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






2. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






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






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






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






6. Speaker's platform in the forum & which was decorated with the prows of ships the Romans captured in war (rostrum means 'beak & prow of a ship')






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






8. Goddess of the hunt






9. The technical biological term for the human species


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






11. 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.






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






13. 'That is' used for further explanation: 'in other words...'






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






15. 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






16. 'The state in which'






17. A picture made from small bits of glass or pottery






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






19. 'Work conquers all'






20. 'And others'






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






22. 'Word for word'






23. 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






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






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






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






27. 'for the time being' - temporary






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






29. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






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






31. 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






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






33. 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






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






35. 'Always prepared'






36. The river surrounding the Underworld






37. '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






38. 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






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






40. 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






41. 'firm ground/solid earth'






42. 'Always faithful' - motto of the US Marines






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






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






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






46. 'The state in which'






47. The male head of a Roman family






48. 'from the office &' 'by right of office' - used to refer to someone Who is a member of a group (a board & committee & council & etc.) because they hold another office/position






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






50. 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