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






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






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






4. '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.






5. 'per day'






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






7. God of the Underworld/Tartarus






8. Figuratively 'secretly.' Aphrodite gave her son Eros a rose. Eros gave it to Harpocrates & the god of silence & to ensure that his mother's love affairs remained a secret.






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






10. Lived in the Labyrinth; fed off of Athenian youths; killed by Theseus






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






12. 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






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






14. 'peace be with you'






15. 50






16. 10






17. 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






18. 'Always prepared'






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






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






21. After midday/noon






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






23. 500






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






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






26. Large island off the southeast coast of Italy; home of Mt. Etna & a huge volcano; where the Cyclopes lived in the Odyssey






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






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






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






30. Goddess of love






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






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






33. Gladiator who led an uprising of slaves against the Romans in the 1st c. BC






34. 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






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






36. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






37. 100






38. The 15th of March & the day in 44 BC Julius Caesar was assassinated






39. 'per head' 'per person'






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






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






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






43. 'note well' i.e. take note






44. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






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






47. 'unknown land'






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






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






50. 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