I’ve had a re-write of my super hard and semi-interesting Azerbaijan questions. While a sprint through the country’s cuisine dredged up some interesting questions, I’m not sure that’s yet to translate into any points in a quiz.
Questions
The second largest ethnic group in Azerbaijan, which predominantly Sunni muslim people number about a million, also having a large population in Dagestan?
LEZGIN
Azerbaijan derives its name from which satrap of the Achaemenid empire? This Persian nobleman served Darius III and then Alexander the Great.
ATROPATES
Numbering 21 in total, what is a hymn in the Young Avestan language that invokes a specific Zoroastrian divinity or concept?
YASHT
What is a Zoroastrian concept of a spirit, which sends its soul-like ‘urvan’ to the material world to fight the battle of good and evil? They are associated with Ahura Mazda, and the faravahar is a possible depiction of one.
FRAVASHI
Meaning ‘boundary guardian’, what was the Persian term for a Sassanian military governor in charge of border provinces of the Parthian and Sassanian empires?
MARZBAN
The subject of legends recorded in Armenian medieval texts and having a name meaning ‘young lion’, who was the prince of Caucasian Albania who tried to repel the Umayyads? The only historical source of his life and deeds was “History of the Land of Aghvank”.
JAVANSHIR
Persian writer Khaqani’s fame rests upon which form of Iranian poetry, that makes up his “Divan”? The opening is usually a depiction of a natural event such as an imaginary sweetheart.
QASIDA
Which Safavid king, who reigned from 1524 to 1576, deposed the Shirvanshahs and made the area into the Safavid province of Shirvan? He was the second Safavid Shah and son to Ismail I.
TAHMASP I
Having his capital at Shiraz, Karim Khan was the founder and most important leader of which 18th-century Persian dynasty, with the island of Bahrain being under its influence as part of the autonomous sheikhdom of Bushire?
ZAND
As part of which innocent sounding World War II German operation that targeted Baku did they also plant a flag on Mount Elbrus?
OPERATION EDELWEISS
The second star being awarded posthumously by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1991 after an Azerbaijani appeal, which World War II major general was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title twice?
HAZI ASLANOV
Officials claiming that 147 people died during it, what colour and month have been given to a violent 1990 crackdown in Baku by Gorbachev & co in an attempt to stifle independence?
BLACK JANUARY
Referring to a town near Stepanakert airport, what was the name of the largest single massacre of Azerbaijanis in the Nagorno-Karabakh war? Taking place in 1992, authorities claim 613 civilians lost their lives.
KHOJALY MASSACRE
Situated in the south Caspian Sea, what is the largest gas field in Azerbaijan? It is the starting point of the Southern Gas Corridor, a route that has the potential to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian gas.
SHAH DENIZ
Also the highest peak in Dagestan and situated in the Caucasus, which mountain is the high point of Azerbaijan?
MOUNT BAZARDÜZÜ
Meromictic, meaning that there are layers of water that do not intermix, and having an etymology of ‘yellow water’, what is the largest lake in Azerbaijan?
SARYSU
Rising in Turkey and flowing through Georgia, what is the longest river in Azerbaijan? Its total length is over 900 miles, and the Aras is its main tributary.
KURA
Situated in the south-east of Azerbaijan and running into Ardabil and Gilan provinces in Iran, which mountain range is a sub-range of the Alborz?
TALYSH
Translated as ‘burning mountain’, what is the name of a gas fire that burns continously on a hillside near Baku, having flames that jet 3 metres into the air?
YANAR DAG
The official symbol of the Agdam and Shaki regions, which equine is the national animal of Azerbaijan?
KARABAKH HORSE
Which double-barreled economic region to the north of Baku has the first part of its name very similar to another country, with just the first letter changed?
QUBA-KHACHMAZ
Now incorporated into the politically motivated Eastern Zangezur, which former double-barreled region borders Armenia to the west of Artsakh?
KALBAJAR-LACHIN
Along with Astara, which city and region complete the title of the economic region that came into being in a 2021 re-organisation, also being the southernmost in Azerbaijan on the border with Iran? Prior to the messing about, it made up the entire name of the country’s southernmost region.
LANKARAN
The nearest major city being Qusar, what is the country’s largest winter resort, a name also shared by the nearby National Park where Mount Bazardüzü can be found?
SHAHDAG
Included as an Azerbaijani entry on UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage list, what is a square shaped headscarf worn by women that is woven from silk thread, coming in all sorts of colours and patterns?
KELAGHAYI / CHARGAT
Having those indispensable bullet holders across the chest, what is a woolen coat with a high neck, a typical clothing found in the Caucasus?
CHOKHA / CHERKESKA
As worn by Khabib Nurmagomedov, what is a giant woolen hat typical of the Caucasus with white and black versions seeming to be popular choices?
PAPAKHA
Used on a Kamil Jalilov recording that was included on the Voyager Golden Record, what is the name of a double reed wind instrument popular in Azerbaijan? Similar to the Armenian duduk, a former Croatian international footballer who played briefly for Aston Villa carries the same surname.
BALABAN
Combining poetry, dance, storytelling and music into a performance art, what name is given to one of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage listings for Azerbaijan?
ASHIQ
A favourire of Björk, which may or may not inspire you to add this to your Spotify playlist, which mugham singer provided backing vocals to Azerbaijan’s Eurovision entry when they hosted the show in 2012? He makes lots of ‘best of’ lists, so presumably that performance isn’t his lasting legacy.
ALIM QASIMOV
Executed and buried in Aleppo and writing in the 14th and 15th centuries, which Hurufi mystical poet is considered the true founder of Turkish classical poetry?
IMADADDIN NASIMI
The hero aiming to exact vengeance for the terrible blinding of his father, what is the main hero epic of Azerbaijan as well as Turkmen and Turkic peoples?
EPIC OF KOROGHLU
Made from unleavened dough and in line with Islamic tradition absent of pork, what name is given to a Caucasian dumpling?
DUSHBARA / JOSHPARA
Sometimes known as a Boğmali and allowing the tea at the top to cool while keeping the tea at the bottom warm, which ‘glass with a waist’ is a popular trinket in Azerbaijan?
ARMUDU
The meat usually being lamb and including red or white beans, vegetables, herbs and spices, which meat stew is popular in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Iran?
BOZBASH
A stuffed flatbread popular in Azerbaijan, what is a fried turnover with a filling of greens or minced meat?
QUTAB
What is the name of the ancient petroglyphs found in Ordubad, not far from the Armenian border and reputedly the place where Noah’s Ark came to rest? The name comes from a peak that means ‘stone ship’.
GAMIGAYA
A former World no. 2 who reached this rank in 2018 and the sixth highest rated player of all time, which Azerbaijani chess player is among those to have beaten Magnus Carlsen?
SHAKHRIYAR MAMEDYAROV
Other names including ‘spinach dock’, what herb that is used in Azerbaijani cuisine has the Latin name ‘Rumex acetosa’?
SORREL
The Caspian white fish is also known as the Caspian what? It is popular in Persian cuisine, though stocks have greatly reduced due to overfishing.
KUTUM
Literally meaning ‘pomegranate wine’ and also known as ‘pomegranate molasses’, what is the Azerbaijani name for a pomegranate sauce that is popular in their cuisine, great for those who can’t get enough of the word ‘pomegranate’ or the taste of that fruit?
NARSHARAB
To spice up a dreary sounding pea soup, which dish found in Azerbaijani cuisine adds meatballs and boiled potatoes? The meatballs are made of lamb or beef, rice and sometimes have dried plum inside.
KUFTA BOZBASH
Which Azerbaijani soup takes its name from the crock with a glazed interior that it is cooked in? It usually contains mutton and vegetables and is topped with potato.
PITI
Traditionally served as a wedding soup, which Azerbaijani dish is a soup traditionally made from plain yoghurt and herbs?
DOVGA
Called the ‘city of lights’ because of its hydroelectric power station on the Kura river, which fourth largest Azerbaijani city also gives its name to the largest reservoir in the Caucasus? The current city was founded in 1948, partly by German prisoners of war.
MINGACHEVIR
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