h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Big one this!!

Six anniversaries!

Who callapsed after delivering a message?
What was the message?
When?

Who was the King that was murdered on this day?
Who did the deed?
When?

A popular song had its first airing.
What song?
Where?
When?

First to qualify?
As what?
Who?
When?

A Harpist who chased the girls died.
Who?
When?

He held his position for 33 days.
What position?
What was his Title?
When?


As usual, No Wiki or Google.
Books are OK.

Lots of klaxons!


GT

Yes, it is a QI!!

Okay, I'll start. Had the person that collasped run from the battle of Marathon?


Geggs

Yes he was geggs!!!

Shiny +3 to you.



GT

Pheidipides or somewhat was his name and he supposedly cried we are victorious and then died, which would be odd as the Spartans lost!

Another version has him running a few hundred miles from Sparta to Athens, as an ex marathon runner I am so glad that version didn't become athletically acceptable!

The Marathon distance was anything round about 25/26 miles until the 1908 Olympics in London when the distance was first set at 26 miles 385 yards, the 385 yards were added on so that the race would finish in front of the royal box. Curse their eyes I say.

The Harpist must be Arthur Marx (known as Harpo) of Marx Brothers fame.

Correct pebble! Phidippides it was! +3!

+3 DGI for why 385 yards were added!

Harpist was Arthur (Harpo) Marx!
Another +3 for you.

So.....Date of Battle of Marathon, and how old was Harpo???
What year did he die?



GT

Battle of Marathon 490BC

Harp was 75 when he died in 1964 after heart surgery, Groucho's son said that the funeral was the only time he saw his father cry.

Did you know that in his will Harpo left his harp to the nation of Israel?

Regarding the 33 days -- was 28 September the last or the first of these 33 days?

Pebble: The battle of Marathon was an improbable victory for Athens against the Persians, without the Spartans taking any part. Phidipides aparently ran to Sparta to appeal for aid, but got told to bugger off since the Spartans were in the middle of a religious festival.

Feisor - 490BC it was! Correct +3
He left his harp to Israel - +3DGI

toybox - 28 September was last of the 33 days...


GT

Feisor. 1964 was the year, so another +3 to you!


GT

Right, this dead King. Was he a monarch or a commoner with King in their name?


Geggs

He was a real monarch, geggs!



GT

Er..
How did they work out no1 the old Greeks had a 10 mth State calendar among many other systems, dividing the year into six months of 37 days and four of 36, none of which was called September.

Easy when you think about it Bob!

Just count the number of days from a recorded total eclipse, and you can work out the date!!

Besides, writers like Plato etc. could give dates with surprising accuracy!



GT

(BTW Bob. A number of QIs from me and others need scoring, nudge, nudge!!)

I thought it was worth asking, GT. Just trying to avoid klaxons.


Geggs

Klaxon in hand, ready for use, geggsy!



GT

Was he a good King

I believe he was, in song, Bob!!!



GT

Thanks Mikey.

I was confusing Marathon with the Battle of Thermopylae!

The athletic event which derives from that battle is, of course, the 20 metres sprint and fall down dead, which was never oversubscribed and has not been held since Health and Safety banned it.