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






2. A serpent-like monster with many heads and poisonous breath; when one head got cut off & it grew two more; killed by Hercules as his second labor






3. King of Troy during the Trojan War; father of Hector and Paris; begged Achilles to give his son Hector's body back to be properly buried (Achilles had been dragging it around the city)






4. 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






5. 'beware of the dog'






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






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






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






9. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






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






11. 'Against' & used to show Who is up against who in sports matches & legal battles & etc.






12. Was chosen by Zeus to settle the argument of Who was the fairest of the goddesses; he chose Aphrodite because she promised him the most beautiful woman in the world if he chose her






13. 'great-souled & high-minded'






14. 'peace be with you'






15. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






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






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






18. 10






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






20. The male head of a Roman family






21. 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






22. '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






23. 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






24. The male head of a Roman family






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






26. A system created by the Romans which carried water over long distances






27. The 9 goddesses who looked after the arts and inspired men in those arts






28. The three goddesses who determine a person's life: when he will be born & how long he will live & and when he will die; one sister spins the thread of life & the second measures out a certain length & and the third cuts it at the end of the person's






29. God of the sea






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






31. 'in memory of'






32. After midday/noon






33. 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






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






35. 'per year'






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






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






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






39. Writing after the body of a letter






40. 'in memory of'






41. 'beware of the dog'






42. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






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






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






45. 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






46. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






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






48. 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')






49. Goddess of the hunt






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