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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 people in control of the Italian peninsula before Rome began to spread






2. One of the 12 Titans & father of Zeus/Jupiter & who swallowed his children in an attempt to keep from being overthrown






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






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






5. The river surrounding the Underworld






6. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






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






8. 'After death'






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






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






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






12. Greek island in the Ionian Sea; the home of Odysseus






13. Usually referring to Julius Caesar & the Roman dictator Who was assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15th) 44 BCE






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






15. 50






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






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

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18. 'Time flies/flees'






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






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






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






22. 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






23. 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






24. First emperor of the Roman Empire; adopted son of Julius Caesar; member of the 2nd Triumvirate; also known as Octavian






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






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






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






28. 'great work'






29. 'doctor/teacher of philosophy' - an advanced academic degree






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






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






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






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






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






35. 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)






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






37. The daughter of king Minos of Crete & who helped Theseus escape from the labyrinth after he killed the minotaur






38. 'per day'






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






40. 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






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






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






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






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






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






46. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






47. 5






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






49. 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')






50. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter