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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. 'I'






3. 'The state in which'






4. 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






5. 'The end'






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






7. 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






8. River that runs through the city of Rome






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






10. 'note well' i.e. take note






11. A polis (city-state) in Greece & center of art and philosophy & named after Athena (its patron goddess); the Acropolis was the hill in Athens where many temples (including the Parthenon & the temple to Athena) were located






12. Goddess of love






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






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






15. Writing after the body of a letter






16. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






17. Site of the Apollo's oracle at Delphi; home of the Muses






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






19. 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






20. 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






21. Goddess of the hearth






22. 'horn of plenty' a symbol of food and abundance






23. 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






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






25. 'I refuse &' used by the president of the US to stop any bill he sees unfit from passing






26. Prince of Troy Who was killed by Achilles in the Iliad; Achilles tied Hector's dead body to the back of his chariot and dragged it around the city walls three times






27. 'for the time being' - temporary






28. 'Always faithful' - motto of the US Marines






29. A picture made from small bits of glass or pottery






30. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






31. 'per day'






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






33. 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






34. 'my fault' ; tua culpa -'your fault'






35. 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






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






37. 'per head' 'per person'






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






39. Gladiator who led an uprising of slaves against the Romans in the 1st c. BC






40. 'Always faithful' - motto of the US Marines






41. 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






42. 'in the year of the Lord &' designating the time period after Christ's birth






43. 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






44. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






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






46. 'This for that &' a fair trade






47. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






48. 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






49. 'Always prepared'






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