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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. 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






2. 'That is' used for further explanation: 'in other words...'






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






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






5. Writing after the body of a letter






6. A long poem that narrates the deeds of a hero or the history of a nation & e.g. Homer's Iliad and Odyssey






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






8. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






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






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






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. Maze under the palace of Palace of Minos at Crete & where the Minotaur (half man & half bull) was thought to have been imprisoned






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






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






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






16. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






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






18. Goddess of wisdom






19. Greek god of nature; had the torso and head of a man & but the legs and horns of a goat






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






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






22. 'great-souled & high-minded'






23. 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






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






25. Goddess of love






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






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






28. 'horn of plenty' a symbol of food and abundance






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






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






31. A material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant & used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on






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






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






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






35. '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.






36. The oracle of Apollo; people visited the oracle for guidance and predictions of the future






37. 'All-knowing'






38. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






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






40. Figuratively 'secretly.' Aphrodite gave her son Eros a rose. Eros gave it to Harpocrates & the god of silence & to ensure that his mother's love affairs remained a secret.






41. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






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






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






45. 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






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






47. '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






48. 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






49. 'great-souled & high-minded'






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