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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. Goddess of love






2. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






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






4. The golden wool of a ram sought by Jason and the Argonauts






5. 'I'






6. Goddess of grain & the harvest & and the seasons; mother of Persephone/Proserpina






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






8. '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






9. God of the sun & light & reason & and the lyre






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






11. River that runs through the city of Rome






12. 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






13. 'great-souled & high-minded'






14. 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.






15. 'per day'






16. 1






17. 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')






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






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






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. Writing after the body of a letter






22. 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






23. God of war






24. Out of her curiosity & she opened a box containing all the bad things in the world; she put the lid on just in time & so that hope did not escape from the box & too






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






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






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






28. Sorceress & wife of Jason; killed their children to get revenge on Jason for leaving her






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






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






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






32. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






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






34. 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






35. 'To err is human' - in other words & it's normal to mess up






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






37. '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.






38. Literally & the apple that Eris (goddess of strife) threw in front of Hera & Aphrodite & and Athena to cause a dispute over Who was the fairest; figuratively & anything which causes a dispute






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






40. The messenger god; god of thieves and travelers; son of Zeus; invented the lyre; escorted people to the Underworld when they died






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






42. '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






43. God of the sea






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






45. 'great work'






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






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






48. 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






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






50. '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.