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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. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






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






3. Volcano which erupted in AD 79 and destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum






4. Out of her curiosity & she opened a box containing all the bad things in the world; she put the lid on just in time & so that hope did not escape from the box & too






5. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






6. 'per head' 'per person'






7. 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






8. 'per year'






9. Large island off the southeast coast of Italy; home of Mt. Etna & a huge volcano; where the Cyclopes lived in the Odyssey






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






11. Icarus was the son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun with the wings his father made him from wax and feathers & and fell to his death






12. The garment which signified a Roman man's citizenship






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






14. Female monsters who had snakes for hair and whose horrifying gaze could turn a man to stone if he looked at them (Medusa was one of the Gorgons)






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






16. 'from the library of' used as an inscription on a bookplate to show the name of the book's owner: ex libris Mark Twain.






17. The god of the sky; created the Titans with Gaia & Mother Earth






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






19. 'I refuse &' used by the president of the US to stop any bill he sees unfit from passing






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






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






22. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






23. Home of the Greek gods






24. The god of the sky; created the Titans with Gaia & Mother Earth






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






26. The three goddesses who determine a person's life: when he will be born & how long he will live & and when he will die; one sister spins the thread of life & the second measures out a certain length & and the third cuts it at the end of the person's






27. The three goddesses who determine a person's life: when he will be born & how long he will live & and when he will die; one sister spins the thread of life & the second measures out a certain length & and the third cuts it at the end of the person's






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






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






30. 'per day'






31. 'from the office &' 'by right of office' - used to refer to someone Who is a member of a group (a board & committee & council & etc.) because they hold another office/position






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






33. 'Time flies/flees'






34. 'Against' & used to show Who is up against who in sports matches & legal battles & etc.






35. The 9 goddesses who looked after the arts and inspired men in those arts






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






37. Literally & the apple that Eris (goddess of strife) threw in front of Hera & Aphrodite & and Athena to cause a dispute over Who was the fairest; figuratively & anything which causes a dispute






38. 'Work conquers all'






39. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






40. The highest political office in the Roman Republic; 2 were elected every year






41. Carthaginian general who attacked Italy by crossing the Italian Alps in the 2nd Punic War; He was eventually defeated by Scipio at the Battle of Zama






42. 'great-souled & high-minded'






43. 'To err is human' - in other words & it's normal to mess up






44. 500






45. A picture made from small bits of glass or pottery






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






47. 'firm ground/solid earth'






48. Site of the Apollo's oracle at Delphi; home of the Muses






49. 'Always prepared'






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