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






2. Market place/business center






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






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






5. River that runs through the city of Rome






6. The river surrounding the Underworld






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






8. Large island off the southeast coast of Italy; home of Mt. Etna & a huge volcano; where the Cyclopes lived in the Odyssey






9. 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






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






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






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






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






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






15. 'The things that must be done' - a to-do list






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






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






18. 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






19. '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






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






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






22. God of the sea






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






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






25. Literally refers to the heel of Achilles (a character from the Iliad who killed Hector)

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26. Daughter of Demeter; kidnapped by Hades to make her his queen






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






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






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






30. 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






31. God of war






32. 100






33. The oracle of Apollo; people visited the oracle for guidance and predictions of the future






34. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






35. Female monsters who had snakes for hair and whose horrifying gaze could turn a man to stone if he looked at them (Medusa was one of the Gorgons)






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






37. Goddess of wisdom






38. 'The one who says farewell' -- the student with the highest grade point average & Who is chosen to give a speech at the end of graduation






39. The 15th of March & the day in 44 BC Julius Caesar was assassinated






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






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






42. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






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






44. Home of the Greek gods






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






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






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






48. 'in the whole &' 'as a whole &' 'totally'; ex: The suggestions were adopted in toto.






49. 1000






50. God of war