The Wombat File Is Yours to Keep: The Friday Quiz: The Aqueduct of Sylvius plus Heston equals Entertainment

« Ten Great Books You Haven't (Probably) Read* | Main | The Friday Quiz: A Question of Origins »

The Friday Quiz: The Aqueduct of Sylvius plus Heston equals Entertainment

Not really. But I needed some kind of headline for this hopelessly ill-assorted array. Three (or four, sort of) brain-pesterers for a hurried Friday. To wit:

What does "boustrophedonic" writing do?
The No. 1 fiction bestseller of 1961 was written after the author had apprenticed himself in the craft that made his (real) historical subject famous, and had over 400 of his subject’s letters translated. The book was later adapted into a film starring Charlton Heston. Who was the novel based on, and (for a bonus) what was its title?
Where are Monro's holes, the aqueduct of Sylvius and the field of Forel located?

First correct answer to each posted to comments wins a sample-sized tin of forehead polish, to give you the gleam of Success. No Googling or actually doing anything boustrophedonically. One guess per comment but comment with shocking abandon.

Posted by BT on February 15, 2008 10:03 AM | Permalink

Comments

1. Biographies of Boutros Boutros Ghali

2. Planet of the Apes

3. In the galaxy of Retardo Savant

Posted by: shananan | February 15, 2008 10:43 AM

1) attempt to look like what the meaning is

2) Spartacus (or is 1961 too late?)

3) the ear

Posted by: boxjam | February 15, 2008 11:32 AM

1. read left to right, then right to left, then left to right, "as the ox plows"

Posted by: Jonathan | February 15, 2008 11:56 AM

Jonathan is the master of Greek etymology, clearly. Also, he knows a lot about oxen. Well done, sir.

But there is nothing on #2 or #3 yet. The title, incidentally, for #2, is not the name of the main character. And the title was the same for the book and film.

Posted by: BT | February 15, 2008 12:27 PM

2. I, Claudius (the writer apprenticed himself in Roman dictatorship)

3. Mars

Posted by: Jonathan | February 15, 2008 02:20 PM

2. Was it the Michelangelo story? with Heston totally chewing up the scenery. And a soap opera title like The Heart Is a Lonely Eye of the Razor's Edge?

Posted by: shananan | February 15, 2008 02:46 PM

Shananan gets the first part of number 2, and has penetrated to the spiritual essence of Irving Stone's title...anyone want to try?

Posted by: BT | February 15, 2008 03:37 PM

Oh...well, I'm pretty sure the name of the book is "The Agony and the Ecstasy."

and 3 - in World of Warcraft.

Posted by: boxjam | February 15, 2008 03:59 PM

Boxjam gets the title. You'll still have to think a little harder about #3.

Posted by: BT | February 16, 2008 09:17 AM

#3: the tongue? the brain?

Posted by: gavinedwards | February 16, 2008 09:28 PM

3. Kerhonkson?

Posted by: Jonathan | February 21, 2008 08:14 PM