Test your basic knowledge |

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. 'A rare bird' - something unique/rare






2. 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






3. The norms or values of a society






4. Athenian prince who killed the Minotaur






5. 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






6. 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






7. Sailed with the Argonauts to take the Golden Fleece






8. 'before midday &' in the morning & before noon






9. 'boyish &' 'childlike' (from puer- boy)






10. 'in the whole &' 'as a whole &' 'totally'; ex: The suggestions were adopted in toto.






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






12. '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






13. 'one out of many' - found on most US minted coins and the back of the dollar bill






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






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






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






17. 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






18. 'A slip of the tongue'






19. 'To the point of sickness' - doing/saying something over and over until everyone is sick and tired of it






20. 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






21. 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.






22. 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






23. 'great-souled & high-minded'






24. 'The one who says farewell' -- the student with the highest grade point average & Who is chosen to give a speech at the end of graduation






25. Prince of Troy Who was killed by Achilles in the Iliad; Achilles tied Hector's dead body to the back of his chariot and dragged it around the city walls three times






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






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






28. 'After death'






29. 'All-knowing'






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






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






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






33. Home of the Greek gods






34. 'per day'






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






36. 'per head' 'per person'






37. Another name for Zeus/Jupiter






38. God of war






39. The golden wool of a ram sought by Jason and the Argonauts






40. 'by mouth' - used on prescription medicines that have to be taken orally






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






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






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






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






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






46. 'Thus always & to tyrants.' Allegedly said by Brutus during the assassination of Caesar. John Wilkes Booth also shouted it after shooting President Lincoln. It is now the motto of Virginia.






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






48. God of the Underworld/Tartarus






49. Literally 'the greatest bridge' -- the chief priest of Roman religion (later & the emperor took on this role); now used to refer to the Pope & the head of the Catholic Church






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