Test your basic knowledge |

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. Goddess of grain & the harvest & and the seasons; mother of Persephone/Proserpina






2. Twin brothers & raised by a wolf; Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome






3. God of the sea






4. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






5. Goddess of childbirth; married to Zeus; queen of the gods






6. Greek god of nature; had the torso and head of a man & but the legs and horns of a goat






7. 'seize the day'






8. A mural painted directly onto wet plaster (fresco means 'fresh' in Italian)






9. The people in control of the Italian peninsula before Rome began to spread






10. Winged horse which flew from the neck of Medusa the Gorgon after Perseus cut off her head






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






12. A state of disorganized matter from which the gods and the world were created






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






14. Lived in the Labyrinth; fed off of Athenian youths; killed by Theseus






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






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






17. 'unknown land'






18. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






19. 'note well' i.e. take note






20. 'The state in which'






21. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






22. Goddess of wisdom






23. 'for the sake of an example' - abbreviation used when providing an example






24. The city in Northern Africa that the Romans fought and destroyed during the Punic Wars (264-146 BC.)






25. 1000






26. God of metallurgy (metal working); married to Aphrodite






27. Gladiator who led an uprising of slaves against the Romans in the 1st c. BC






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






29. A modern day race of 26.2 miles; from Marathon in Greece & the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) with the news.






30. Goddess of victory






31. Daughter of Demeter; kidnapped by Hades to make her his queen






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






33. 'per year'






34. The oracle of Apollo; people visited the oracle for guidance and predictions of the future






35. 'After death'






36. 'Always prepared'






37. A teacher Who is like a parent; comes from the Mentor & Odysseus' old friend & whom he left in charge of his son Telemachus when he went off to the Trojan War






38. Through & by way of (from via- road & way)






39. Temple devoted to Athena; located on the Acropolis of Athens






40. 'With highest honors' graduating from college in the highest grade scale






41. Winged horse which flew from the neck of Medusa the Gorgon after Perseus cut off her head






42. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






43. A state of disorganized matter from which the gods and the world were created






44. First emperor of the Roman Empire; adopted son of Julius Caesar; member of the 2nd Triumvirate; also known as Octavian






45. 'I came & I saw & I conquered &' famous words of Julius Caesar






46. 5






47. Eurydice died on their wedding day. Orpheus went down to the Underworld to bring her back. Hades agreed & on the condition that Eurydice would follow behind Orpheus on their way up to the mortal world and he couldn't check to make sure She was behind






48. First emperor of the Roman Empire; adopted son of Julius Caesar; member of the 2nd Triumvirate; also known as Octavian






49. The daughter of king Minos of Crete & who helped Theseus escape from the labyrinth after he killed the minotaur






50. A long poem that narrates the deeds of a hero or the history of a nation & e.g. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey