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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. 'Thus passes the glory of the world.' i.e. 'Worldly things are fleeting.'






2. 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






3. 50






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






5. One-eyed children of Ouranos/Uranus and Gaea (Mother Earth); sided with Zeus during the war with the Titans; were helpers of the smith-god Hephaestus






6. 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')






7. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






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






9. The technical biological term for the human species

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






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






12. 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






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






14. 'Always prepared'






15. River that runs through the city of Rome






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






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






18. 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






19. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






20. Challenged Athena to a weaving contest and was turned into a spider for her excessive pride






21. Eurydice died on their wedding day. Orpheus went down to the Underworld to bring her back. Hades agreed & on the condition that Eurydice would follow behind Orpheus on their way up to the mortal world and he couldn't check to make sure She was behind






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






23. The garment which signified a Roman man's citizenship






24. Perseus slayed Medusa the Gorgon






25. Site of the Apollo's oracle at Delphi; home of the Muses






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






27. Goddess of childbirth; married to Zeus; queen of the gods






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






29. 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






30. 'To infinity &' to continue forever & without limit






31. 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






32. Used on documents & coins & monuments & etc. as an official signature of the Roman government






33. 'per day'






34. 'After death'






35. God of love and desire; son of Aphrodite






36. 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






37. The male head of a Roman family






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






39. 5






40. The food of the gods; some believe it kept them immortal






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






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






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






44. The messenger god; god of thieves and travelers; son of Zeus; invented the lyre; escorted people to the Underworld when they died






45. Goddess of wisdom






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






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






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






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






50. 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