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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. The male head of a Roman family






2. 'per day'






3. 'Word for word'






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






5. 'note well' i.e. take note






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






7. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






8. 'note well' i.e. take note






9. 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






10. A modern day race of 26.2 miles; from Marathon in Greece & the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) with the news.






11. Refers to an action or condition necessary for something to happen






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






13. 'This for that &' a fair trade






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






15. 'Word for word'






16. 'unknown land'






17. 'beware of the dog'






18. 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






19. 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






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






21. A material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant & used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on






22. 'per year'






23. Refers to an action or condition necessary for something to happen






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






25. 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






26. A mural painted directly onto wet plaster (fresco means 'fresh' in Italian)






27. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






28. Lived in the Labyrinth; fed off of Athenian youths; killed by Theseus






29. The 200 year period of peace which began under the rule of Augustus






30. 'great-souled & high-minded'






31. 'The one who says farewell' -- the student with the highest grade point average & Who is chosen to give a speech at the end of graduation






32. Market place/business center






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






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






35. 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






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






37. 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






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






39. 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






40. The arena for gladiatorial games in Rome (also known as the Flavian Amphitheater)






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






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






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






44. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (i); commonly used in the phrase 'not one iota &' meaning 'not one bit'






45. 500






46. 1000






47. 'boyish &' 'childlike' (from puer- boy)






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






49. 'Time flies/flees'






50. 'seize the day'