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






2. 'in the year of the Lord &' designating the time period after Christ's birth






3. Goddess of victory






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






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






6. A large horse and chariot racing track in Rome






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






8. The male head of a Roman family






9. 'Work conquers all'






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






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






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






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






14. 'peace be with you'






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






16. 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






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






18. Goddess of love






19. 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.






20. 10






21. After midday/noon






22. 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






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






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






25. 'per year'






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






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






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






29. Temple in Rome dedicated to all the Roman gods






30. 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.






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






32. 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






33. 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






34. Out of her curiosity & she opened a box containing all the bad things in the world; she put the lid on just in time & so that hope did not escape from the box & too






35. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






36. 50






37. 500






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






39. 'note well' i.e. take note






40. Doctor of medicine






41. One of the seven hills of Rome & south of the forum; the site of the imperial palace






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. 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)






44. Sweet-sounding (literally 'flowing like honey')






45. 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.






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






47. 'seize the day'






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






49. Lived in the Labyrinth; fed off of Athenian youths; killed by Theseus






50. 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