Certamen Flashcards
Which river of the underworld, the river of hate, is most commonly said to surround the underworld as a whole?
Styx
Which river of the underworld do spirits drink from to forget their memories?
Lethe
Which river, if not Styx, surrounds Tartarus and all the bad, bad people that live there, and is known as the river of woe?
Acheron
What enemy did Odysseus overcome with wine and a sharp stick?
Polyphemus
What enemy did Odysseus overcome with the herb Moly?
Circe
What enemy did Odysseus overcome with the help of a bow, a swine herd, a cow herd, Athena, and his son?
The Suitors of Penelope
How many of the emperors of 69 AD were stationed in Rome at the time of Nero’s death?
None
From which province did Vespasian come to Rome?
Judea
In a chariot race, each chariot could be pulled by as few as two or as many as seven horses. What was the most common number of horses which one would expect to see on a team in a chariot race?
Four
Suppose you were racing in a chariot in the Circus Maximus, being pulled by four horses. Which of the four horses in front of you was considered to be most strategically important?
The horse on the extreme left.
What was the Latin honorary name given to a horse who figured in 100 victories during its career.
Centenarius
What daughter of Zeus was kidnapped from Sicily by her uncle Hades to be his wife?
Persephone
Who was the mother of Persephone, who took the news of her abduction rather poorly?
Demeter
What foreign adventurer, who had once been king of Macedon, was hired by the city of Tarentum to fight Rome?
Pyrrhus
What other king of Epirus, a brother in law of Alexander the Great, was also hired by Tarentum in 334 BC?
Alexander of Epirus
Where was Pyrrhus finally defeated by Curius Dentatus in 275 BC?
Beneventum
What general competed with the literary patron Maecenas for the favor of emperor Augustus?
Agrippa
What relative of Augustus did Agrippa marry?
Julia (his daughter)
What object did Augustus give Agrippa when he thought he was dying?
His signet ring.
What prophetess, also called Deiphobe, helps Aeneas gain access to the underworld in the sixth book of Virgil’s Aeneid?
The Sibyl of Cumae.
While in the underworld, Aeneas unsuccessfully attempts to talk to his former lover Dido. Without speaking to Aeneas, to whom does Dido leave him for?
Sychaeus (her husband)
Who in the underworld tells Aeneas about Marcellus, who will die at a young age?
Anchises (his father)
At what battle in 378 AD did the Gothic leader Fritigern annihilate a Roman army?
Adrianople
Whom did Milanion beat in a foot race by tossing golden apples?
Atalanta
What would have happened to Milanion if he had lost the foot race?
He would have been killed
Who son of Atalanta fought in the first expedition against Thebes?
Parthenopaeus
What is the term for the locket worn by Roman children?
Bulla
Roman children often played with crepundia. What were crepundia?
Rattles
What is the modern equivalent of the Roman game latrunculi?
Chess
Name the general who destroyed Carthage in 146 BC?
Scipio Aemilianus
What city fell to Aemilianus in 133 BC?
Numantia
Scipio Amilianus was adopted into this famous family. His real father, Lucius Aemilius Paullus, was also a distinguished general, known for his victory over Macedonia in 168 BC. Which king did he defeat in battle?
Perseus
Who was the mother of Apollo and Artemis?
Leto
Who boasted of having more children than Leto?
Niobe
What happened to Niobe after Apollo and Artemis killed her children?
She turned into a weeping rock
Give the name of the shops often located on the ground floor of Roman insulae.
Tabernae
Give the Latin term for the shop where a Roman would buy bread?
Pistrina
Where would a Roman go to purchase a hot meal?
Thermopolium
Name the granddaughter of Augustus who was the mother of the emperor Caligula
Agrippina
Which Olympian invented the lyre?
Hermes
Which elected official was in charge of the army’s food supply, equipment, and pay?
Quaestor
What were the lowest ranking commissioned offices in the army called?
Tribunes
How many tribunes were assigned to each legion?
Six
Who killed the Crommyonian Sow?
Theseus
Name the bandit whom Theseus killed by tying his limbs to a pine tree?
Sinis
Theseus killed the Crommyonian Sow and Sinis while traveling to Athens to meet his father. Who was his father?
Aegeus
Which king of Rome organized the state into classes based on wealth, built a stone wall around the city, and was assassinated by his successor?
Servius Tullius
Which king is credited with building the Cloaca Maxima in Rome?
Tarquinius Superbus
The rape of Lucretia by the son of Superbus led to the fall of the Tarquins. Name the husband of Lucretia who became one of the first two consuls of the Republic.
Collantinus
Which artist fell in love with his own statue?
Pygmalion
Who fell in love with a maiden who was about to be devoured by a sea monster?
Perseus
Who fell in love with himself?
Narcissus
What did a gladiator receive when he retired?
A wooden sword (rudis)
What was a gladiator who was making his first public appearance called?
Tiro
What was a lanista?
Gladiator Trainer
Who ended a period of civil war in Rome when he became emperor in 193 AD?
Septimius Severus
Under what circumstances did Didius Julianus become emperor?
He was the highest bidder at an auction.
Name the son of Septimius Severus who murdered his brother to become the sole ruler of Rome?
Caracalla
To whom did a Roman bride dedicate her childhood clothes and toys?
Lares
A brides hair was divided into six locks by a spear. Who else wore their hair in this way?
Vestal virgins
What was thrown as a good luck charm to the guests at a Roman wedding?
Torch
Name the wife whom Heracles killed in a fit of insanity
Megara
Name Heracles’ second wife who committed suicide upon learning that she was responsible for her husband’s death.
Deianeira
Whom did Heracles marry after he became immortal?
Hebe
Which emperor commemorated his campaigns against the Marconanni and the Quadi by erecting a column in Rome?
Marcus Aurelius
Who ruled jointly with Marcus Aurelius during the early part of his reign?
Lucius Verus
Marcus Aurelius was the last of the “Five Good Emperors.” Which of these emperors rules for the longest period of time?
Antoninus Pius
What type of toga would a Roman wear when he was in mourning?
Toga Pulla
Give the name of the colored tunic ensemble Romans wore to dinner parties?
Synthesis
Who was permitted to wear a paludamentum?
A general
Which influential Roman was murdered December 7, 43 BC?
Cicero
Who built Rome’s first aqueduct?
Appius Claudius Caecus
Who’s offer of peace did Appius Claudius convince the Senate to reject even though they had suffered defeats at both Heraclea and Asculum?
Pyrrhus
Which southern Italian city had sought Pyrrhus’ help against the Romans?
Tarentum
Which hero visited the underworld in an attempt to abduct Persephone?
Theseus
From whom did Odysseus seek advice in the Underworld?
Teiresias
Who visited the Underworld to plead for his wife?
Orpheus
Name the son of Pelops who killed his brother’s children and served them to their father as an act of vengeance.
Atreus
Whom did Constantine defeat at the Battle of Milvian Bridge?
Maxentius
Name the father of Maxentius who had ruled as co-Augustus with Diocletian.
Maximian
Name the daughter of Maximian whom Constantine married.
Fausta
What gladiator fought with a net and a trident?
Retiarius
What were mock naval battles called?
Naumachiae
What were venationes?
Staged hunts
The Second Punic War might be described as the “World War” of ancient times. In what year were the peace terms ratified by both sides?
201 BC
One of the provisions stated that the Carthiginian fleet be reduced. How many ships could they have?
10
Carthage was also restricted in its ability to wage war. What would it have to do in order to fight?
Get Rome’s consent
Who was the first non-Italian emperor?
Trajan
Where was Trajan buried?
At the base of his column
What river in the underworld was the river of oaths by which the gods had to swear?
Styx
Which river in the underworld was the river of fire?
Phlegethon
Which river in the underworld was the river of forgetfulness?
Lethe
Which mythological creature never grew old, but eventually died when she was killed by Argus?
Echidna
What man ferried people across the Styx?
Charon
What fee did Charon collect to ferry people across the Styx?
One obol
Where was the coin placed to pay Charon when someone died?
In their mouth
Who lit Hercules’ funeral pyre and received his bows and arrows for the deed?
Philoctetes
On which island was Philoctetes marooned by the Greek fleet on their way to Troy?
Lemnos
How many ships did Philoctetes command when he left his capital, Meliboen?
Seven
In what year did the battle of Cynoscephalae occur?
197 BC
Who was the Greek leader determined to stake his fortunes in the Battle of Cynoscephalae?
Philip V
How many decemviri actually wrote the twelve tables?
19
A “Pyrrhic victory” has come to mean something won at a high cost. In what year did Pyrrhus defeat the Romans at the Battle of Heraclea?
280 BC
In which battle of 279 BC did Pyrrhus meet the Romans?
Asculum
One of Pyrrhus’ advantages over the Romans was his advanced troops. What particular unit did he have in common with Hannibal?
War elephants
Which of the Greek fighters at Troy carried the body of Achilles from the field?
Ajax the Greater
What symbol did Zues send Hercules to signal the Ajax the Greater would be born?
An eagle
With what weapon did Ajax the Greater commit suicide?
The sword the Hector had given him.
What was the Arrarium, located in the Roman Forum?
The Public Treasury
In which temple was the Aerarium located?
The Temple of Saturn
Which official served as the public treasurer?
Quaestor
Who tried to avoid fighting in the Trojan War by feigning insanity?
Odysseus
Who was the son of Odysseus?
Telemachus
Which goddess aided both Odysseus and Telemachus?
Athena
At what battle was a Roman army destroyed in 9 AD?
Teutoberg Forest
Name the Roman commander who lost three legions in the Battle of Teutoberg Forest.
Varus
What was a fibula?
Pin
What was the only piece of jewelry Roman men wore?
Ring
What was the favorite precious stone of Roman women?
Pearl
What was the name of Odysseus’ faithful dog?
Argus
What was the outstanding feature of the monster Argus?
He had 100 eyes.
Name the first member of the Severan dynasty.
Septimius Severus
In what year did Septimius Severus become emperor?
193 AD
Which two men, other than Septimius Severus, served as empower in 193 AD?
Pertinax and Didius Julianus
Who was the mother of Helen?
Leda
Who was the mother of Hercules?
Alcmena
Who was the mother of Perseus?
Danae
Who won the battle of Caudine Forks?
Samnites
In what year was the battle of Caudine Forks fought?
321 BC
How did the Samnites punish the Romans for their defeat in the battle of Caudine Forks?
They sent them under the yoke
What kind of cape did a regular soldier wear?
Sagum
What other purpose did a sagum serve?
Knapsack
What was a galea?
Helmet
To which kingdom did Jason have to go to find the Golden Fleece?
Colchis
Who killed his brother Geta to become sole emperor?
Caracalla
Caracalla was a nickname. Why is he called that?
He liked to dress in a long Gallic cloak
