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Classical Literacy

Subject : literacy
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. 'from the library of' used as an inscription on a bookplate to show the name of the book's owner: ex libris Mark Twain.






2. 'A slip of the tongue'






3. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






4. A bundle of wooden sticks and an axe blade that the attendants of Roman magistrates carried; symbolized the magistrates' power to inflict capital punishment






5. 'Always faithful' - motto of the US Marines






6. 'After death'






7. God of the sea






8. One-eyed children of Ouranos/Uranus and Gaea (Mother Earth); sided with Zeus during the war with the Titans; were helpers of the smith-god Hephaestus






9. The Underworld; in early mythology & everyone went to Tartarus after they died; in later mythology & only bad people went to Tartarus after they died






10. The technical biological term for the human species

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11. Literally 'the greatest bridge' -- the chief priest of Roman religion (later & the emperor took on this role); now used to refer to the Pope & the head of the Catholic Church






12. 'per year'






13. The male head of a Roman family






14. 'Thus passes the glory of the world.' i.e. 'Worldly things are fleeting.'






15. King of Troy during the Trojan War; father of Hector and Paris; begged Achilles to give his son Hector's body back to be properly buried (Achilles had been dragging it around the city)






16. 'Higher!' -- the state motto of New York






17. 'To the point of sickness' - doing/saying something over and over until everyone is sick and tired of it






18. Literally refers to the heel of Achilles (a character from the Iliad who killed Hector)

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19. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






20. 'in the whole &' 'as a whole &' 'totally'; ex: The suggestions were adopted in toto.






21. 'in the whole &' 'as a whole &' 'totally'; ex: The suggestions were adopted in toto.






22. Usually referring to Julius Caesar & the Roman dictator Who was assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15th) 44 BCE






23. In early mythology & the resting place of heroes; the later mythology & where good people went in the afterlife






24. Homer's epic poem about Odysseus & kind of Ithaca & trying to find his way home from the Trojan War






25. King of Ithaca who came up with the idea of using the Trojan horse to defeat the city of Troy; hero of the Odyssey






26. The arena for gladiatorial games in Rome (also known as the Flavian Amphitheater)






27. Refers to an action or condition necessary for something to happen






28. Half-man & half-goat creatures; companions of Pan and Dionysus






29. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






30. The three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the Underworld






31. The 15th of March & the day in 44 BC Julius Caesar was assassinated






32. 5






33. Reception hall (like the living room) in a Roman house






34. The food of the gods; some believe it kept them immortal






35. Roman officials who were charged with protecting the people (the plebeians) from oppression; they were sacrosanct & meaning no one could harm them






36. 'horn of plenty' a symbol of food and abundance






37. 1






38. A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage & a Phoenician city in Northern Africa & for control of the Mediterranean (264-146 BC)






39. 'The things that must be done' - a to-do list






40. Victorious athletes & generals & and emperors wore crowns of made of the branches of the laurel tree to symbolize their victory; now & 'laurels' refer to someone's achievements






41. Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the responsibilities of a parent






42. Son of Zeus; had to complete 12 labors to regain favor with the gods after killing his family; when he died & he became a god






43. Greek island in the Ionian Sea; the home of Odysseus






44. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






45. 'All-knowing'






46. Good-humored & jolly (ancient astrologers thought that the planet Jupiter fostered cheerfulness)






47. 'for the time being' - temporary






48. Sorceress & wife of Jason; killed their children to get revenge on Jason for leaving her






49. 'An unwelcome person' - used in diplomacy to indicate a person Who is barred from entering a certain country






50. The messenger god; god of thieves and travelers; son of Zeus; invented the lyre; escorted people to the Underworld when they died