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






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






3. 1






4. River that runs through the city of Rome






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






6. 'And you & Brutus?' famous last words of Julius Caesar as the Senate members assassinated him; Brutus was supposed to be a friend of his & but had a hand in the killing






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






8. 'Time flies/flees'






9. God of war






10. 'The end'






11. The golden wool of a ram sought by Jason and the Argonauts






12. God of metallurgy (metal working); married to Aphrodite






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






14. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






15. 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






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






17. 'All-knowing'






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






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






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






21. After midday/noon






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






23. Goddess of victory






24. 'firm ground/solid earth'






25. Doctor of medicine






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






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






28. 'from the office &' 'by right of office' - used to refer to someone Who is a member of a group (a board & committee & council & etc.) because they hold another office/position






29. Greek island in the Ionian Sea; the home of Odysseus






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






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






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






33. The norms or values of a society






34. God of metallurgy (metal working); married to Aphrodite






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






36. 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






37. Home of the Greek gods






38. 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






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






40. One of the 12 Titans & father of Zeus/Jupiter & who swallowed his children in an attempt to keep from being overthrown






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






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






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






44. Sea to the west of Greece; named after King Aegeus after he drowned himself in the sea thinking his son Theseus was dead






45. Market place/business center






46. After midday/noon






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






48. 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






49. '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.






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