Final Jeopardy: Mythology (11-13-13)

The Final Jeopardy question (11/13/2013) in the category “Mythology” was:

Rich with electrum, the Turkish river Pactolus is where this legendary man was said to have washed off his curse.

Quarter-final #3 of the 2013 Teachers Tournament. Today’s teachers are: Karen Cafaro from Georgetown, SC; James Brown from El Paso, TX; and Eli Barrieau from Hardwick, MA.

Karen found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “U.S. Landmarks.” She was in second place with $3,800, $2,200 less than Eli’s lead. She bet $1,000, and she was RIGHT.

This landmark’s Skycity Restaurant has been serving its Lunar Orbiter ice cream sundae since the 1962 World’s Fair. show

WHAT IS THE SEATTLE SPACE NEEDLE?

Eli finished in the lead with $5,800. Karen was second with $4,600 and James was last with $4,200.

James found the first Daily Double in “An Eponymous Category.” He was in a tie for the lead with Eli. They both had $7,800, $1,200 more than Karen in second place. He bet $2,400 and said “Headless Horseman.” That was WRONG.

The name of these breeches is derived from a pseudonym used by Washington Irving for one of his works. show

WHAT ARE KNICKERBOCKERS?

James found the last Daily Double in “‘A’ in Geography.” In third place with $9,400, he had $2,800 less than Eli’s lead. He bet $2,400 and thought it was “Arne.” That was WRONG.

Great Britain has several rivers named this from Celtic for “river.” show

WHAT IS AVON?

Eli finished in the lead with $12,200. Karen was next with $9,000 and James was in third place with $6,000.

Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.

WHO IS KING MIDAS?

Midas, king of Phrygia, a region nowadays part of Turkey, was granted a wish by the god Dionysus (or Bacchus in some versions), after Midas took care of the god’s tutor Silenus. Midas wishes that everything he touched would turn to gold. This led to some very calamitous unintended consequences: King Midas turned his daughter into a gold statue, and he was unable to eat or drink a thing because everything turned to gold. Midas begged the god to take away the boon that had turned out to be a curse. Dionysus instructed him to bathe in the river that flowed by the city of Sardis, to be returned to his normal state. This was said to be the reason for the electrum in the Pactolus River. (Myth Web)

James wrote down Achilles. He bet it all and finished with zero.

Karen thought it was Hercules. She lost $3,000, leaving her with $6,000.

Eli got it right. He bet $2,200 so he won the match with $14,400 and a semi-final spot.

Let’s start the Wild Card list:
Mary Beth Hammerstrom $20,000
Katie Moriarity $16,400
Rico Vasquez $11,400
Karen Cafaro $6,000