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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. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






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






3. 100






4. 'Time flies/flees'






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






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






7. The norms or values of a society






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






9. City-state in ancient Greece known for its powerful army; fought against Athens in the Peloponnesian Wars






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






11. The 200 year period of peace which began under the rule of Augustus






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






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






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






15. 'in memory of'






16. Figuratively 'secretly.' Aphrodite gave her son Eros a rose. Eros gave it to Harpocrates & the god of silence & to ensure that his mother's love affairs remained a secret.






17. In early mythology & the resting place of heroes; the later mythology & where good people went in the afterlife






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






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






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






21. God of the sea






22. Goddess of love






23. 'seize the day'






24. God of the sea






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






26. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






27. 'To the point of sickness' - doing/saying something over and over until everyone is sick and tired of it






28. A town on the western coast of Italy destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuius in AD 79






29. 'note well' i.e. take note






30. 'Always prepared'






31. Speaker's platform in the forum & which was decorated with the prows of ships the Romans captured in war (rostrum means 'beak & prow of a ship')






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






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

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34. 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






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






36. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






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






38. 'This for that &' a fair trade






39. '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






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






41. 'firm ground/solid earth'






42. 'A slip of the tongue'






43. 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






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






45. 5






46. 'I'






47. 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






48. God of the Underworld/Tartarus






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






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