Final Jeopardy: Mythology (9-27-23)
Today’s Final Jeopardy question (9/27/2023) in the category “Mythology” was:
Chrysomallus was the name of the creature that was the source of this sought-after item, Vellus Aureum in Latin
It’s the last match before the finals in the Second Chance Tournament (Week 3). One of these contestants will win the last spot in the finals: Barb Fecteau, a high school librarian from Beverly, MA, Mark Lucas, a strategist from Redondo Beach, CA; and Allison Pistorius, an actor & assistant professor from Houston, TX.
Round 1 Categories: Law & Order – Brad to the Bone – A Soviet Union – Funeral Officiants – Tricky Questions – Mixed Nuts
Barb found the first Daily Double in “Funeral Officiants” under the $400 clue with 4 clues left after it. She was in second place with $1,200, $2,200 less than Mark’s lead. Barb made it a true Daily Double and drew a blank. That gets counted WRONG.
In April 2005 Joseph Ratzinger officiated at this man’s funeral show
Mark finished in the lead with $3,400. Allison was second with $1,600. Barb was last with zero. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Title Women – “M”usicals – Rivers of Africa – The Pipe Organ – Let’s Party! – Sounds Fractional
Barb found the first Daily Double in “Title Women” under the $1,600 clue on the second pick of the round. She was in second place with $2,000, $1,400 less than Mark’s lead. Barb bet it all and she was RIGHT.
A Virginia Woolf socialite, first name Clarissa show
Mark got the last Daily Double in “Rivers of Africa” under the $1,200 clue on the 15th pick of the round. He was in second place with $5,800, $1,000 less than Barb’s lead. Mark bet $3,800 and guessed Zambezi as time ran out. That was WRONG.
The mighty Okvango river stretches from Angola to this desert in Botswana, where it becomes a swamp show
Barb finished in the lead with $9,600. Allison was second with $6,400 and Mark was last with $2,800. All clues were shown.
ALL of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS THE GOLDEN FLEECE?
The Greek myth regarding the flying golden ram, Crius Chrysomallus, goes back to the 7th century BC. Theophane, beautiful daughter of the king of Bisaltia, was kidnapped by Poseidon, the sea god. Transforming himself and Theophane into sheep, Poseidon fathered the Golden Ram.
After the Golden Ram’s dramatic rescue of Phrixus and Helle, Phrixus sacrificed the Golden Ram to Poseidon, and gifted its Golden Fleece (Vellus & Aureum = golden wool) to the King of Colchis. The king had it until Jason & the Argonauts showed up. The Golden Ram was placed in the sky as the constellation Aries.
Mark bet $1,402 and finished with $4,202.
Allison stood pat on $6,400.
Barb bet $3,201 and won the game with $12,801. Barb Fecteau will join Michalle Gould and Jilana Cotter in the two final matches on Thursday and Friday.
Reversal: MIXED NUTS ($800) Used in baklava & ice cream: IOTA CHIPS – Allison’s response of “pistachios” was reversed because of the extra “S” 🙄
A triple stumper from each round:
BRAD TO THE BONE ($600) In 2017 this Brad’s status was executive producer, rather than leading man, of “Brad’s Status”
“M”USICALS ($2000) This 2001 movie musical set in Paris is now a stage show with new(er) songs like “Rolling in the Deep” & “Bad Romance”
2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “Landmarks”
96 miles in total during its 3-decade existence, the most well-known part of this was about the same length as an Olympic marathon show
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Wow – this group was weak. They definitely look like also-rans. And, the very first clue, the anagram? What, walnuts? Huh?
And no clue on the funerals, both the British and the Ratzinger? I mean, that’s just J! stuff you gotta know.
And I agree with all: FJ was a gimme.
I mostly dislike mythology, but if you had even a hint of what “aureum” means, it was a gimme.
Very engaging group tonight, especially Allison who accepted her disallowed answer with aplomb before her delightful story about her triplets.
This trio left way too much $$ on the table. I was shocked Mark was clueless about the African desert. There are two main deserts there, and it figured to be the slightly less well-known one. Considering how much that cost him, one could argue that $7600 difference may have cost him an eventual win.
Brad’s status; “M”ovie musical in Paris; MLK’s church; SCENT HUT; liquor measurement; Debs’ party; Wallace’s party; Nader’s party all were extremely gettable.
The last time this same answer came up in FJ!, everybody got it, too.
I never learned Latin per se, but I certainly picked out the element at least.
Oh, I was referring to today’s FJ.