MAGNETIC BOARD QUIZ

Answer the questions, win the quiz... then FIND THE PLAQUE!

Benin bronzes Quiz

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how much do you know?

Benin National Museum

Question 1/10

Which of these museums holds the LARGEST collection of Benin objects in the world?

British Museum

Ethnologisches Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

CORRECT!

Holding 944 objects, the British museum has the biggest collection of Benin objects in the world.

Next

10%

Bronze

Question 2/10

Which material was used to create most of the Benin Bronzes?

Iron

Brass

Wood

RIGHT!

While commonly known as the "Bronzes", the pieces are actually made mostly of brass.

Next

20%

80 ft

Question 3/10

They stretched over 16,000 kilometers, but how TALL were the walls around Benin City in the 1800s?

180 ft

100 ft

150 ft

WELL DONE!

The walls around Benin City were, on average, 150 ft tall, or around 46 metres!

Next

30%

Atse

Question 4/10

What was the ruler of the Kingdom of Benin called?

Oba

Nana

Emperor Palpatine

CORRECT!

The Oba was the traditional ruler, and the majority of the population was only able to see him in person ONCE A YEAR!

Next

40%

To remember past rulers

Question 5/10

What was the main purpose of the brass plaques for the Edo people in the 1800s?

Decorating street signs

Toys and/or frisbees

Fancy bookends

Right!

Decorating the Oba's grand palace, the plaques were designed to remember past rulers, and were often used on their altars.

Next

50%

Food

Question 6/10

Which of these was shown the MOST on the Benin Bronzes in the British Museum?

Money

Trees

Animals

THAT'S RIGHT!

Important to religion and politics in Benin, power was often shown through animals, like leopards or rams, which would be sacrificed at an Oba's altar.

Next

60%

1789

Question 7/10

In what year were the Benin Bronzes looted by British soldiers and taken from the Kingdom?

1848

1897

1894

EXACTLY!

After the large-scale military expedition to Benin City in 1897, thousands of objects were taken as 'spoils of war'.

Next

70%

European brassware/jewellry

Question 8/10

What was melted down to make the Benin Bronzes?

Elephant tusks

Weapons from the USA

Recycled old helmets

(the answer can be found in the BRASSCASTING section of the British Museum... or take a guess!)

RIght!

Portuguese manillas, or arm bracelets, were melted down and used to cast many Benin objects!

Next

80%

500

Question 9/10

How many Benin objects did German museums return to Nigeria in 2022?

1,100

800

2,000

YES!

That's right! In 2022, 1,100 objects from the Kingdom of Benin were returned to Nigeria by German museums.

Next

90%

28%

Question 10/10

Roughly what percentage of Benin objects are CURRENTLY held in Nigeria?

44%

34%

82%

RIGHT!

Alongside the 400 objects originally in the national museums, the 1,100 objects returned from Germany mean Nigeria holds 1,500 Benin objects.

Next

Go to the next slide to see the real plaque!

CONGRATS!

WELL DONE! You have proved your impressive knowledge about the Benin Bronzes! Play again?

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