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Certamen Culture Questions > States Questions—Intermediate > Flashcards

States Questions—Intermediate Flashcards

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1
Q

(Visual) Which letter marks the forum paid for by the conquests of Dacia at which you could find the famous column of Trajan?

A

B

B1: Name the forum shown in A, a location where you might find the basilica of
Maxentius.

FORUM ROMANUM

B2: Name the forum shown in C, where you witness the remains of the Temple of Mars Ultor

FORUM OF AUGUSTUS

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2
Q

What is the Latin term for a shrine to the household gods?

A

LARARIUM

B1: For which gods was the lararium a shrine?

LARES

B2: What gods of the cupboard were, according to Vergil, brought to Rome by Aeneas?

PENATES

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3
Q

What event occurred for the first time in Rome in 264 BC at the funeral of Brutus Pera, although the event had occurred previously at Etruscan funerals?

A

GLADIATORIAL COMBAT/MUNERA

B1: What did the sign of premere pollice signify?

THE GLADIATOR SHOULD BE SPARED

B2: What two word Latin term was a sign that the defeated gladiator should die?

VERTERE POLLICEM

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4
Q

Which of the following was closest to the Praetorian Camp in Rome: Baths of Nero, Baths of Trajan, Baths of Caracalla, Baths of Diocletian?

A

BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN

B1: Of the four bathhouses listed in the tossup, which was closest to the Colosseum?

BATHS OF TRAJAN

B2: Of the four bathhouses listed in the tossup, which was located on the Campus
Martius?

BATHS OF NERO

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5
Q

In what modern country would a Roman find the following flumina: Liger, Rhodanus, Garumna, and Sequana?

A

FRANCE

B1: In what modern country would a Roman find these flumina: Baetis, Iberus, Anas, and Tagus?

SPAIN

B2: In what modern country would a Roman find the Bodotria, Sabrina, and Tamesis flumina?

UK

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6
Q

What term was given to the woolen, water resistant cloak worn by soldiers?

A

SAGUM

B1: What term was given to the Roman equivalent of a poncho, a single large piece of
material with a hole for the head to go through?

PAENULA

B2: What type of cloak, at first worn over the toga, then instead of the toga, was banned by Augustus for use in public assemblies of citizens?

LACERNA

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7
Q

What was the difference between mustum and mulsum?

A

MUSTUM=GRAPE JUICE, MULSUM=HONEYED WINE

B1: What was mulsa?

FERMENTED HONEY AND WATER

B2: What was muria?

FERMENTED FISH SAUCE

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8
Q

What type of gladiator carried a small, round shield and a curved sword?

A

THRAX/THRACIAN

B1: What type of gladiator, who had a fish on his helmet, often fought against the Thracian?

MYRMILLO

B2: What type of gladiator was heavily armed, but fought blinded by his helmet?

ANDABATA

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9
Q

What body of water would the Romans have called Pontus Euxinus?

A

BLACK SEA

B1: What body of water would the Romans have called Oceanus Britannicus?

ENGLISH CHANNEL

B2: What body of water would the Romans have called Oceanus Germanicus?

NORTH SEA

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10
Q

Which of the following would a Roman soldier carry into battle: scutum, flammeum, acetum, stylus?

A

SCUTUM

B1: What is a Roman soldier’s scutum?

SHIELD

B2: Which of the following would arm a soldier going into battle: lorica, galea, sponsalia, carcares.

LORICA and GALEA

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11
Q

What were rota, latrunculi, trigon, and duodecim scripta?

A

GAMES

B1: Of the games listed in the tossup, which was akin to modern backgammon?

DUODECIM SCRIPTA

B2: Of the games listed in the tossup, which was akin to modern backgammon?

ROTA

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12
Q

What structure in Rome contained the statumen, the nucleus, the dorsum, and the rudus?

A

A ROAD/VIA

B1: Of the layers listed in the tossup, which was the topmost layer?

DORSUM

B2: What were umbones?

CURBSTONES

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13
Q

Which of the following was not built under the reign of Ancus Marcius: Pons Sublicius, Mamertine Prison, Cloaca Maxima, Ostia?

A

CLOACA MAXIMA

B1: What hill did Marcius incorporate into the city?

AVENTINE/JANICULUM

B2: Which priestly college was created by Marcius: Vestal Virgins, Fetiales, Salii, Pontifices

FETIALES

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14
Q

In what region of Italy were Tusculum, Lavinium, and Rome located?

A

LATIUM

B1: In what region of Italy were Florentina, Veii, and Tarquinii located?

ETRURIA

B2: In what region of Italy were Baiae, Capuae and Herculaneum located?

CAMPANIA

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15
Q

Romans had several festivals celebrating the dead. Which one, celebrated in mid-February sacrifices of garlands, wheat, salt, and wine soaked bread at family tombs?

A

PARENTALIA

B1: Which festival in honor of the dead involved the head of the household throwing or spitting beans over their shoulders while other members of the household banged pots and pans together?

LEMURIA

B2: What public festival marked the end of Parentalia?

FERALIA

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16
Q

What term would classify the following ancient Roman words: trochī, turbinēs, crepundia, tali?

A

TOYS

B1: … abolla, paenula, lacerna, sagum.

CLOAKS

B2: … sutor, fullō, caupo, amanuensis.

JOBS

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17
Q

What category would the following items belong to: pugio, hasta, pilum, gladius?

A

WEAPONS/ARMA

B1: What term was given to the group of men who shared a tent?

CONTUBERNIUM

B2: What term was given to the second in command of a century?

OPTIO

18
Q

What name was given to a Roman child before it was born?

A

PUPUS / PUPA

B1: During what ceremony was a Roman child given its name?

DIĒS LUSTRICUS

B2: What Latin term designated the first days of a child’s life, prior to the dies lustricus?

PRIMORDIA

19
Q

What was the top layer of a Roman road called?

A

SUMMUM DORSUM

B1: In terms of a road what were umbones?

CURBS

B2: What were miliaria?

MILE MARKERS

20
Q

Which of the following was not on the Peloponessus: Argos, Sparta, Corinth, Eleusis, Olympia?

A

ELEUSIS

B1: What region of Greece was centered around Sparta?

LACEDAEMONIA

B2: What region of Greece contained Eleusis?

ATTICA

21
Q

Which of the following offices had the shortest term of office: tribune, consul, censor, dictator?

A

DICTATOR

B1: How long was the term of office for a dictator?

SIX MONTHS

B2: What was the Latin term for the dictator’s second in command?

MAGISTER EQUITUM

22
Q

What Roman festival, celebrated on May 9th, 11th, and 13th, was designed to appease the spirits of the dead?

A

LEMURIA

B1: What would the head of the household spit or throw over his shoulder as an offering to the spirits?

BLACK BEANS

B2: What was the term for the sign made by all the members of the household to ward off the spirits?

MANO FICO

23
Q

In what modern country would you find the city of Cyrene?

A

LIBYA

B1: In what modern country would you find the city of Utica?

TUNISIA

B2: In what modern country would you find the city of Tingi?

MOROCCO

24
Q

In what modern country would you find the Roman town of Vindobona?

A

AUSTRIA

B1: What is the modern name of that town?

VIENNA

B2: In what modern country would you find the Roman town of Aquincum?

HUNGARY

25
Q

Which of the following were not located on the Italian peninsula: Via Aurelia, Via Salaria, Via Egnatia, Via Appia?

A

VIA EGNATIA

B1: What port city served as the Adriatic terminus of the Via Egnatia?

DYRRACHIUM

B2: In what modern country was the Via Domitia?

FRANCE

26
Q

What English city would the Romans have called Camulodunum?

A

COLCHESTER

B1: What English city would the Romans have called Deva?

CHESTER

B2: What English city would the Romans have called Manucium?

MANCHESTER

27
Q
  1. What Roman praenomen was abbreviated “V.”?
A

VIBIUS or VOPISCUS

B1: What Roman praenomen was abbreviated “N.”?

NUMERIUS

B2: What Roman praenomen was abbreviated “D.”?

DECIMUS

28
Q

The Romans elected most of their officials every year, but one of the offices was elected every five years. Which one?

A

Answer: CENSOR

B1. The frequency of election was not the only odd thing about the censorship because the time that he served was unusual too. How long did a censor serve?

Answer: 18 MONTHS

B2. The office of dictator was also unusual in the time of service and in the fact that dictator was not the original name for the office. Give me the original name for the dictator which was
similar to the name of his lieutenant.

Answer: MAGISTER POPULI

29
Q

Imagine yourself in ancient Rome, walking through the Forum. Suddenly, you think it would be awesome to see the Senate in session. What is the name of the building you ask for directions to?

A

Answer: CURIA (IULIA/HOSTILIA)

B1. As you make your way toward the Curia, you see several men in bright white togas that make them stand out from the crowd. What do you know about them?

Answer: THEY ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE

B2. You also see a man wearing a tunica angusti clavi. What do you know about him?

Answer: HE IS A MEMBER OF THE
EQUITES/EQUESTRIANS

30
Q

What was the Latin term for the shawl-like garment a Roman woman wore outside?

A

Answer: PALLA

B1. That seemed a little easy, didn’t it? Fine, let’s see what you know. A Roman matrona
had a special narrow border sewn onto the bottom of her stola. What was it called?

Answer: INSTITA

B2. That was a little more difficult, I suppose? Well, how about this. Tell me what a Roman
woman’s subucula was?

Answer: TUNICA INTERIOR/TUNIC WORN INDOORS
AND UNDER THE STOLA (not underwear)

31
Q

Still in Rome! While you watch the Senate, you use your excellent Latin and strike up a conversation with the fellow next to you and he invites you to dinner. He offers you some mustum to drink. What is mustum ?

A

Answer: GRAPE JUICE

B1. Your host seats you in the position of honor at his little dinner party. Which lectus does he
put you on?

Answer: (LECTUS) MEDIUS

B2. Your host puts you on the third place of the lectus medius. What is this spot called?

Answer: LOCUS CONSULARIS

32
Q

Later in the evening on your trip to ancient Rome your host takes you out onto the roof of his fine home on the Esquiline Hill. From there you have a good view and see some of Rome’s ancient police/fireman walking the streets. What does your host call them?

A

Answer: VIGILES

B1. Your host gives a history lesson and tells you who organized the force of the vigiles Who?

Answer: AUGUSTUS

B2. Several different officials were in charge of the vigiles. Name one.

Answer: AEDILE/TRIBUNE/PRAEFECTUS

33
Q

One of the other guests at the dinner party you are attending in Rome has been serving in the army and tells you that he is having his equipment repaired in the city. What does he call his leather body armor?

A

Answer: LORICA

B1. The young man says he is also having his javelin repaired. What is that called?

Answer: PILUM

B2. When you ask him what he does in the army he says he carries a vexillum. What is his title?.

Answer: SIGNIFER

34
Q

What was a quadriga in Rome? I will give you a hint, an auriga drove it.

A

Answer: (4 –HORSED) CHARIOT

VISUAL (Pass out visual to team that gets the toss-up)
You are looking at a monument in honor of Crescens, a charioteer. You have 10 seconds to
examine it. (wait 10 seconds)

B1. When did Crescens win his first race?

Answer: DURING THE CONSULSHIP OF (L. VIPSTANIUS) MESSALLA
OR ON NERVA’S BIRTHDAY

B2. For what racing company did he drive?

Answer: BLUES/VENATA

35
Q

Roads were important to the Romans and they built them to last. How many different layers the Romans prepare beneath the large stones that paved the roadway?

A

Answer: FOUR

B1. What was the top layer of large stones called?

Answer: DORSUM

B2. Curbstones called umbones held the dorsum in place but outside of the umbones was a footpath what did the Romans call the footpath?

Answer: SEMITAE/MARGINES

36
Q

In ancient Rome, what was a fullō?

A

DRY CLEANER

B1: …tonsor?

BARBER

B2: …sutor?

SHOE-MAKER

37
Q

What did the Romans call the person at the comissatiō who was the toast master?

A

MAGISTER / ARTIBER / REX BIBENDĪ

B1: How was the rex bibendī chosen?

BY A THROW OF THE DICE (VENUS THROW)

B2: What was the name of the box in which the dice were thrown?

FRITILLUS

38
Q

What objects, carried by the lictōrēs, symbolized the power of the king or consul to beat and kill?

A

FASCĒS

B1: How many Fascēs was a Consul permitted to have?

12

B2: How many Fascēs was a Dictator permitted to have?

24

39
Q

Wealthier Roman homes contained an entryway to the front door which is often described as an open courtyard. What did the Romans call this?

A

VESTIBULUM

B1: In order to enter the ātrium of a Roman house, one had to pass through what front door?

OSTIUM

B2: Over time the Romans developed different styles of the ātrium. Which style of ātrium had a sloped roof which carried water down the sides like a gutter?

(ĀTRIUM) DISPLUVIATUM

40
Q

What Roman praenōmen originally indicated that the individual was descended from slaves?

A

SERVIUS

B1: What Roman praenōmen originally meant “born by the light of day”?

LŪCIUS

B2: What Roman praenōmen originally meant “born in the morning”?

MĀNIUS

41
Q

What hob-nailed boots were worn by soldiers?

A

CALIGAE

B1: What was a Roman soldier’s breastplate called?

LORICA

B2: What helmet was standard issue for a Roman soldier?

GALEA

42
Q

What garment, sometimes refered to as the cēnātōrium, was worn by fashionable Roman men to dinner parties?

A

SYNTHESIS

B1: What cloak was often worn by poorer Romans and philosophers?

ABOLLA

B2: What garment was worn after exercise much like a modern bathrobe?

ENDROMIS

Certamen Culture Questions (13 decks)

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