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






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






3. Half-man & half-goat creatures; companions of Pan and Dionysus






4. Carthaginian general who attacked Italy by crossing the Italian Alps in the 2nd Punic War; He was eventually defeated by Scipio at the Battle of Zama






5. Goddess of the hearth






6. Kingdom in Asia Minor which fought against Greece in Homer's Iliad






7. God of wine and revelry; son of Zeus and Semele






8. Spirits who carry out curses and torture for wrongdoing toward one's family member (s)






9. 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






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






11. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






12. 'And others'






13. The people in control of the Italian peninsula before Rome began to spread






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






15. The ferryman for the river Styx going into the underworld






16. 'peace be with you'






17. One-eyed children of Ouranos/Uranus and Gaea (Mother Earth); sided with Zeus during the war with the Titans; were helpers of the smith-god Hephaestus






18. 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






19. Female monsters who had snakes for hair and whose horrifying gaze could turn a man to stone if he looked at them (Medusa was one of the Gorgons)






20. 'Against' & used to show Who is up against who in sports matches & legal battles & etc.






21. 'in memory of'






22. 'per head' 'per person'






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






24. 'seize the day'






25. 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')






26. Roman officials who were charged with protecting the people (the plebeians) from oppression; they were sacrosanct & meaning no one could harm them






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






28. Doctor of medicine






29. The male head of a Roman family






30. 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






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






32. God of the Underworld/Tartarus






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






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






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






36. 'by mouth' - used on prescription medicines that have to be taken orally






37. 5






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






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






40. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (i); commonly used in the phrase 'not one iota &' meaning 'not one bit'






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






42. Goddess of wisdom






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






44. 'per year'






45. '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






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






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






48. Goddess of the hearth






49. 'Time flies/flees'






50. God of war