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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 200 year period of peace which began under the rule of Augustus






2. 'seize the day'






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






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. 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






6. Figuratively 'secretly.' Aphrodite gave her son Eros a rose. Eros gave it to Harpocrates & the god of silence & to ensure that his mother's love affairs remained a secret.






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






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






9. 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






10. King of Ithaca who came up with the idea of using the Trojan horse to defeat the city of Troy; hero of the Odyssey






11. The people in control of the Italian peninsula before Rome began to spread






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






13. 'The state in which'






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






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






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






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 garment which signified a Roman man's citizenship






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






20. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






21. 'The end'






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






23. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






24. River that runs through the city of Rome






25. 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






26. Religion in Which many gods are worshipped (from Greek poly 'many' and theoi 'gods')






27. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






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






29. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






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






31. 1






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






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






34. 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')






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






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






37. Sweet-sounding (literally 'flowing like honey')






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






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






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






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






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






43. 'great work'






44. 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






45. 'A rare bird' - something unique/rare






46. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






47. 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)






48. 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')






49. 'per year'






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