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






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






3. 'beware of the dog'






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






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






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






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






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






9. The norms or values of a society






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






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






12. 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.






13. 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






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






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






16. 'my fault' ; tua culpa -'your fault'






17. 'The other way around'






18. 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')






19. 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






20. 1






21. 'I'






22. God of wine and revelry; son of Zeus and Semele






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. 'This for that &' a fair trade






25. 'The end'






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






27. 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






28. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






29. First emperor of the Roman Empire; adopted son of Julius Caesar; member of the 2nd Triumvirate; also known as Octavian






30. Gladiator who led an uprising of slaves against the Romans in the 1st c. BC






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






32. 'unknown land'






33. The city in Northern Africa that the Romans fought and destroyed during the Punic Wars (264-146 BC.)






34. Home of the Greek gods






35. 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)






36. 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






37. Goddess of wisdom






38. The plebs were the free but non-aristocratic citizens of Rome; today & plebeian means 'of a low class'






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






40. Titan best known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans; He was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by a bird everyday






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






48. Spirits who carry out curses and torture for wrongdoing toward one's family member (s)






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






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