Random Novice Certamen Questions Flashcards

1
Q

What Muse of history might a certamen player invoke as they begin a marathon reading of
Cary & Scullard’s A History of Rome?

A

Clio

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2
Q

What Muse of epic poetry might be invoked by a certamen player as they begin to read
Vergil’s Aeneid?

A

Calliope

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3
Q

Quid Anglicē significat caput?

A

Head

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3
Q

What Muse of dance might one invoke at the FJCL State Forum “Farewell Dance” in
order to enhance their dancing abilities?

A

Terpsichore

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4
Q

Quid Anglicē significat manus?

A

Hand

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5
Q

Quid Anglicē significat cor?

A

Heart

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6
Q

Which of the following governmental offices during the Republic were not elected yearly:
quaestor, praetor, consul, censor.

A

Censor

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7
Q

How long was the term of office for a censor from 433 BC onward?

A

18 Months

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8
Q

What assembly, named because originally it divided Roman citizens into groups of one
hundred men, was responsible for selecting the censors, as well as the consuls and praetors?

A

Comitia Centuriata

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9
Q

What king, whose hut the Romans claimed was on the Palatine Hill, was discovered by a
shepherd as a baby after being left in the River Tiber by his great-uncle, Amulius?

A

Romulus

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10
Q

What was the name of the shepherd who found Romulus and his brother, Remus?

A

Faustulus

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11
Q

What was the name of that shepherd’s wife?

A

Acca Laurentia

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12
Q

We see the Latin word “ante” in a lot of phrases and abbreviations. What does the abbreviation
a.c. on a perscription mean in both Latin and English?

A

Ante Cibum-Before Food/Ante Cenam-Before Dinner

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13
Q

What does the phrase a.m. mean in both English and Latin?

A

Ante Meridiem-Before Noon

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14
Q

If you are reading a history book and you see the phrase ante bellum, what does that
mean?

A

Before the War

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15
Q

What animal was responsible for the death of Ancaeus, a scar on Odysseus’ leg, and the death
of Adonis?

A

A Boar

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16
Q
A
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17
Q

What nurse of Odysseus recognized him by the scar left on his thigh by the boar?

A

Eurycleia

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18
Q

What son of Oeneus and Althaea killed the boar that killed Ancaeus, and then was
killed by his mother?

A

Meleager

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19
Q

: What river served as the border between Cisalpine Gaul and Italy?

A

Rubicon River

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20
Q

What is the ancient name for the modern Po River?

A

Padus

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21
Q

What river was called Ister or Danuvius by the Romans?

A

Danube

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22
Q

What office was assumed for only 16 days by the farmer Cincinnatus in order to save a Roman
army in 458 BC?

A

Dictator

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23
Q

How long was one legally allowed to hold the dictatorship?

A

6 Months

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24
Q

At what battle did Cincinnatus defeat the Aequi to save the army of Minucius?

A

Mt Algidus

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25
Q

What god was forced to serve a mortal for a year because he killed the Cyclopes?

A

Apollo

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26
Q

Who was the mortal Apollo served, a king known for his piety?

A

Admetus

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27
Q

Why had Apollo killed the Cyclopes?

A

They had forged the thunder Bolts that killed Ascalepius

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28
Q

What emperor from Lugdunum reigned from 41-54 AD?

A

Claudius

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29
Q

What emperor from Italica reigned from 98-117 AD?

A

Trajan

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30
Q

What emperor from Leptis Magna reigned from 193-211 AD?

A

Septimius Severus

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31
Q

The making of what item that you would find at a Roman dinner party is described here “the
intestines of fish are thrown into a vessel, and are salted; and small fish…are all salted in the same
manner; and they are seasoned in the sun and frequently turned.”

A

Garum/Liquamen

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32
Q

What sort of animals were fattened up in gliraria, before being roasted and dipped in
honey?

A

DoorMice

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33
Q

What sort of drink would you get by mixing honey and wine?

A

Mulsum

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34
Q

What daughter of Tantalus was changed into a stone after all of her children were killed by
Diana and Apollo?

A

Niobe

35
Q

What brother of Niobe had bones that were said to be needed for the Greeks to take
Troy?

A

Pelops

36
Q

Niobe’s daughter Chloris became the mother of what hero of the Trojan War, an old
man famous for giving advice to the other Greek chieftains?

A

Niobe

37
Q

what group, following the creation of the powerful office of decemvir, seceded from Rome for
a second time in 449 BC and demanded the return of the office of tribune?

A

Plebians

38
Q

The events that led to the fall of the decemviri came when which of their members
made advances on the girl Verginia, the daughter of a respected centurion?

A

Appius Claudius Crassus

39
Q

When Appius Claudius sent one of his minion’s to bring Verginia to him, what did her
father Verginius do to “protect her”?

A

He Stabbed Her

40
Q

9: Who was the first person to be buried in the Mausoleum of Augustus when he died of a fever
in 23 BC?

A

Marcellus

41
Q

Which of the Five Good Emperors was the last to be buried in the Mausoleum when
he died in 98 AD?

A

Nerva

42
Q

With Marcellus’ death, Augustus seemed to promote what man, who convinced
Octavian to engage Antony at Actium and built the original Pantheon, as heir?

A

Agrippa

43
Q

What monster did both Theseus and Heracles have to face, one by order of Aegeus, and the
other by order of Eurystheus although it had changed its name?

A

Cretan/ Marithonian Boar

44
Q

Pandarus, Teucer, Philoctetes, and Paris were all known for what ability, of which Apollo
was the patron god?

A

Archery

45
Q

Teucer was the half-brother of what other Greek, from behind whose shield he would
dart to shoot arrows?

A

ajax the greater

46
Q

What god fired two types of arrows, one which could cause love, the other which
could spurn it?

A

Eros/Cupid

47
Q

What emperor was the son of one of the Caesars in Diocletian’s tetrarchy but eventually
gained control of the entire empire after converting to Christianity and defeating his rival
Maxentius in 312 A.D.?

A

Constantine the great

48
Q

At what battle did Constantine defeat Maxentius?

A

Milvian Bridge

49
Q

What decree did Constantine institute in 313 A.D. that legalized Christianity in the
Roman Empire?

A

Edict of Milan

50
Q

You are walking through the Forum when you see a sign reading “Cavē canem!” What
is this sign telling you?

A

Beware the Dog

51
Q

You also see a stall advertising “pomī, uvae, et pirī.” What kind of food does the
stall sell?

A

Fruit

52
Q

So it’s the first question and you may be a little nervous. Will you know the answer? I bet you do.
Tell me, what is the main room of a Roman house?

A

Atrium

53
Q

What is the Latin word for the garden in a Roman house?

A

Hortus

54
Q

What is the word for the dining room in a Roman house?

A

Triclinium

55
Q

The Romans fought against many enemies, but only one Egyptian queen. Can you name the queen
whom the Romans defeated in 31 BC?

A

Cleopatra

56
Q
  1. Strangely enough it was not only Cleopatra that the Romans were fighting then, but it was
    her Roman husband too. Can you name him?
A

Mark Antony

57
Q

What was the name of the battle fought against cleopatra?

A

Actium

58
Q

Although the name we associate with this Roman god is probably more of a title than a name, this
“Heavenly Father” is generally aid to be an equivalent for the Greek god Zeus. Can you name him?

A

Jupiter

59
Q

What was the name of Jupiter’s wife?

A

Juno

60
Q

Much like Zeus, Jupiter had many different titles that reflect different aspects of his power.
Such was Jupiter Stator and Jupiter Feretrius. Which Roman is said to have built temples to
both Jupiter Stator and Jupiter Feretrius?

A

Romulus

61
Q

What Roman hero defeated Hannibal to end the Second Punic War?

A

Scipio Africanus

62
Q

Where did Scipio defeat Hannibal to end this war?

A

Zama

63
Q

In what year did this battle happen?

A

202 Bc

64
Q

Long ago, on the slopes of Mount Ida, three goddesses presented themselves to a shepherd for
a Judgement on their beauty. Who was the shepherd?

A

Paris

65
Q

Now give the Roman name of the goddess who won the contest?

A

Venus

66
Q

Now give me the Greek name of the other two goddesses.

A

Hera, and Athena

67
Q

What was the first office in the cursus honorum?

A

Quaestor

68
Q

Which office was only open to plebeians?

A

Tribune

69
Q

How many quaestors were elected each year?

A

20

70
Q

What case is used to show the direct object in a Latin sentence?

A

Accusative

71
Q

How about them heroes? I mean they really are a courageous lot, going out there, killing
monsters, making a name for themselves. What hero’s name do we associate with the defeat of
the Minotaur?

A

Theseus

72
Q

Like many a hero, Theseus had help. What princess of Crete helped Theseus?

A

Ariadne

73
Q

What did Ariadne give Theseus that helped him escape from the Labyrinth?

A

A golden ball of thread

74
Q

Sometimes you see these Latin phrases scattered about textbooks - especially old ones Can you
tell me what the phrase ante bellum means?

A

Before the war

75
Q

Now tell me a two word phrase meaning entirely

A

In Toto

76
Q

Now tell me a two word phrase meaning the existing state of affairs

A

Status Quo

77
Q

Last question. I think you need to tell me the name of the Julio-Claudian emperor that came last.

A

Nero

78
Q

Who was emperor before Nero?

A

Claudius

79
Q

Who was emperor right after Nero?

A

Galba

80
Q

Some of the myths are pretty incredible – I mean, who would believe that Zeus would become so
angry that he would chain a man to a wheel of fire and send him spinning through the air, or the
Underworld forever? Can you name this unfortunate fellow on the flaming wheel?

A

Ixion

81
Q

Ixion had been a king in Greece. Where?

A

Thessaly

82
Q

What had Ixion tried to do that so angered Zeus?

A

Seduce Hera

83
Q

Who died from a snakebite while fleeing from a pursuer soon after she married Orpheus?

A

Euridice

84
Q

Who was the pursuer of Euridice, the beekeeping son of Apollo and Cyrene?

A

Auristeaus (Prob Spelled Wrong)

85
Q

What did the dryads do to Aristaeus in response to Eurydice’s death?

A

Killed his bees

86
Q
A