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






2. 'Work conquers all'






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






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






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






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






7. A bundle of wooden sticks and an axe blade that the attendants of Roman magistrates carried; symbolized the magistrates' power to inflict capital punishment






8. 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






9. '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






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






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






12. 'per head' 'per person'






13. The city in Northern Africa that the Romans fought and destroyed during the Punic Wars (264-146 BC.)






14. God of the sun & light & reason & and the lyre






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






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






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

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






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






20. A serpent-like monster with many heads and poisonous breath; when one head got cut off & it grew two more; killed by Hercules as his second labor






21. Epic poem written by Home chronicling the Trojan War






22. 'note well' i.e. take note






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. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






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






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






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






28. A king Who was tortured in the Underworld by having water and grapes within his reach & but the water and grapes pulled away whenever he went to take drink or a bite






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






30. Mother Earth; the wife of Uranus & the sky; she gave birth to the Titans & the Cyclopes & and the Hundred-Handed Ones






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






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






33. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






34. Goddess of the hearth






35. 'in memory of'






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






37. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






38. A king Who was tortured in the Underworld by having water and grapes within his reach & but the water and grapes pulled away whenever he went to take drink or a bite






39. 'great-souled & high-minded'






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






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






42. 1






43. 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






44. The wife of Odysseus; a model of faithfulness to one's husband






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






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






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






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






49. Temple devoted to Athena; located on the Acropolis of Athens






50. After midday/noon