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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. '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.






3. 'peace be with you'






4. The daughter of king Minos of Crete & who helped Theseus escape from the labyrinth after he killed the minotaur






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






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






7. 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






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






9. 1000






10. 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






11. Kingdom in Asia Minor which fought against Greece in Homer's Iliad






12. The garment which signified a Roman man's citizenship






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






14. Goddess of victory






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






16. The male head of a Roman family






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






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






19. 'in memory of'






20. 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






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






22. 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






23. The highest political office in the Roman Republic; 2 were elected every year






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






25. 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






26. 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)






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






28. 'boyish &' 'childlike' (from puer- boy)






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






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






31. 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






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






33. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






34. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






35. Victorious athletes & generals & and emperors wore crowns of made of the branches of the laurel tree to symbolize their victory; now & 'laurels' refer to someone's achievements






36. 1000






37. 5






38. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






39. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






40. '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






41. 'under penalty' a written order for a person to come testify in court






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


43. 'A slip of the tongue'






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






45. '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.






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






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






48. Doctor of medicine






49. Good-humored & jolly (ancient astrologers thought that the planet Jupiter fostered cheerfulness)






50. '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