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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. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






2. 'That is' used for further explanation: 'in other words...'






3. 'per year'






4. 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






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. 'Always prepared'






7. Festival of Saturn held on December 17th & during which social roles were temporarily reversed (slaves enjoyed relaxed discipline & etc)






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






16. 'And others'






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






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






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






20. 'An unwelcome person' - used in diplomacy to indicate a person Who is barred from entering a certain country






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






22. 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.






23. 'Thus always & to tyrants.' Allegedly said by Brutus during the assassination of Caesar. John Wilkes Booth also shouted it after shooting President Lincoln. It is now the motto of Virginia.






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






25. After midday/noon






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






27. 'Thus passes the glory of the world.' i.e. 'Worldly things are fleeting.'






28. Goddess of victory






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






30. Goddess of the hunt






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






32. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






33. 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






34. Volcano which erupted in AD 79 and destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum






35. Goddess of love






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






37. 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






38. 100






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






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






41. God of the sea






42. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






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






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






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






46. Writing after the body of a letter






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






48. 10






49. 100






50. 'per day'