyptian hieroglyphics?
(HORNED) VIPER
With the F or V sound in Egyptian hieroglyphics being represented by a viper, an image of which type of snake associated with a particular genus is used to indicate a J sound?
COBRA (The genus being ‘naja’)
Adorning Nefertiti’s head in the famous bust, what was a flat-topped cylindrical headdress called in Ancient Egypt?
MODIUS
The Qattara depression can be found in which large governorate in the north-west of Egypt that lies on the border with Libya? It is also home to the Siwa Oasis, a site known in antiquity for its shrine to Amun.
MATROUH
What is the fourth largest city in Egypt after Cairo, Giza and Alexandria? It is part of the Greater Cairo agglomeration and sites include the Palace of Mohamed Ali Pasha, the founder of modern Egypt.
SHUBRA EL KHEIMA
Which Roman author from the time of Septimius Severus and Elagabalus wrote “De Natura Animalium” and “Varia Historia”, the last of which mentions the story of Rhodopis, a slave girl who marries the Egyptian pharaoh?
AELIAN
Ruling from 570 to 526 BC, who is considered the last great ruler of Egypt before the Persian conquest? Herodotus relates that ‘Egyptian Cinderella’ Rhodopis may have been taken to his court.
AMASIS II
Gamal Abdel Nasser and Mohamed Naguib both being members, which movement instigated the 1952 Egyptian revolution?
FREE OFFICERS MOVEMENT
Mainly known through Flavius Josephus’ work “Contra Apionem”, which Hyksos king is credited with founding the 15th Egyptian dynasty?
SALITIS
Situated in the Nile Delta with its modern site being called Tell el-Dab’a, what capital of the Hyksos sounds like it may have been a bit too keen on wealth accumulation?
It seems I wanted to make a lot of notes about Avicenna, probably because I keep mixing him up with someone like Averroes or Paracelsus.
Questions
With its distinctive interior, in which city and namesake north-western province can you find the Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble? Persian carpets named for this place can be found in the Victoria & Albert Museum and Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
ARDABIL
A historical hydraulic system used for irrigation can be found in which island city in Khuzestan province, this being included in list of Iran’s World Heritage Sites?
SHUSHTAR
The first part of its name meaning ‘throne’, which World Heritage listed archaeological site in the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan had a temple housing one of the three ‘Great Fires’ of the Sassanians?
TAKHT-E SOLEYMAN
Avicenna died in which city that also gives its name to an Iranian province? The Medes capital of Ecbatana was situated within its current borders.
HAMADAN / HAMEDAN
Completed in the Iranian city of Hamadan, what is the name of Avicenna’s five-book encyclopedia of medical knowledge in the contemporary Islamic world?
CANON OF MEDICINE
Sometimes called the Later Western Liao, which double-barreled Khitan dynasty that ruled over Kirman in Iran from 1222 to 1306 was for a time a vassal state of the larger Ilkhanate? It is seen as a successor to the Qara Khitai after they were driven west thanks to 13th century Mongol expansion.
QUTLUGH-KHANID
The first and last sultans of the Seljuk Empire both shared what regnal name that was suggestive of a raptor like a goshawk? A mythological bird that is a national symbol of Hungary has a slightly different spelling.
TUGHRIL (The Hungarian bird being the Turul)
Although considered a father of modern medicine, Avicenna wrote a book called “Kitab al-Shifa” that is not about curing disease but improving their soul. By what English title is this philosophical and scientific encyclopedia known?
THE BOOK OF HEALING
Ben Kingsley played famous Persian medical man Avicenna in which 2013 film that was a success in his native Germany for director Philipp Stölzl?
THE PHYSICIAN
Awarded for ethics in science, which world agency hands out the Avicenna prize, its limited list of recipients including Renzong Qiu and Zabta Khan Shinwari?
Whittipedia 