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






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






3. A town on the western coast of Italy destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuius in AD 79






4. The golden wool of a ram sought by Jason and the Argonauts






5. One-eyed children of Ouranos/Uranus and Gaea (Mother Earth); sided with Zeus during the war with the Titans; were helpers of the smith-god Hephaestus






6. King of Troy during the Trojan War; father of Hector and Paris; begged Achilles to give his son Hector's body back to be properly buried (Achilles had been dragging it around the city)






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






8. 'This for that &' a fair trade






9. 'I came & I saw & I conquered &' famous words of Julius Caesar






10. 'I'






11. One of the seven hills of Rome & south of the forum; the site of the imperial palace






12. 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






13. 'To infinity &' to continue forever & without limit






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






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






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. 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)






18. Literally refers to the heel of Achilles (a character from the Iliad who killed Hector)

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19. After midday/noon






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






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






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






23. 100






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






25. '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






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






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






28. Goddess of the hunt






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






30. A modern day race of 26.2 miles; from Marathon in Greece & the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) with the news.






31. River that runs through the city of Rome






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






33. 'per year'






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






35. 'unknown land'






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






37. 'The state in which'






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






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






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






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






42. Twin brothers & raised by a wolf; Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome






43. The people in control of the Italian peninsula before Rome began to spread






44. 'Work conquers all'






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






46. 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






47. 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






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






49. Goddess of wisdom






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