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






2. Doctor of medicine






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






4. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






5. 'great work'






6. The river surrounding the Underworld






7. 100






8. Icarus was the son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun with the wings his father made him from wax and feathers & and fell to his death






9. 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






10. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






11. The ferryman for the river Styx going into the underworld






12. 'note well' i.e. take note






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






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






15. 'This for that &' a fair trade






16. 'per head' 'per person'






17. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






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






19. The norms or values of a society






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






21. Homer's epic poem about Odysseus & kind of Ithaca & trying to find his way home from the Trojan War






22. A hollow wooden horse built by the Greeks so that they could get into the walls of Troy. The Greeks pretended to pack up and leave from the war & but some hid in the horse which was later led into the walls of Troy by the Trojans (thinking it was a






23. The norms or values of a society






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






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






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






27. 'great-souled & high-minded'






28. The ferryman for the river Styx going into the underworld






29. 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






30. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






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






32. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






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






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






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






36. The god of the sky; created the Titans with Gaia & Mother Earth






37. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






38. 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






39. Goddess of childbirth; married to Zeus; queen of the gods






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






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






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






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






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






45. 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.






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






47. 'The end'






48. 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






49. 'seize the day'






50. '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.