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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 plebs were the free but non-aristocratic citizens of Rome; today & plebeian means 'of a low class'






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






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






4. After midday/noon






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






6. Titan best known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans; He was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by a bird everyday






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






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






9. 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






10. 'per day'






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






12. Usually referring to Julius Caesar & the Roman dictator Who was assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15th) 44 BCE






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






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






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






16. The three goddesses who determine a person's life: when he will be born & how long he will live & and when he will die; one sister spins the thread of life & the second measures out a certain length & and the third cuts it at the end of the person's






17. 10






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






19. 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






20. 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






21. 'The things that must be done' - a to-do list






22. After midday/noon






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






24. 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)






25. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






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






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






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






29. 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






30. 'I'






31. 'per head' 'per person'






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






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






34. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






35. 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






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






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






38. 'under penalty' a written order for a person to come testify in court






39. '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






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






41. 'The end'






42. The plebs were the free but non-aristocratic citizens of Rome; today & plebeian means 'of a low class'






43. The technical biological term for the human species

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44. King of Ithaca who came up with the idea of using the Trojan horse to defeat the city of Troy; hero of the Odyssey






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






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






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






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






49. 'After death'






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