Test your basic knowledge |

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. 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






2. 'note well' i.e. take note






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






4. 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






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






6. Twin brothers & raised by a wolf; Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome






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






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






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






10. 'A rare bird' - something unique/rare






11. One of the seven hills of Rome & south of the forum; the site of the imperial palace






12. 'per day'






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






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






15. 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)






16. 'unknown land'






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






18. The food of the gods; some believe it kept them immortal






19. 'seize the day'






20. 'for the time being' - temporary






21. 'After death'






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






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






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






25. 10






26. The food of the gods; some believe it kept them immortal






27. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






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






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






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






31. 'The other way around'






32. '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






33. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






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






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






36. 'Work conquers all'






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






38. Reception hall (like the living room) in a Roman house






39. Sweet-sounding (literally 'flowing like honey')






40. Used on documents & coins & monuments & etc. as an official signature of the Roman government






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






42. Challenged Athena to a weaving contest and was turned into a spider for her excessive pride






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






44. 'per year'






45. 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






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






47. 'peace be with you'






48. 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






49. 'All-knowing'






50. 'for the sake of an example' - abbreviation used when providing an example