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






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






3. 'beware of the dog'






4. After midday/noon






5. 'The other way around'






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






7. '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






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






9. 'Work conquers all'






10. 'And the rest' usually seen at the end of a list of things & instead of listing everything






11. 'And others'






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






13. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






14. 5






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






16. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






17. 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






18. 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






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






20. Through & by way of (from via- road & way)






21. 'peace be with you'






22. 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.






23. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






24. 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






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






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






27. Goddess of wisdom






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






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






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






31. 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






32. God of the sea






33. 'The other way around'






34. Icarus was the son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun with the wings his father made him from wax and feathers & and fell to his death






35. 'Work conquers all'






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






37. God of the sea






38. 50






39. Prince of Troy Who was killed by Achilles in the Iliad; Achilles tied Hector's dead body to the back of his chariot and dragged it around the city walls three times






40. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






41. The norms or values of a society






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






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






44. Goddess of childbirth; married to Zeus; queen of the gods






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






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






47. City-state in ancient Greece known for its powerful army; fought against Athens in the Peloponnesian Wars






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






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






50. Icarus was the son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun with the wings his father made him from wax and feathers & and fell to his death