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






2. Goddess of wisdom






3. 'Work conquers all'






4. 'one out of many' - found on most US minted coins and the back of the dollar bill






5. One of the 12 Titans & father of Zeus/Jupiter & who swallowed his children in an attempt to keep from being overthrown






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






7. 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






8. 'After death'






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






10. 'by mouth' - used on prescription medicines that have to be taken orally






11. The plebs were the free but non-aristocratic citizens of Rome; today & plebeian means 'of a low class'






12. 10






13. Religion in Which many gods are worshipped (from Greek poly 'many' and theoi 'gods')






14. Maze under the palace of Palace of Minos at Crete & where the Minotaur (half man & half bull) was thought to have been imprisoned






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






16. 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






17. The ferryman for the river Styx going into the underworld






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






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






20. Religion in Which many gods are worshipped (from Greek poly 'many' and theoi 'gods')






21. 'great-souled & high-minded'






22. God of the sun & light & reason & and the lyre






23. 'And you & Brutus?' famous last words of Julius Caesar as the Senate members assassinated him; Brutus was supposed to be a friend of his & but had a hand in the killing






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






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






26. 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






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






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






29. Spirits who carry out curses and torture for wrongdoing toward one's family member (s)






30. 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)






31. The plebs were the free but non-aristocratic citizens of Rome; today & plebeian means 'of a low class'






32. God of the sea






33. 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






34. Characterized by sitting & inactive (from sedet- to sit)






35. 'for the time being' - temporary






36. A town on the western coast of Italy destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuius in AD 79






37. 'per day'






38. 1000






39. Sea to the west of Greece; named after King Aegeus after he drowned himself in the sea thinking his son Theseus was dead






40. 'one out of many' - found on most US minted coins and the back of the dollar bill






41. 'unknown land'






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






43. Writing after the body of a letter






44. Titan best known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans; He was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by a bird everyday






45. 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






46. 'Always prepared'






47. 'A rare bird' - something unique/rare






48. A town on the western coast of Italy destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuius in AD 79






49. After midday/noon






50. 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