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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. The garment which signified a Roman man's citizenship






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






3. 'Higher!' -- the state motto of New York






4. A state of disorganized matter from which the gods and the world were created






5. 50






6. 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






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






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






9. 50






10. '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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






17. 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






18. 'Work conquers all'






19. A system created by the Romans which carried water over long distances






20. The king of the gods; god of thunder and lightning






21. 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






22. 'I'






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






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






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






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






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






28. 'I'






29. 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






30. 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






31. Religion in Which many gods are worshipped (from Greek poly 'many' and theoi 'gods')






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






33. 1000






34. 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






35. 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






36. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






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






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






39. God of the sea






40. Through & by way of (from via- road & way)






41. The river surrounding the Underworld






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






43. God of war






44. Goddess of grain & the harvest & and the seasons; mother of Persephone/Proserpina






45. '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.






46. The male head of a Roman family






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






48. Goddess of wisdom






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






50. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon