Word of the Week - 5-12-2008

Word of the Week
VIRTU
Pronunciation: \vuhr-tü, vihr-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian virtù, literally, virtue, from Latin virtut-, virtus
Date: 1722
1 : a love of or taste for curios or objects of art
2 : productions of art especially of a curious or antique nature


Interesting Fact
The Number of the Beast is a concept from the Book of Revelation of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The Number is 666 in most manuscripts of the New Testament, and in modern translations and critical editions of the Greek text. However, there is some doubt about the original reading; modern studies have shown that the earliest known manuscript of the Book of Revelation (from the 3rd century) used 616. This topic is a source of contention for many church groups and theologians. Some scholars contend that the number is a code for the Roman Emperor Nero.

In May 2005, it was reported that scholars at Oxford University using advanced imaging techniques had been able to read previously illegible portions of the earliest known record of the Book of Revelation, from the Oxyrhynchus site, Papyrus 115 or P115, dating to the mid to late third century. The fragment gives the Number of the Beast as 616 (chi, iota, stigma), rather than the majority text 666 (chi, xi, stigma). The other early witness Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) has it written in full: hexakosiai deka hex (lit. six hundred sixteen). Significantly, P115 aligns with Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) which are generally regarded as providing the best testimony to Revelation. Thus, P115 has superior testimony to that of P47 which aligns with Codex Sinaiticus and together form the second-best witness to the Book of Revelation. This has led some scholars to conclude that 616 is the original number of the beast.


Trivial Pursuit
Here are the questions:
Global View (Geography):
What international sports event is traditionally accompanied by a truce called the “ekecheiria”?

Entertainment:
What boxer was nominated for a Grammy in 2001 for Best Latin Pop Album?

News:
Who ignored the Vatican’s celibacy vow by marrying Archbishop Emmanual Milingo to Maria Sung in a mass ceremony in New York?

Written Word:
What late, great naval novelist wrote 20 novels about Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin?

Life & Science: Who clicked the e-mail send button for the first time, to send Ecclesia in Oceania to followers around the world, in November 2001?

Games & Sports:
Who was the first NHL goalie to win over 200 regular-season games with two different teams?

Here are last week’s answers:
Global View (Geography):
What sleepy Spanish fishing village did Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe turn into a jet-set mecca? Marbella

Entertainment:
What was the first album in history to reach number one in 34 nations? Beatles 1

News:
What 32-year-old did AOL’s board briefly remove as CEO in 1992 because they thought investors might consider him too young? Steve Case

Written Word:
What East European nation’s hot sci-fi magazine of the 1980s was called Fantastyka? Poland

Life & Science: What percent of men taking anti-depressants experienced sexual dysfunction, in Dr. Anita Clayton’s 2001 study – 17, 37, or 57 percent? 37

Games & Sports:
What nation’s baseball hall of fame includes Zoilo Versalles, Minnie Minoso and Tony Oliva? Cuba