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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. 10






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






3. 'This for that &' a fair trade






4. Speaker's platform in the forum & which was decorated with the prows of ships the Romans captured in war (rostrum means 'beak & prow of a ship')






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






12. 'great-souled & high-minded'






13. The male head of a Roman family






14. 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






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






16. 'After death'






17. 'unknown land'






18. Kingdom in Asia Minor which fought against Greece in Homer's Iliad






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






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






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






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






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






24. Doctor of medicine






25. 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






26. A bundle of wooden sticks and an axe blade that the attendants of Roman magistrates carried; symbolized the magistrates' power to inflict capital punishment






27. 5






28. King punished in Tartarus by having to roll a stone up a hill continuously for eternity; when he reached the top & the stone rolled to the bottom again






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






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






31. One of the seven hills of Rome & south of the forum; the site of the imperial palace






32. Literally refers to the heel of Achilles (a character from the Iliad who killed Hector)

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33. 'And the rest' usually seen at the end of a list of things & instead of listing everything






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






35. Goddess of victory






36. 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






37. 'my fault' ; tua culpa -'your fault'






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






39. 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






40. Goddess of the hunt






41. 'in memory of'






42. 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






43. 'After death'






44. Goddess of love






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






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






47. 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






48. 'under penalty' a written order for a person to come testify in court






49. 1






50. 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