Phoenix ... a little duck and a fat lady ....

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:57 am

back to me is it?
right; London has always been called London (or ludenwic, londinium, londonburgh etc.) for its entire history apart from a few years in the 4th century when it was renamed to appease the then roman emperor.
Sharing the name with a current u.s. state capital, what was London called when it wasn't London?

Demmerz · Post by **Demmerz** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:37 pm

I'll go for the obvious, Washington. Reasoning is that there's already a Washington in England (in the North East, for you southerners

)

There's also another reason, equally flawed, but I've forgotten it.

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 1:02 pm

good reasoning but wrong i'm afraid. the only logic i can see for the answer is that the name is derived from that of an earlier roman emperor.

Demmerz · Post by **Demmerz** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:42 pm

Um... watch out for another trail of fuzzy logic.

First emperor to be Christian (I think) was Emperor Constantine.
Ignoring the diffrent strains and divergances we were a christian country around that sort of time.
I think I've heard of an American town/city named Constantinople.
Istanbul was formerly Constantinople....
.... which is close-ish to Italy....
.... and was probably occupied by the Romans at some point.

So Constantinople is my second guess.

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:46 pm

nope, not constantinople; it's a more well-known emperor than constantine but not as well known as nero, caligula or j.c. oh and also they used to feminise names for cities and the like.

Demmerz · Post by **Demmerz** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 4:53 pm

The only other Emperor I know has had an impact on our language with regards to the current month, August. Third guess wil be along those lines although I can't recall all of the female suffixes, barr -ia and -a.

Augusta? That's a better known American city.

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:14 pm

Demmerz wrote: Augusta? That's a better known American city.

bullseye. London was called augusta for about 15 years until 408ish.
all yours Demmerz.

Demmerz · Post by **Demmerz** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:44 pm

I've just been reading into old Augustus' life and come up with the next question - July is named after Caesar, August is named for Augusta (formerly Gaius Octavius) which begs the question:

What was August called before it was renamed?

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:13 pm

Since it used to be the 6th month of the year (and September the 7th), I'm going to guess Hexember.

That certainly doesn't look right.

Demmerz · Post by **Demmerz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:05 am

That's cock on, but the name isn't quite there. You're very, very close though.

Work using the Latin word for 'six'.

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:30 am

Don't know the Latin for six, but I'm going to guess *snigger*, sex.

Sexember?

Demmerz · Post by **Demmerz** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:25 pm

What a month that would be!

Close enough, I commend your deduction. Sextillis was the answer and it was indeed the 6th month at one point. It was followed by September - septum being the Latin word for seven.

I like Quiz Phoenix - it breeds research and knowledge. Right, I'm off to browse Wikipedia for more calendar related info whilst Monsieur Richelieu thinks up the next question.

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:38 pm

I thank you, my breetesh chum.

Probably quite an easy question, but what do the following football teams have in common:

Berwick Rangers, Derry City, Cardiff City and the New Zealand Knights...

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:22 pm

they play in foreign leagues? if BRFC played e.g. stranraer would the fans get anti-English chants?

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:25 pm

Yes. Berwick Rangers play in Scotland, Derry City play in the Irish League, Cardiff (and Swansea and Wrexham?) play in England, and the NZ team play in Oz.

I've never been to a Stranraer v BRFC match, but it is considered to be a derby match, despite being over 100 miles from each other. You'd also be lucky to get 300 people at the match.

Over to you, UP