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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. 'great work'






2. Sea to the west of Greece; named after King Aegeus after he drowned himself in the sea thinking his son Theseus was dead






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






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






5. 'This for that &' a fair trade






6. Site of the Apollo's oracle at Delphi; home of the Muses






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






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

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






10. 'great-souled & high-minded'






11. A material prepared in ancient Egypt from the pithy stem of a water plant & used in sheets throughout the ancient Mediterranean world for writing or painting on






12. Good-humored & jolly (ancient astrologers thought that the planet Jupiter fostered cheerfulness)






13. Festival of Saturn held on December 17th & during which social roles were temporarily reversed (slaves enjoyed relaxed discipline & etc)






14. 'The end'






15. 'per year'






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






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






18. Goddess of the hearth






19. 'note well' i.e. take note






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






21. The Underworld; in early mythology & everyone went to Tartarus after they died; in later mythology & only bad people went to Tartarus after they died






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






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






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






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






26. '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.






27. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






28. '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






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






30. 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






31. 'great work'






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






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






34. Challenged Athena to a weaving contest and was turned into a spider for her excessive pride






35. 'per day'






36. Queen of Sparta Who was promised to Paris by Aphrodite for choosing her (Aphrodite) as the fairest goddess; Helen was already married to Menelaus and her kidnapping began the Trojan War






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






38. 'per year'






39. 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)






40. The technical biological term for the human species

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






42. Blind poet Who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey






43. 500






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






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






46. Goddess of wisdom






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






48. 'And the rest' usually seen at the end of a list of things & instead of listing everything






49. The river surrounding the Underworld






50. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods