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. 'seize the day'






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






3. Goddess of love






4. Home of the Greek gods






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






6. 100






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






8. 'Always prepared'






9. Goddess of the hunt






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






11. 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






12. Greek island in the Ionian Sea; the home of Odysseus






13. 'Time flies/flees'






14. The god of the sky; created the Titans with Gaia & Mother Earth






15. 'After death'






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






17. 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






18. 'in memory of'






19. Goddess of the hunt






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






21. 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






22. 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






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






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






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






26. 'firm ground/solid earth'






27. 'Always faithful' - motto of the US Marines






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






29. Refers to an action or condition necessary for something to happen






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






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






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






33. 50






34. 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






35. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






36. Goddess of the hearth






37. One of the 12 Titans & father of Zeus/Jupiter & who swallowed his children in an attempt to keep from being overthrown






38. Mother Earth; the wife of Uranus & the sky; she gave birth to the Titans & the Cyclopes & and the Hundred-Handed Ones






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






40. The river surrounding the Underworld






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






42. 'per head' 'per person'






43. 'doctor/teacher of philosophy' - an advanced academic degree






44. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






45. 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






46. King punished in Tartarus by having to roll a stone up a hill continuously for eternity; when he reached the top & the stone rolled to the bottom again






47. 'in the year of the Lord &' designating the time period after Christ's birth






48. 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






49. 1000






50. 'Higher!' -- the state motto of New York