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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. The river surrounding the Underworld






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






3. God of the sea






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






5. 'Work conquers all'






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






7. A king Who was tortured in the Underworld by having water and grapes within his reach & but the water and grapes pulled away whenever he went to take drink or a bite






8. Goddess of the hearth






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






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






11. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






12. 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






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






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






15. 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)






16. 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






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






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






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






20. 'The end'






21. 'To err is human' - in other words & it's normal to mess up






22. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






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






24. The daughter of king Minos of Crete & who helped Theseus escape from the labyrinth after he killed the minotaur






25. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






26. 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






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






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






29. 'Word for word'






30. 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






31. Home of the Greek gods






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






33. 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






34. '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.






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






36. A hollow wooden horse built by the Greeks so that they could get into the walls of Troy. The Greeks pretended to pack up and leave from the war & but some hid in the horse which was later led into the walls of Troy by the Trojans (thinking it was a






37. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






38. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






39. 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






40. 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






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






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






43. Daughter of Demeter; kidnapped by Hades to make her his queen






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






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






46. The garment which signified a Roman man's citizenship






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






48. 'I refuse &' used by the president of the US to stop any bill he sees unfit from passing






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






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