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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. City-state in ancient Greece known for its powerful army; fought against Athens in the Peloponnesian Wars






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






3. 'before midday &' in the morning & before noon






4. Goddess of wisdom






5. 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)






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






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






8. 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)






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






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






11. 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






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






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






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






15. Goddess of the hunt






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






17. 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






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






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






20. After midday/noon






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






22. 'great work'






23. The wife of Odysseus; a model of faithfulness to one's husband






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






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






26. Temple devoted to Athena; located on the Acropolis of Athens






27. 'All-knowing'






28. 'firm ground/solid earth'






29. 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






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






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






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






33. 'I'






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






35. 'note well' i.e. take note






36. 'The other way around'






37. Prince of Troy Who was killed by Achilles in the Iliad; Achilles tied Hector's dead body to the back of his chariot and dragged it around the city walls three times






38. 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






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






40. 'for the time being' - temporary






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






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






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






44. 'I came & I saw & I conquered &' famous words of Julius Caesar






45. 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






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






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






48. The food of the gods; some believe it kept them immortal






49. Goddess of the hearth






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