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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 rare bird' - something unique/rare






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

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






4. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






5. A member of one of the original aristocratic families of Rome; 'aristocratic'






6. 'firm ground/solid earth'






7. 50






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






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






10. God of the Underworld/Tartarus






11. 'note well' i.e. take note






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






13. 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






14. '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






15. A bundle of wooden sticks and an axe blade that the attendants of Roman magistrates carried; symbolized the magistrates' power to inflict capital punishment






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






17. King punished in Tartarus by having to roll a stone up a hill continuously for eternity; when he reached the top & the stone rolled to the bottom again






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






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






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






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






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






23. 'beware of the dog'






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






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






26. A modern day race of 26.2 miles; from Marathon in Greece & the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) with the news.






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






28. 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






29. 'A slip of the tongue'






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






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






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






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






34. 'before midday &' in the morning & before noon






35. '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






36. God of the sea






37. 'The other way around'






38. 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)






39. 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)






40. 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






41. 1






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






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






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






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






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






48. 'peace be with you'






49. 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






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