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






2. Titan best known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humans; He was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by a bird everyday






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






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






6. 'Always prepared'






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






8. 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






9. 'per head' 'per person'






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






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






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






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






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






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






16. 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






17. God of war






18. 'A slip of the tongue'






19. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






20. Inventor who created the Labyrinth where the Minotaur lived






21. 'seize the day'






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






23. River that runs through the city of Rome






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






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






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






27. 'great-souled & high-minded'






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






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






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






31. Goddess of wisdom






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






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






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






35. Literally & the apple that Eris (goddess of strife) threw in front of Hera & Aphrodite & and Athena to cause a dispute over Who was the fairest; figuratively & anything which causes a dispute






36. A modern day race of 26.2 miles; from Marathon in Greece & the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) with the news.






37. 'from the office &' 'by right of office' - used to refer to someone Who is a member of a group (a board & committee & council & etc.) because they hold another office/position






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






39. 'per day'






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






41. 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






42. Icarus was the son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun with the wings his father made him from wax and feathers & and fell to his death






43. 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






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






45. The technical biological term for the human species

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46. 5






47. 'note well' i.e. take note






48. Icarus was the son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun with the wings his father made him from wax and feathers & and fell to his death






49. 1000






50. A modern day race of 26.2 miles; from Marathon in Greece & the scene of a victory over the Persians in 490 BC; the modern race is based on the tradition that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens (26 miles) with the news.