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






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






3. Winged horse which flew from the neck of Medusa the Gorgon after Perseus cut off her head






4. 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






5. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






6. City-state in ancient Greece known for its powerful army; fought against Athens in the Peloponnesian Wars






7. '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






8. Writing after the body of a letter






9. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






10. King punished in Tartarus by having to roll a stone up a hill continuously for eternity; when he reached the top & the stone rolled to the bottom again






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






12. 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






13. The highest political office in the Roman Republic; 2 were elected every year






14. 'great work'






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






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






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






18. King punished in Tartarus by having to roll a stone up a hill continuously for eternity; when he reached the top & the stone rolled to the bottom again






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






20. 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






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






22. River that runs through the city of Rome






23. 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.






24. The river surrounding the Underworld






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






26. 'peace be with you'






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






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






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






30. A teacher Who is like a parent; comes from the Mentor & Odysseus' old friend & whom he left in charge of his son Telemachus when he went off to the Trojan War






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






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






33. Goddess of love






34. Homer's epic poem about Odysseus & kind of Ithaca & trying to find his way home from the Trojan War






35. 'The state in which'






36. A member of one of the original aristocratic families of Rome; 'aristocratic'






37. 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)






38. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






39. The oracle of Apollo; people visited the oracle for guidance and predictions of the future






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






41. Titan who had to hold up the heavens on his shoulders as punishment for rebelling against Zeus






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






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






44. '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.






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. The food of the gods; some believe it kept them immortal






47. 'To the point of sickness' - doing/saying something over and over until everyone is sick and tired of it






48. 'seize the day'






49. Goddess of the hearth






50. 1