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. A polis (city-state) in Greece & center of art and philosophy & named after Athena (its patron goddess); the Acropolis was the hill in Athens where many temples (including the Parthenon & the temple to Athena) were located






2. 'Always prepared'






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






4. 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






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






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






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






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






9. 'The other way around'






10. Doctor of medicine






11. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






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






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






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






15. 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)






16. 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






17. 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






18. 'in memory of'






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






20. The king of the gods; god of thunder and lightning






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






22. Used on documents & coins & monuments & etc. as an official signature of the Roman government






23. Writing after the body of a letter






24. Queen of Sparta Who was promised to Paris by Aphrodite for choosing her (Aphrodite) as the fairest goddess; Helen was already married to Menelaus and her kidnapping began the Trojan War






25. Writing after the body of a letter






26. 'Work conquers all'






27. 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)






28. 'unknown land'






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






30. 10






31. 'peace be with you'






32. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






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






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






35. 'firm ground/solid earth'






36. 'for the time being' - temporary






37. 'in the year of the Lord &' designating the time period after Christ's birth






38. Market place/business center






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






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






41. 'firm ground/solid earth'






42. Goddess of wisdom






43. Goddess of wisdom






44. Home of the Greek gods






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






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






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






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






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






50. 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