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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. 'in memory of'






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






3. 100






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






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






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






7. Victorious athletes & generals & and emperors wore crowns of made of the branches of the laurel tree to symbolize their victory; now & 'laurels' refer to someone's achievements






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






9. '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






10. 5






11. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






12. 'Always prepared'






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






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






15. 'The end'






16. Goddess of the hearth






17. God of war






18. 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






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






20. 'horn of plenty' a symbol of food and abundance






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






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






23. 'for the sake of an example' - abbreviation used when providing an example






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






25. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






26. 'one out of many' - found on most US minted coins and the back of the dollar bill






27. 'Word for word'






28. 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






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. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






31. Refers to an action or condition necessary for something to happen






32. 'great work'






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






34. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






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






36. A serpent-like monster with many heads and poisonous breath; when one head got cut off & it grew two more; killed by Hercules as his second labor






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






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






39. The river surrounding the Underworld






40. 50






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






42. 'Work conquers all'






43. The arena for gladiatorial games in Rome (also known as the Flavian Amphitheater)






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






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. A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage & a Phoenician city in Northern Africa & for control of the Mediterranean (264-146 BC)






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






48. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






49. Greek island in the Ionian Sea; the home of Odysseus






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