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






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






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






4. 'The state in which'






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






6. Volcano which erupted in AD 79 and destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum






7. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






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






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






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






11. 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')






12. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






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






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






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






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






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






18. Goddess of wisdom






19. 'great-souled & high-minded'






20. The river surrounding the Underworld






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






22. The male head of a Roman family






23. Titan who had to hold up the heavens on his shoulders as punishment for rebelling against Zeus






24. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






25. 'All-knowing'






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






27. 'The end'






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






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






30. 'note well' i.e. take note






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






32. 'great work'






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






34. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






35. 'The other way around'






36. 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






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






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






39. 'in memory of'






40. 50






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






42. God of war






43. 'Work conquers all'






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






45. 'firm ground/solid earth'






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






47. Market place/business center






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






49. Sea to the west of Greece; named after King Aegeus after he drowned himself in the sea thinking his son Theseus was dead






50. 'per year'