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






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






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






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






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






6. 'great-souled & high-minded'






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






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






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






10. 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






11. God of metallurgy (metal working); married to Aphrodite






12. 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






13. 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






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






15. '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.






16. '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.






17. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






18. God of metallurgy (metal working); married to Aphrodite






19. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






20. 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






21. 'great work'






22. A state of disorganized matter from which the gods and the world were created






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






24. 'The one who says farewell' -- the student with the highest grade point average & Who is chosen to give a speech at the end of graduation






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






26. 'Thus passes the glory of the world.' i.e. 'Worldly things are fleeting.'






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






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






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






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






31. God of the Underworld/Tartarus






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






33. In early mythology & the resting place of heroes; the later mythology & where good people went in the afterlife






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






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






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






37. 5






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






39. 'before midday &' in the morning & before noon






40. 'per head' 'per person'






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






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






43. 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






44. 'I'






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






46. 1000






47. 'great work'






48. Home of the Greek gods






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






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