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. 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






2. The plebs were the free but non-aristocratic citizens of Rome; today & plebeian means 'of a low class'






3. Titan best known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans; He was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by a bird everyday






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






5. Titan best known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans; He was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by a bird everyday






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






13. 1000






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






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






16. 'The end'






17. 'peace be with you'






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






19. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






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






21. 50






22. Through & by way of (from via- road & way)






23. 'from the library of' used as an inscription on a bookplate to show the name of the book's owner: ex libris Mark Twain.






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






25. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






26. 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






27. 'A slip of the tongue'






28. A state of disorganized matter from which the gods and the world were created






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






30. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






31. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






32. 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






33. Doctor of medicine






34. Out of her curiosity & she opened a box containing all the bad things in the world; she put the lid on just in time & so that hope did not escape from the box & too






35. 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






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






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






38. 'Work conquers all'






39. 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






40. 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






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






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






43. 'To infinity &' to continue forever & without limit






44. Mother Earth; the wife of Uranus & the sky; she gave birth to the Titans & the Cyclopes & and the Hundred-Handed Ones






45. Through & by way of (from via- road & way)






46. 1






47. God of the Underworld/Tartarus






48. 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






49. After midday/noon






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