Which characters in “The Lord of the Rings” did J.R.R. Tolkien name after a Roman god?
Dwarves
Ents
Orcs
Hobbits
Answer: The correct answer is Orcs
Rome had many gods of the underworld, including Hades and Pluto. Orcus was notable amongst them for serving as a torturer and the “punisher of broken oaths.” However, Orcus also has a notable presence in modern pop culture: he and his name are said to be the inspiration for the violent orcs in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic “The Lord of the Rings” series, as well as a demon prince in one iteration of the game “Dungeons and Dragons.”