Round 11: Tossup 13
These animals are associated with vampiric beings that are born with two hearts, two souls, and two sets of teeth. In one tale, this animal saves Genghis Khan’s life by distracting his pursuers with its presence as he hides in a thicket. A princess of Lesbos named Nyctimene is transfigured into this animal after she is assaulted by her father. After he informed the world of the pomegranate seed’s consumption, Persephone used the Phlegethon’s waters to transform Ascalaphus into one of these animals. The striga and strix are associated with these animals, whose feathers adorn the headdress of Mictlantecuhtli (“MEEKT-lahn-TEH-quit-lee”). The flight of this animal over Themistocles’s navy heralded the Athenian victory at Salamis and the favor of a certain “grey-eyed” goddess. For 10 points, what nocturnal birds are symbols of Athena? ■END■
ANSWER: owls [or shar shuvuu; or glaux; or tecolote; accept screech owls; prompt on strix or striges until read; prompt on birds until read]
<Southampton A, Mythology> | Packet K - UCF A, Notre Dame B, Durham A, Michigan State A, Swarthmore A, Cambridge B
= Average correct buzzpoint
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