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






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






3. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






4. A serpent-like monster with many heads and poisonous breath; when one head got cut off & it grew two more; killed by Hercules as his second labor






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






6. A king Who was tortured in the Underworld by having water and grapes within his reach & but the water and grapes pulled away whenever he went to take drink or a bite






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






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






9. Titan who had to hold up the heavens on his shoulders as punishment for rebelling against Zeus






10. A member of one of the original aristocratic families of Rome; 'aristocratic'






11. 'Always prepared'






12. 'great work'






13. God of wine and revelry; son of Zeus and Semele






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






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






16. 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






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






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






19. 'Time flies/flees'






20. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






21. 5






22. A system created by the Romans which carried water over long distances






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






24. 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






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






26. Was chosen by Zeus to settle the argument of Who was the fairest of the goddesses; he chose Aphrodite because she promised him the most beautiful woman in the world if he chose her






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






28. 'doctor/teacher of philosophy' - an advanced academic degree






29. 'And others'






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






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






32. 'That is' used for further explanation: 'in other words...'






33. 'in memory of'






34. 'unknown land'






35. 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






36. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






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






38. River that runs through the city of Rome






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






40. 'for the time being' - temporary






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






42. The river surrounding the Underworld






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






44. 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)






45. 'That is' used for further explanation: 'in other words...'






46. 'firm ground/solid earth'






47. 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)






48. 'Thus always & to tyrants.' Allegedly said by Brutus during the assassination of Caesar. John Wilkes Booth also shouted it after shooting President Lincoln. It is now the motto of Virginia.






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






50. 'for the time being' - temporary