National Latin Exam Culture Notes
CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE (Latin 1 items in bold)
GEOGRAPHY:
The Roman World, e.g. Roma, Graecia, Italia, Britannia, Hispania
Important Italian locations, e.g. Ostia, Pompeii, Brundisium, Mt. Vesuvius, Apenine Mts.
Provinces and Major cities, e.g. Africa, Athens, Gallia, Carthage, Asia Minor, Troy
The Roman world, Athens, Carthage, Gaul,
Important bodies of water, e.g., Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Black Sea;
Rivers, e.g., Rhine, Po, Nile, Rubicon; important islands and provinces, e.g., Germania, Aegyptus, Sicilia, Creta
HISTORY:
Basic historical divisions (Monarchy, Republic Empire) and associated terms (king, consul,
emperor)
Kings of Rome and early Roman heroes, e.g. Romulus, Tarquinius Superbus, Horatius, Cincinatus
Prominent historical characters from Roman history, e.g., Augustus, Hannibal, Julius Caesar; Cleopatra,
Mare Antony, Spartacus
Major events of Roman history, e.g., Punic Wars, Caesar's conquest of Gaul
MYTHOLOGY:
Olympians (Greek and Roman names) and associated attributes and myths, e.g. Daphne and Apollo,
Arachne and Minerva
Major heroes and monsters, e.g. Hercules, Aeneas, Jason and Medusa, Odysseus and the Cyclops,
Trojan war, e.g. Achilles, Hector, Ulysses, Helen
Founding of Rome (Romulus and Remus)
Heroes and monsters, e.g., Jason and Medea, Odysseus, Perseus, Theseus, Daedalus, Minotaur; Chimera
Underworld, e.g., Cerberus, Charon, Prosperina, Styx, Pluto
ROMAN LIFE:
City of Rome, e.g. Palatine Hill, Via Appa, Tiber River, Curia, the Forum, Circus Maximus,
Colosseum
Architectural structures and their functions, e.g. aqueduct, thermae (bath), circus, amphitheater,
curia, basilica
Housing, e.g. atrium, triclinium, insulae
Meals, e.g. cena, culina
Clothing, e.g. toga, tunica, stola
Recreation and entertainment, e.g., baths, chariot racing, gladiatoria1 combats, stage performances
LATIN IN USE
BASIC SPOKEN PHRASES:
e.g. Salve(te), Vale(te), Quid est nomen tibi? Gratias tibi ago, Quid agis? Sol lucet, Quota hora est?
Adsum, Quid novi?
e.g., Quaenam est tempestas? Surge, Ignosce mihi, Bene respondisti
Derivatives: English words based on Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes
e.g. ambulatory, fraternity, sedentary, sorority, puerile, quadruped, agriculture, portable, aquamarine
e.g., introspection, omniscient, omnipotent, incredulous, benevolent
EXPRESSIONS, MOTTOES, ABBREVIATIONS:
e.g. e pluribus unum, tempus fugit, semper fidelis, i.e., A.D., Veni vidi vici, Summa cum laude, per
annum, N.B.
e.g., caveat emptor, carpe diem, et al., vs., ad astra per aspera, status quo, ars longa, vita brevis
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
Checklist of Previously Distributed Materials:
-
Roman Numerals Handout
Latin Abbreviations Handout
-
Olympic Pantheon Handout
Roman History Outline Handout
Trojan War – 10 years
- Aeneas flees Troy in search of a new homeland, eventually settling in Italy
- Aeneas’ son Ascanius founds Alba Longa
- Numitor, a king of Alba Longa descended from Ascanius, has a daughter named Rhea
Silvia. Amulius, Numitor’s brother, seizes the throne and makes Rhea Silvia a Vestal
Virgin. She and Mars have twin children, Romulus and Remus. They grow up and
depose Amulius. Later, Romulus eventually kills Remus and founds Rome.
April 21, 753 BC – 510 BC – Monarchy, Rome ruled by kings – 7 total
- 1st king is Romulus (and co-ruler Titus Tatius); “Rape of the Sabine Women” (Romans
tricked neighbors to steal their wives)
- Q. Horatius Cocles defends the Pons Sublicius (Rome’s first bridge) against Etruscans
- 7th king is Tarquinius Superbus – driven out by the people when his son rapes Lucretia
509 BC – 27 BC – Republic (Res Publica) – “SPQR” (Senatus Populusque Romanus)
- first two consuls (consules) – Brutus and Collatinus
- 2 elected every year; other offices: praetor (judge); quaestor (treasurer); aedile (public games,
buildings)
- fasces the symbol of power – bundle of rods tied around an ax
- Caesar, Pompey and Crassus formed the First Triumvirate in 60 BC, but civil war eventually
erupted between Caesar and Pompey. Caesar, who won, was later assassinated on “The Ides of
March” (March 15th) 44 BC by a conspiracy of senators led by Brutus (a descendant of 1st consul
Brutus) and Cassius.
27 BC – 476 AD – Empire (Imperium)
- Octavian became Augustus, the first emperor of Rome in 27 BC; he had defeated his rival Marc
Antony (and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra) at a naval battle at Actium in 31 BC
Geography
7 Hills of Rome – Aventine, Esquiline, Caelian, Capitoline, Palatine, Quirinal, Viminal
- Flumen Tiberis (Tiber Riber) – river that flows through Rome
- Forum (Forum Romanum) – business center, located between the Capitoline and Palatine
- Via Sacra – “sacred road” runs through the Forum; only pedestrians allowed to use it
(except Vestal Virgins, who could ride carts)
- Via Appia – most important road in ancient Rome/Italy – the “Queen of Roads” (Regina
Viārum); most important Roman road originally extended from Rome to Capua and later
east to Brundisium.
- Mare Nostrum – “Our Sea,” what the Romans called the Mediterranean Sea
- Rome was located in a geographical area called Latium, giving us the term “Latin”
- The Alps were mountains that ran across the northern border of Italy – the “scalp”
- The Apenines were mountains that ran along the length of Italy – the “spine”
- Ostia – Rome’s first seaport, off the Tiber, on the western shore of Italy
- Brundisium – a seaport in the eastern shore of Italy, the endpoint of the Via Appia
Countries [Germania (Germany), Hispania (Spain), Brittania (Britain), Helvetia (Switzerland),
Gallia [(Gallia, (Gaul, now France), Graecia (Greece)];
Islands [Sicilia (Sicily), Corsica, Sardinia, Crete (below the southern tip of Greece)]
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
Roman Life
- Architecture
o Colosseum (aka Flavium Amphitheatrum) – gladiatorial contests; wild beast
hunts; mock naval battles
o Circus Maximus – a stadium chariot racing; auriga is charioteer; factionēs (racing
teams spectators bet on; various colors: red, blue, green, white, gold); carceres
(starting gates); spina (the dividing “spine” around which the chariots raced),
metae (turning posts)
o Curia – Senate house (senatorēs)
o Basilica – law court (praetor – judge; patronus – lawyer)
o Order of Columns (simplest to fanciest)
 Doric >> Ionic >>Corinthian (decorated with acanthus leaves)
o Temple of Vesta – sacred fire of Vesta
o Aqua Appia – a famous aqueduct – brought water into the city for public baths,
fountains and the homes of the wealthy
o Cloaca Maxima – the great sewer system in Rome
o Campus Martius – a military training ground in Rome for athletic training
- House
o Villa (farmhouse), Insulae (apartments), Casa (hut, house), Domus (house)
o Atrium – main room of the house, the reception hall, it contained the following:
 compluvium – square hole in the ceiling for allowing the entry of
rainwater
 impluvium – a marble basin that catches the rainwater
o cubiculum – bedroom
o triclinium – dining room; three couches arranged around a small round table
o tablinum – a study, where the master of the house would write in a tabela (wax
tablet) with a stilus (a writing instrument)
o peristylium – an indoor garden surrounded by columns with an open roof
o hortus – an outdoor garden
o taberna – a small shop on the exterior of the house facing the street
o culina - kitchen
- Meals: ientaculum (breakfast), prandium (lunch), cena (dinner), secunda mensa (dessert)
- Baths (thermae) – strigil (strigiles pl.) – used to scrape oil off of body; caldarium (hot
bath), frigidarium (cold bath), tepidarium (warm bath), apodyterium (changing room)
- Clothing
o toga – ONLY male Roman citizens could wear this (toga praetexta for boys and
senators; toga virilis/pura for men; toga candida for candidates for office)
o tunica – an undergarment/shirt worn by slaves, also worn by men underneath a
toga
o stola – a dress for women
o palla – a shawl for women, worn over the stola
o soleae (sandals); caligae (boots); calceī (shoes)
Calendar
Kalends (Kalendae) – first of every month; Nones (Nonae) –5th or 7th (7th for March, May, July,
October); Ides (Idus) – 13th or 15th (15th for March, May, July, October)
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
Latin mottos and abbreviations
ab ovo usque ad mala – from egg to apples – from beginning to end (from Alpha to Omega)
ad astra per aspera – to the stars through difficulties (state motto of Kansas)
ad hoc – for this (thing) – refers to something that is temporary for a particular purpose
ad infinitum – to infinity – without limit, endlessly
ad libitum – at pleasure – extemporaneously (done without preparation/planning)
ad nauseam – to seasickness – to the point of (causing) nausea
A.M. – ante meridiem – before noon
amor omnia vincit – love conquers all
antebellum – before war – referring to the period before the American Civil War
annuit coeptis – he nods upon our undertakings – He blesses our beginnings
carpe diem – seize the day (live for the moment)
cave canem – beware of the dog
caveat emptor – let the buyer beware
cf. – confer – compare (indicates something you should look at in comparison)
de gustibus non est disputandum – there is no (point in) arguing about tastes
deus ex machina – god from the machine – an abrupt solution to a narrative problem
in medias res – into the middle of things – beginning a story in the middle
e pluribus unum – one out of many
e.g. – exempli gratia – for the sake of an example (for example)
errare humanum est – to err is human (nobody’s perfect)
ex libris – from the books – from the library of…
ex tempore – extemporaneously (without preparation)
et al. – et alii – and others
etc. - et cetera – and the rest (indicates an ongoing list)
festina lente – make haste slowly (haste makes waste); favorite saying of Augustus
i.e. – id est – that is (introduces and explanation)
in absentia – in (one’s) absence
in memoriam – to the memory of (in memory of)
interregnum – between kingdom – a period between rulers
ipso facto – by the very fact
labor omnia vincit – work/effort conquers all
lapsus linguae – a slip of the tongue (a verbal misstep)
mens sana in corpore sano – a sound mind in a sound body
N.B. – nota bene – note well (indicates something to pay special attention to)
nos morituri te salutamus – we (who are) about to die salute you (ceremonial greeting given
by gladiators before combat)
novus ordo s(a)eclorum – a new order of the ages (new world order)
panem et circenses – bread and circuses (bread and circus games; written by Juvenal, it is a
reference to the only things Roman society seemed to value – free food and cheap entertainment)
per annum – by the year – annually
per diem – by the day – daily
per capita – by the heads – individually
per se – by itself – intrinsically
persona non grata – an unwelcome person
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
P.M. - post meridiem - afternoon
P.M. - post mortem – after death (an autopsy)
pro bono – for the good (something done as a public service, usually free of charge)
pro tem. – pro tempore – for the time (temporarily)
P.S. – post scriptum – written after (introduces an afterthought)
quis custodiet ipsos custodes – who will guard the guardians themselves (Juvenal)
Q.E.D. – quod erat demonstrandum – that which was to be shown/proven (we proved it)
rara avis – a rare bird (a rarity; unique person)
R.I.P. – requiescat in pace – may (s)he rest in peace
Rx (recipe) – receive (symbol for a medical prescription)
sine die – without a day (meaning without a day for a second appointment)
sine qua non – without which not (a necessity; something indispensable)
sub rosa – beneath the rose - in strict confidence; secretly
tabula rasa – a clean slate
tempus fugit – time flies
terra incognita – unknown land - unknown territory
vade mecum – go with me (something that is regularly carried on one’s person)
viva voce – with the living voice – orally
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
MCMLXXVIII (1978) Quaestionēs
1. The abbreviation which warns someone to note something carefully is:
a. e.g.
c. N.B.
b. i.e.
d. A.D.
2. In the Roman house, the pool which caught rainwater was the:
a. atrium
c. impluvium
b. peristylium
d. culina
3. A Roman would most likely see a chariot race at the
a. Curia
c. Campus Martius
b. Forum
d. Circus Maximus
4. If you were short of money, you would be
a. impecunious
c. unbiquitous
b. impeccable
d. pulchritudinous
5. A derivative of moneo is:
a. money
c. premonition
b. demonstrate
d. month
6. A Roman boy was most often accompanied to school by a
a. senator
c. lector
b. paedagogus
d. magister
7. The Aegean Sea was named for the father of:
a. Hercules
c. Aeneas
b. Jason
d. Theseus
8. The caduceus is the symbol of:
a. Jupiter
c. Mercury
b. Mars
d. Diana
9. In his quest for the Golden Fleece, Jason was aided by:
a. Ariadne
c. Medea
b. Circe
d. Medusa
10. In the naming of the city of Athens, Athena contended with
a. Neptune
c. Pluto
b. Apollo
d. Vulcan
11. The Nemean Lion was slain by:
a. Bellerophon
c. Hercules
b. Theseus
d. Perseus
12. The “Regina Viarum” was the Via:
a. Appia
c. Latina
b. Sacra
d. Aurelia
13. The traditional mythological date for the founding of Rome was:
a. 1188 BC
c. 753 BC
b. 79 AD
d. 476 AD
14. The father of Romulus was:
a. Mars
c. Pluto
b. Vulcan
d. Jupiter
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
15. One of Rome’s first consuls was:
a. Brutus
c. Romulus
b. Augustus
d. Pompey
(Questions 16-20 were based on a Latin Reading passage about Romulus and Remus)
16. Numitor was driven out by
a. Rhea Silvia
c. Amulius
b. Romulus
d. Remus
17. Amulius __________ Romulus and Remus
a. fears
c. warns
b. loves
d. kills
18. Romulus and Remus are the sons of
a. Numitor
c. Amulius
b. Rhea Silvia
d. Faustulus
19. Romulus and Remus are thrown into the river by:
a. Amulius
c. Rhea Silvia
b. Numitor
d. Faustulus
20. The wolf carries Romulus and Remus
a. to the shore
c. into a cave
b. to the river
d. to Faustulus’ house
MCMLVVIX (1979) Quaestionēs
1. A lecture on horticulture would most likely be attended by:
a. gymnasts
c. sports fans
b. stamp collectors
d. gardeners
2. The six Vestal Virgins were priestesses of the goddess of the
a. hunt
c. harvest
b. hearth
d. moon
3. The river on which Rome is located is the
a. Po
c. Styx
b. Rubicon
d. Tiber
4. The Latin phrase ad infinitum means
a. literally
c. endlessly
b. temporarily
d. conversely
5. The war in which Aeneas and Ulysses fought was the
a. Punic
c. Civil
b. Trojan
d. Persian
6. An English derivative of the Latin verb petere is:
a. pretty
c. petition
b. petite
d. pet
7. Under Augustus Rome became:
a. a republic
c. an empire
b. a monarchy
d. a democracy
8. The Queen of Hades and wife of Pluto was
a. Juno
c. Proserpina
b. Ceres
d. Minerva
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
9. Rigoletto suffered because of the malediction of Monterone.
a. mistake
c. curse
b. crime
d. death
10. “In the year of Our Lord” is represented by the Latin abbreviation
a. AM
c. AB
b. AD
d. BC
11. In mythology, fire was brought to mankind from Olympus by:
a. Pyrrhus
c. Prometheus
b. Perseus
d. Phrixus
12. The public baths of Rome were known as:
a. Thermae
c. Aquae
b. Basilicae
d. Forum
13. The hero Theseus slew the
a. Minotaur
c. Python
b. Nemean Lion
d. Centaur
14. A mythological creature, half-horse and half-man, was a
a. Hydra
c. Harpy
b. Centaur
d. Gorgon
15. The garden area of a Roman villa was the
a. culina
c. insulae
b. compluvium
d. peristylium
MCMLXXX (1980) Quaestionēs
1. E pluribus unum means
a. many are here
c. all for one
b. much in little
d. one out of many
2. A Roman dinner was called:
a. secunda mensa
c. cena
b. ientaculum
d. palaestra
3. The two-faced Roman god of beginnings and doorways was
a. Mars
c. Janus
b. Bacchus
d. Cupid
4. A president pro tem holds office:
a. for one term
c. temporarily
b. for two terms
d. until he dies
5. All of the following are derived from audiō except:
a. audible
c. audacity
b. audition
d. auditorium
6. The Kalends of a Roman month was:
a. the seventh day
c. the last day
b. the fifteenth day
d. the first day
7. The Roman senate house was called
a. Curia
c. Acropolis
b. Pantheon
d. Thermae
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
8. Sailing west from Rome one would encounter the country:
a. Spain
c. Egypt
b. Greece
d. Libya
9. According to mythology, the winter and summer seasons are a result of the story of:
a. Daedalus and Icarus
c. Cupid and Psyche
b. Orpheus and Eurydice
d. Ceres and Proserpina
10. Mare Nostrum was the Roman name for the
a. Tiber River
c. Aegean Sea
b. Mediterranean Sea
d. Atlantic Ocean
11. The winged horse produced from the blood of Medusa and tamed by Bellerophon was:
a. Circe
c. Chimaera
b. Pegasus
d. Cerberus
12. The Roman monarchy lasted from 753-510 BC. The year 509 B.C. was the beginning of
the Roman:
a. Republic
c. Empire
b. anarchy
d. dictatorship
13. The small shops along the streets of Rome were called:
a. insulae
c. aedificia
b. tabernae
d. templa
14. Quis erat dea amoris?
a. Venus
c. Vesta
b. Minerva
d. Diana
15. An agrarian law would most likely affect:
a. miners
c. sailors
b. hunters
d. farmers
MCMLXXXI (1981) Quaestionēs:
1. The Esquiline, Aventine, Viminal, and Capitoline are all __________ of Rome.
a. emperors
c. roads
b. temples
d. hills
2. Sine qua non means:
a. something indispensable
c. lacking a quorum
b. without delay
d. without legal right
3. A Roman would enjoy his prandium at:
a. lunch time
c. dawn
b. the baths
d. the temple
4. Amor omnia vincit means
a. I love being invincible
c. Everyone loves the victor
b. Victory is love
d. Love conquers all
5. In classical times the toga was a garment worn by
a. male Roman citizens only
c. men and women of the upper
b. senators only
class
d. Roman men of all classes
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
6. A sylvan scene always includes
a. farmlands
c. woods
b. brooks
d. mountains
7. Who was the seventh and last king of Rome?
a. Tarquinius Superbus
c. Coriolanus
b. Appius Claudius
d. Romulus
8. The word permanent is a derivative of the Latin verb:
a. moneo
c. maneo
b. mando
d. mitto
9. Many different types of gladiatorial games were staged in the:
a. Thermae
c. Cloaca Maxima
b. Curia
d. Colosseum
10. The lame blacksmith who forged invincible weapons for Olympians and heroes was:
a. Hercules
c. Aetna
b. Vulcan
d. Orpheus
11. Charon, Cerberus, and Pluto are mythological characters associated with
a. the founding of Rome
c. the oceans
b. the voyage of Jason
d. the underworld
12. The hero who slew Medusa and saved Andromeda from a sea-monster was
a. Jason
c. Bellerophon
b. Perseus
d. Hercules
13. In a Roman villa the dining room was the
a. triclinium
c. peristylium
b. tablinum
d. atrium
14. The chief magistrate of the Roman Republic were two consuls who held office for
a. one year
c. ten years
b. two years
d. life
15. On March 15, 44 B.C., the newspaper headlines in Rome might have read:
a. Julius Caesar Declared
c. Julius Caesar Invades Gaul
Dictator
d. Julius Caesar Joins
b. Julius Caesar Assassinated
Triumvirate
MCMLXXXII (1982) Quaestionēs
1. The Latin abbreviation e.g. means:
a. that is
c. note well
b. for example
d. and the rest
2. An aged couple who were very hospitable to Mercury and Jupiter were:
a. Baucis & Philemon
c. Pygmalion & Galatea
b. Daedalus & Icarus
d. Pandora & Epimetheus
3. The word vitality is derived from the Latin word which means
a. life
c. farmhouse
b. road
d. wealth
4. The son of Apollo, ___________, tried to drive his father’s sun chariot across the sky.
a. Icarus
c. Hercules
b. Phaethon
d. Cupid
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
5. The date which marks the fall of the Roman Empire in the West is
a. 79 AD
c. 1066 AD
b. 476 AD
d. 44 BC
6. Roman homes were called insulae, villa, casa and ___________.
a. domus
c. curia
b. thermae
d. basilica
7. The Trojan leader who was reputed to be the ancestor of the Romans was
a. Augustus
c. Aeneas
b. Caesar
d. Cincinnatus
8. The Cloaca Maxima was the famous _______________ in ancient Rome.
a. prison
c. courthouse
b. theatre
d. sewer
9. Moonlight and the hunt are associated with the goddess
a. Diana
c. Vesta
b. Proserpina
d. Venus
10. Commonly seen in Rome is the abbreviation S.P.Q.R. which symbolizes Roman:
a. education
c. government
b. mythology
d. slavery
11. Carthage, located on the continent of ______________, fought the three Punic Wars with
Rome during the years 264-146 BC.
a. Europe
c. Asia
b. Africa
d. Australia
12. A tepidarium, frigidarium, caldarium could be found in a Roman
a. forum
c. bath
b. amphitheater
d. circus
13. A Romance language which developed from Latin is:
a. Greek
c. French
b. Arabic
d. Russian
14. The phrase ab ovo usque ad mala refers to Roman:
a. schools
c. meals
b. baths
d. clothing
15. They collaborated with the enemy.
a. fought
c. departed
b. worked
d. remained
MCMLXXXIII (1983) Quaestionēs
1. The goddess of wisdom and patroness of arts and crafts was:
a. Diana
c. Minerva
b. Juno
d. Vesta
2. The Latin abbreviation i.e. means
a. for example
c. in the name of the emperor
b. and others
d. that is
3. The name for the large area in Rome used for military training and athletic exercise was:
a. Curia
c. Pantheon
b. Basilica
d. Campus Martius
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
4. Epimetheus’ curious wife who opened the box of human ills was
a. Proserpina
c. Pandora
b. Medea
d. Echo
5. The politician’s arguments for his re-election were cogent ones.
a. logical
c. deceitful
b. forceful
d. weak
6. The Roman bireme, trireme and quinquereme were
a. ships
c. coins
b. chariots
d. public buildings
7. The two young lovers of Babylon whose blood changed the mulberry from white to red
were:
a. Pyramus and Thisbe
c. Jason and Medea
b. Theseus and Ariadne
d. Baucis and Philemon
8. Octavian’s acceptance of the title “Augustus” in 27 BC is associated with the beginning
of the Roman:
a. monarchy
c. republic
b. empire
d. democracy
9. The month named for the Roman god of war is:
a. July
c. August
b. May
d. March
10. The jury was convinced that the witness was veracious.
a. truthful
c. lying
b. greedy
d. prejudiced
11. The mythological creature whose head was covered with serpents was
a. Chimaera
c. Medusa
b. Chiron
d. Pan
12. The Latin phrase in toto means:
a. potentially
c. existing
b. entirely
d. officially
13. Gaius, Marcus and Publius were common Roman
a. templa
c. viae
b. prandia
d. praenomina
14. Sicily, Rome’s first province, is the largest island in the _____________ Sea.
a. Aegean
c. Mediterranean
b. Black
d. Ionian
15. The two most famous epic poets in the ancient world were:
a. Caesar and Cicero
c. Livy and Tacitus
b. Homer and Vergil
d. Plautus and Terence
MCMLXXXIV (1984) Quaestionēs
1. The central room in a Roman house was the
a. cubiculum
b. atrium
c. triclinium
d. culina
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
2. Which Latin phrase means orally?
a. vade mecum
c. viva voce
b. vice versa
d. vox Dei
th
th
3. The Romans called the 13 or 15 of each month the __________________.
a. Nones
c. Ides
b. Kalends
d. Mensis
4. Mercury left the cradle on the day he was born and created the seven-stringed lyre, which
he later gave to his brother,
a. Vulcan
c. Neptune
b. Midas
d. Apollo
5. From 753 BC to 510 BC, Rome was ruled by
a. consuls
c. kings
b. emperors
d. praetors
6. Quis erat deus belli et pater Romuli Remique?
a. Bacchus
c. Iuppiter
b. Mars
d. Pluto
7. Besides the city of Rome, what other city is located on the Tiber River?
a. Naples
c. Brundisium
b. Pompeii
d. Ostia
8. After the Helvetians had burned their homes, their decision to depart was irrevocable.
a. unalterable
c. unfortunate
b. unjustified
d. unwise
9. Which early Italian rustic god, usually equated with the Greek Cronos, brought a Golden
Age and taught men to till the fields?
a. Saturn
c. Apollo
b. Janus
d. Pan
10. If you were to travel from Athens to ancient Troy, in what direction would you be going?
a. west
c. south
b. northeast
d. southwest
11. Pegasus and Bellerophon, with the help of Athena, freed the country of Lycia from a
frightful monster called the
a. Medusa
c. Hydra
b. Minotaur
d. Chimaera
12. The twelve lectors who preceeded each consul carried what symbol of Roman power?
a. aquilae
c. tubae
b. fasces
d. signa
13. What was the first meal of the day in ancient Rome?
a. secunda mensa
c. prandium
b. cena
d. ienctaculum
14. Rx is a symbol for the Latin word
a. rex
c. reduc
b. rogo
d. recipe
15. The English word corpulent refers to the size of one’s
a. head
c. body
b. heart
d. nose
xiii
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
MXMLXXXV (1985) Quaestionēs
1. The mountain range running down through the center of Italy is the
a. Alps
c. Pyrenees
b. Appenines
d. Jura
2. The virgin goddess who was the protectress of hearth, home and public buildings in
Rome was
a. Vesta
c. Juno
b. Venus
d. Ceres
3. A girl received her name from her father’s
a. domus
c. nomen
b. prandium
d. paedagogus
4. A Latin phrase often found on the face of a clock is
a. per se
c. ipso facto
b. tabula rasa
d. tempus fugit
5. In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey formed the First ______________
a. Consulship
c. Tribunate
b. Dictatorship
d. Triumvirate
6. The term terra icognita, often found on ancient maps, means
a. enemy territory
c. unexplored region
b. mountainous land
d. inhabited area
7. Amity was the keynote of the ambassador’s speeches
a. Optimism
c. Hope
b. Challenge
d. Friendship
8. The god who became the patron of tragic drama for the Athenians and who taught men to
cultivate the vine and grapes was
a. Apollo
c. Dionysus
b. Zeus
d. Ares
9. The phrase cave canem was often seen
a. on a water fountain
c. on an aqueduct
b. at a doorway
d. on an arch
10. When Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, the cities of Herculaneum, Stabiae and
____________ were destroyed
a. Capua
c. Ostia
b. Pompeii
d. Brundisum
11. Which of these was NOT located in ancient Rome
a. Circus Maximus
c. Colosseum
b. Parthenon
d. Campus Martius
12. Signs were posted at the factory entrance to notify itinerant workers of job opportunities.
a. construction
c. volunteer
b. elderly
d. travelling
13. The fifth or seventh day of a Roman month was known as the
a. Nones
c. Fasces
b. Kalends
d. Ides
xiv
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
14. Achilles, Odysseus and Hector were heroes of the ___________ War.
a. Punic
c. Trojan
b. Peloponnesian
d. Persian
15. The favorite daughter of Zeus, __________, is said to have sprung fully armed from the
head of her father.
a. Artemis
c. Athena
b. Hestia
d. Hera
MXMLXXXVI (1986) Quaestionēs
1. Mount Olympus, the home of the gods and goddesses, was located in
a. Italy
c. Egypt
b. Greece
d. Persia
2. Novem plus tres sunt
a. duodecim
c. sex
b. quindecim
d. decem
3. Which of the following is NOT a part of the Roman house?
a. atrium
c. tablinum
b. curia
d. triclinium
4. She spoke in an imperious manner. The word imperious means
a. sad
c. commanding
b. frightened
d. mysterious
5. Which period of Roman history is characterized by the joint rule of two consuls who
carried out decrees of the Senate?
a. Monarchy
c. Republic
b. Interregnum
d. Empire
6. Before 27 BC, Augustus was known as
a. Julius
c. Antonius
b. Octavian
d. Nero
7. Brundisium and Ostia are famous
a. mountain ranges
c. islands
b. rivers
d. seaports
8. The teacher announced several innovative policies for the coming year. Innovative is
derived from the Latin word
a. novem
c. nox
b. novus
d. invoco
9. The son of Jupiter who wore winged sandals and carried the caduceus was
a. Apollo
c. Mars
b. Pluto
d. Mercury
10. Aqueducts were used by the Romans to
a. drain harbors
c. find underground springs
b. bring water into the cities
d. build temples
11. The stola and the palla are both associated with Roman
a. men
c. slaves
b. children
d. women
xv
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
12. A well known expression of caution to a prospective buyer is
a. exempli gratia
c. corpus delicti
b. caveat emptor
d. bona fide
13. The princess Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of thread to guide him through the
a. Augean stables
c. Cretan labyrinth
b. Kingdom of Pluto
d. Cave of the Cyclops
14. Ancient Greeks and Romans used the lyre to
a. play music
c. repair clothing
b. prepare food
d. write a letter
15. Deus aquarum qui tridentem portabat erat:
a. Vulcanus
c. Bacchus
b. Neptunus
d. Pluto
MCMLXXXVII (1987) Quaestionēs
1. Viginti minus quattuor sunt
a. quindecim
c. sedecim
b. undecim
d. tredecim
2. The abbreviation P.S. stands for
a. Post Scriptum
c. Prope Senatum
b. Per Silvam
d. Pro Sorore
3. Acanthus leaves usually decorate the capital of the ______________ column
a. Ionic
c. Gothic
b. Doric
d. Corinthian
4. The conflicts between the Romans and the Carthaginians are known as the __________
Wars.
a. Alexandrine
c. Trojan
b. Punic
d. Latin
5. Venus : Aphrodite :: Minerva : _____________.
a. Hestia
c. Demeter
b. Artemis
d. Athena
6. A person’s appellation is his:
a. home
c. family
b. name
d. country
7. The opening in the ceiling of the atrium in a Roman house was called the
a. peristylium
c. ientaculum
b. compluvium
d. caldarium
8. Initially the Via Appia led from Rome to Capua; later it was extended to
a. Ostia
c. Pompeii
b. Brundisium
d. Tarentum
9. Mansions built in America before the Civil War are often referred to as
a. antebellum
c. per capita
b. interregnum
d. per annum
10. The Roman Forum is located between the Capitoline and ____________ hills in Rome.
a. Acropolis
c. Olympian
b. Apennine
d. Palatine
xvi
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
11. _______________ was the youth who disobeyed his father’s admonition not to fly too
close to the sun lest his wax wings melt.
a. Icarus
c. Io
b. Iris
d. Jason
12. The English word postpositive is derived from the Latin verb
a. possum
c. porto
b. pono
d. postulo
13. The month whose name is derived from the Roman god with two faces is
a. March
c. July
b. June
d. January
14. Ceres, goddess of ____________, is often pictured with a cornucopia.
a. love
c. agriculture
b. marriage
d. moon
15. In 509 BC Rome’s first two consuls were
a. Romulus and Remus
c. Brutus and Collatinus
b. Castor and Pollux
d. Caesar and Pompey
MCMLXXXVIII (1988) Quastionēs
1. The Trojan ancestor of the Roman people who fled burning Troy and sailed to Italy was
a. Aeneas
c. Ulysses
b. Augustus
d. Hercules
2. The Roman numeral LXIV represents
a. 514
c. 46
b. 64
d. 5115
3. The _________________ was the center of governmental and business activity in Rome.
a. Forum
c. Pantheon
b. Temple of Vesta
d. Via Appia
4. Jupiter punished ________________ because he had given fire to mankind.
a. Janus
c. Orpheus
b. Prometheus
d. Paris
5. Leo, felis, canis, lupus taurusque sunt:
a. discipuli
c. insulae
b. urbes
d. animalia
6. The Latin abbreviation which advises us to pay special attention is:
a. i.e.
c. e.g.
b. A.D.
d. N.B.
7. The _________________ was the most famous amphitheater in Rome and the arena for
gladiatorial events.
a. Circus Maximus
c. Capitoline
b. Thermae
d. Colosseum
8. Pater Romuli Remique et deus belli erat
a. Iuppiter
c. Apollo
b. Mercurius
d. Mars
xvii
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
9. The recitation of prayers for nine consecutive days is called a
a. decade
c. tertiary
b. novena
d. octave
10. Stola, calliga, palla and tunica are Roman:
a. modes of transportation
c. articles of clothing
b. fruits and vegetables
d. religious festivals
11. Quot sunt quattuor et tres?
a. quinque
c. sex
b. septem
d. octo
12. In classical mythology, the changing seasons are explained by the
a. labors of Hercules
c. quest for the Golden Fleece
b. kidnapping of Proserpina
d. slaying of Medusa
13. Which language is NOT a Romance language?
a. French
c. German
b. Italian
d. Spanish
14. A Roman atrium and peristylium would be found
a. in aquā
c. in nave
b. in caelō
d. in villā
15. 753 BC is the legendary date of the
a. fall of the Roman Empire
c. destruction of Pompeii
b. founding of Rome
d. death of Julius Caesar
MCMLXXXIX (1989) Quaestionēs
1. Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and doorways, was always pictured with
a. snakes as hair
c. the head of a lion
b. the body of a horse
d. two faces
2. Corsica et Sicilia et Sardinia sunt
a. montes
c. flumina
b. insulae
d. urbes
3. The last meal of the day for most Romans was
a. cena
c. vinum
b. prandium
d. ientaculum
4. The Latin abbreviation which introduces an example is
a. e.g.
c. etc.
b. N.B.
d. et al.
5. Thermae, tepidarium and strigiles are terms associated with a Roman:
a. religious ceremony
c. school
b. political office
d. bath
6. A septilateral figure has
a. six angles
c. seven sides
b. many arcs
d. eight surfaces
7. The Greek hero Bellerophon, riding the winged horse Pegasus, killed the
a. Minotaur
c. Hydra
b. Medusa
d. Chimaera
xviii
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
8. The atrium was the _______________ in a Roman house.
a. kitchen
c. bedroom
b. garden
d. main room
9. The stilus was used by the Romans:
a. to predict future events
c. to store dry goods
b. for cooking meat
d. as a writing implement
10. In order to emphasize the swiftness of its service a company might use the god
______________ as its symbol.
a. Atlas
c. Mars
b. Mercury
d. Vulcan
11. In a medieval monastery the scribe was responsible for:
a. ringing the tower bell
c. preparing the meals
b. copying manuscripts
d. leading the prayers
12. The Roman symbol of authority, a bundle of rods tied around an axe, was called the
a. comitia
c. curus honorum
b. Lares
d. fasces
13. Sailing down the Tiber toward the open sea, one would pass through the harbor of
a. Ostia
c. Naples
b. Brundisium
d. Venice
14. Toga : vir :: __________ : femina
a. soleae
c. fibula
b. stola
d. bulla
15. The hero who left his farm to lead the Roman army to victory over the Aequi was
a. Fabricius
c. Horatius
b. Cincinnatus
d. Romulus
MCMXC (1990) Quaesetionēs
1. A committee established for a particular purpose is called an ______________ committee
a. ad infinitum
c. ad nauseam
b. ad hoc
d. ad astra
2. One of the causes of the Trojan War was
a. Jason’s quest for the golden
c. Aeneas’ discovery of the
fleece
golden bough
b. awarding of the golden apple
d. King Midas’ golden touch
to Venus
3. The Twelve Tables relate to Roman
a. medicine
c. law
b. games
d. architecture
4. The river that flows through Rome is
a. Vesuvius
c. Palatine
b. Ostia
d. Tiber
5. The word binoculars is derived from:
a. noster
c. oculus
b. nocte
d. octo
xix
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
6. Which two gods joined Jupiter, king of gods, in ruling over the three regions of the
universe?
a. Mars and Vulcan
c. Janus and Bacchus
b. Mercury and Apollo
d. Neptune and Pluto
7. What famous couple met a tragic death near a mulberry tree?
a. Apollo and Daphne
c. Orpheus and Eurydice
b. Philemon and Baucis
d. Pyramus and Thisbe
8. In triclinio Romano errant ____________
a. cibus et aqua
c. templum et dea
b. silva et via
d. leo et equus
9. In order to write a letter, one would need:
a. tabella et stilus
c. lares et penates
b. aqua et lac
d. tunica et toga
10. The Athenian craftsman who built the labyrinth for the Minotaur and who tried to escape
from Crete by making wings from feathers and wax was:
a. Theseus
c. Daedalus
b. Bellerophon
d. Midas
11. Three tall pines dominated the landscape. Dominated is related to a Latin noun meaning:
a. master
c. gift
b. beauty
d. shadow
12. Perseus used his shield as a mirror when he killed the monster ___________
a. Cerberus
c. Hydra
b. Medusa
d. Chimaera
13. The Latin motto e pluribus unum which is found on the Great Seal of the United States
means:
a. One out of many
c. One step together
b. Always first
d. One for all
14. Where did Romans gather for recreation, relaxation and bathing?
a. basilica
c. curia
b. taberna
d. thermae
15. Tres et septem sunt
a. X
c. IX
b. XI
d. VI
MCMXCI (1991) Quaestionēs
1. Quae urbs est in Italia?
a. Athenae
c. Carthago
b. Troia
d. Ostia
2. Athena gave a golden bridle to Bellerophon so that he could tame the winged horse
named _________________.
a. Hydra
c. Sphinx
b. Pegasus
d. Cyclops
3. Centum et octo sunt:
a. CIII
c. CVIII
b. CIV
d. CIX
xx
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
4. In some towns it is difficult to find nocturnal entertainment.
a. summer
c. inexpensive
b. nighttime
d. holiday
5. What mountain range is called the backbone of Italy?
a. Alps
c. Pyrenees
b. Apennines
d. Caucasus
6. Theseus sailed to Crete in order to slay the monster __________
a. Cerberus
c. Minotaur
b. Centuar
d. Medusa
7. Which group of terms refers to Roman government?
a. tablinum, culina, peristylium
c. proconsul, fasces, curia
b. caldarium, frigidarium,
d. paedagogus, tabella, stilus
strigiles
8. What type of government existed in Rome from 27 BC to 476 AD?
a. city states
c. empire
b. republic
d. monarchy
9. Over her stola a Roman wore a
a. tunica
c. palla
b. toga
d. bulla
10. The Latin word from which the English words reduce, duchess, introduction, and
aqueduct are derived is:
a. duco
c. duo
b. do
d. durus
11. We like to read about Roman historical characters, e.g. Caesar, Scaevola, and Cicero.
The abbreviation e.g. means
a. for example
c. among others
b. note well
d. in addition to
12. At the root of the words transmission, remittance, and promise is the Latin verb meaning:
a. warn
c. leave
b. send
d. fear
13. In ancient Rome the cena was a
a. children’s game
c. main meal of the day
b. religious festival
d. man’s cloak
14. Which god did NOT live on Mt. Olympus?
a. Mercury
c. Venus
b. Pluto
d. Jupiter
15. What famous Trojan hero, son of Venus, founded the Roman race?
a. Ulysses
c. Achilles
b. Aeneas
d. Hercules
MCMXCII (1992) Quaestionēs
1. Which of the following is a Mediterranean island?
a. Ostia
b. Crete
c. Carthage
d. Brundisium
xxi
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
2. A somnambulist is someone who
a. talks in his sleep
c. sleep walks
b. sleeps too much
d. is unable to fall asleep
3. The month January was named for the Roman god of
a. the sun and prophecy
c. beginnings and doorways
b. war
d. the sea
4. The mythological creature which is half horse and half man is a
a. centaur
c. minotaur
b. satyr
d. sphinx
5. Quot pedes habet equus?
a. VI
c. V
b. III
d. IV
6. The woman who used her magic power to help Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece
was
a. Medea
c. Ariadne
b. Circe
d. Andromeda
7. A fraternity is so called because its members consider each other to be:
a. friends
c. students
b. sisters
d. brothers
8. The abbreviation N.B. indicates that
a. what follows is an example
c. an item is to be carefully
b. something is left out
noticed
d. an answer is to be given
9. Roman senators usually met in the
a. Circus Maximus
c. Curia
b. villa rustica
d. cloaca maxima
10. Which one is a Romance language, i.e., derived from Latin?
a. German
c. Greek
b. French
d. Russian
11. What deity do the oak tree and the eagle symbolize?
a. Apollo
c. Jupiter
b. Mercury
d. Neptune
12. Roma : Italia :: Athenae : ______________
a. Hispania
c. Sicilia
b. Graecia
d. Asia
13. A male Roman slave would most likely wear a
a. toga
c. tunica
b. stola
d. palla
14. The Apennines are:
a. montes
c. viae
b. flumina
d. insulae
15. Where would you find a triclinium, impluvium, and a cubiculum?
a. in villā
c. in scholā
b. in agrō
d. in templō
xxii
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
MCMXCIII (1993) Quaestionēs
1. Taurine, porcine, and equine are English words derived from Latin words for
a. rooms of the house
c. leisure activities
b. hills of Rome
d. animals
2. The symbol of supreme authority of kings who ruled Rome during the Monarchy was the
fasces. The term fasces refers to
a. a set of laws
c. a bundle of rods with an ax
b. a crown and a throne
d. a golden robe with fur lining
3. Ubi in villa Romana erat impluvium?
a. in atrio
c. in peristylio
b. in culina
d. in cubiculo
4. The diagnosis of the patient’s disease was conducted post mortem.
a. in the afternoon
c. after death
b. in detail
d. without surgery
5. Jupiter and Juno were known to the Greeks as
a. Apollo and Diana
c. Hermes and Artemis
b. Poseidon and Demeter
d. Zeus and Hera
6. Tarquinius Superbus ruled Rome during the peiod of government known as the
a. Monarchy
c. Empire
b. Republic
d. Dictatorship
7. After the presentation, the speaker apologized for his lapsus linguae.
a. delayed arrival
c. running overtime
b. nervousness
d. slip of the tongue
8. The maiden Andromeda was saved by the hero Perseus from
a. spending half of each year in
c. being devoured by a sea
the Underworld
monster
b. turning into a spider
d. being changed into a tree
9. Martial music is usually played
a. when putting a baby to sleep
c. at religious services
b. during a wedding procession
d. when soldiers march
10. A Roman traveler setting out for Pompeii form the city of Rome would head
a. north
c. northwest
b. south
d. west
11. A septuagenarian is a person who is in his _____________ in age.
a. thirties
c. sixties
b. fifties
d. seventies
12. The Roman numeral MCMXCIII represents the year
a. 1943
c. 1773
b. 1933
d. 1993
13. The domed building erected in honor of all gods which still stands in Rome today is the
a. Acropolis
c. Pantheon
b. Colosseum
d. Curia
14. A helmet, spear and owl are attributes of the goddess
a. Juno
c. Minerva
b. Ceres
d. Diana
xxiii
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
15. The traditional date for the fall of the Roman Empire was 476 AD. The abbreviation
A.D. means
a. after the founding of Rome
c. during the reign of Augustus
b. after the end of the Monarchy
d. in the year of the Lord
MCMXCIV (1994) Quaesetionēs
1. When the student looked at the clock and realized that the afternoon had gone quickly, he
exclaimed,
a. Amor omnia vincit
c. Ad astra per aspera
b. Cave canem
d. Tempus fugit
2. The judge lectured the young men about their malicious behavior.
a. evil
c. silly
b. careless
d. angry
3. Brundisium et Pompeii et Capua sunt urbes in
a. Graecia
c. Hispania
b. Gallia
d. Italia
4. The city of Rome was founded by
a. Jupiter
c. Neptune
b. Romulus
d. Athena
5. The lucid statement in the lawyer’s closing argument greatly influenced the jurors.
a. bitter
c. kind
b. enlightening
d. bold
6. The Romans worshipped Bacchus as the god of
a. the underworld
c. trade
b. wine
d. the sea
7. E pluribus unum, the motto of the United States, emphasizes the idea of
a. community service
c. the right to vote
b. foreign policy
d. national unity
8. The Romans watched chariot races in the
a. Pantheon
c. Circus Maximus
b. Colosseum
d. Temple of Jupiter
9. To the Romans she was Juno, but the Greeks called her
a. Athena
c. Demeter
b. Artemis
d. Hera
10. A traveler leaving Rome on a journey to Gaul would
a. sail up the Nile
c. spend a night in Athens
b. cross the Alps
d. travel through the city of
Carthage
11. During the Republic
a. two consuls were elected
c. Rome was founded
b. kings seized power by
d. emperors were appointed
military takeover
12. Because he was ill, the senior class president was awarded his diploma
a. Nota Bene
c. in absentia
b. id est
d. ex libris
xxiv
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
MCMXCV (1995) Quaestionēs
1. Tarquin the Proud was the last of seven Roman
a. emperors
c. senators
b. consuls
d. kings
2. Which land is west of Italy?
a. Hispania
c. Graecia
b. Aegyptus
d. Germania
3. The Latin words cena, secunda mensa, and prandium refer to Roman
a. meals
c. clothing
b. games
d. rooms
4. When Romulus and Remus were young, they
a. strangled two snakes
c. went to the Underworld
b. rode a chariot too close to the
d. were nursed by a wolf
sun
5. What does the abbreviation i.e. mean?
a. for the time being
c. and the rest
b. that is
d. note well
6. Who was the goddess of love and beauty?
a. Venus
c. Minerva
b. Juno
d. Vesta
7. The English words laboratory, laborious, and collaborate share a root which means
a. work
c. pull
b. move
d. run
8. The river that flows through the city of Rome is the
a. Via Appia
c. Mons Capitolinus
b. Campus Martius
d. Flumen Tiberis
9. The god who stole Proserpina and carried her to the Underworld is
a. Neptune
c. Vulcan
b. Mars
d. Pluto
10. The customer complained vociferously.
a. in a loud voice
c. with gestures
b. by letter
d. with good humor
11. When you make a mistake, you might say
a. Mens sana in corpore sano
c. Carpe diem
b. Errare humanum est
d. E pluribus unum
12. Quis erat rex deorum?
a. Apollo
c. Jupiter
b. Mercury
d. Bacchus
MCMXCVI (1996) Quaestionēs
1. Which Roman numeral represents the year 1996?
a. MDCXCVI
b. MCMXCVI
c. MXCVI
d. MMXCVI
xxv
National Latin Exam Culture Notes
2. Two cities buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD were Pompeii and
a. Brundisium
c. Herculaneum
b. Rome
d. Ostia
3. What type of government did Augustus initiate in 27 BC?
a. monarchy
c. empire
b. republic
d. dictatorship
4. Who was the god of the sun, medicine, and music, rejected by the nymph Daphne?
a. Neptune
c. Vulcan
b. Jupiter
d. Apollo
5. The toga could be worn by
a. all men living in Rome
c. only men who were Roman
b. all men and women who
citizens
owned property in Rome
d. only elected public officials
6. If your friends greet you with “Laetam tibi natalem diem,” they are
a. wishing you a happy birthday
c. congratulating you on a
b. complaining that you are late
victory
d. telling you to enjoy your
vacation
7. Caesar, Cicero, Brutus, et al., were political figures during the Republic. Et al. means
a. That is
c. Note well
b. For example
d. And others
8. The words enamored, amiable, and inimical are all related to the Latin word for
a. praise
c. walk
b. love
d. see
9. gladiator fight : Colosseum :: ____________ : Circus Maximus
a. chariot race
c. military exercise
b. play performance
d. public bath
10. What characterized the triclinium in a Roman house?
a. a garden surrounded by
c. a shrine for worshipping the
columns
household gods
b. three couches on which
d. a pool which collected
Romans reclined to dine
rainwater
11. Which god was often called Dis, the Latin word meaning “rich,” because his kingdom in
the Underworld included the rich minerals under the earth?
a. Jupiter
c. Bacchus
b. Neptune
d. Pluto
12. What is the shape of a lunate window?
a. 5-pointed star
c. square
b. crescent moon
d. right triangle
MCMXCVII (1997) Quaestionēs
1. Nomen mihi est Marcus
a. My name is Marcus
b. I gave a name to Marcus
c. It is the name of Marcus
d. Your name is Marcus
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
2. What is the Greek name for Venus, the goddess of love and beauty?
a. Athena
c. Demeter
b. Hera
d. Aphrodite
3. Ancient mapmakers used to indicate an unknown land by using the phrase _________
a. persona non grata
c. cave canem
b. terra icognita
d. in medias res
4. The date traditionally given for the fall of the Roman Empire is 476 A.D.
a. CDLXXVI
c. DCLXXVI
b. CMLXXVI
d. DLXXVI
5. A multifaceted argument has
a. many aspects
c. an obvious answer
b. no solution
d. two sides
6. Which of these Roman provinces was in the eastern part of the Empire?
a. Britannia
c. Asia Minor
b. Hispania
d. Gallia
7. Curiosity was the downfall of __________, the first woman, who opened the box of
misfortunes.
a. Penelope
c. Pandora
b. Arachne
d. Daphne
8. According to tradition, which of these events happened first?
a. the last king was driven out
c. Aeneas settled in Italy
of Rome
d. Augustus was made the first
b. L. Iunius Brutus became the
emperor
first consul
9. This covered channel provided water for the wealthy private homes as well as for public
baths and fountains.
a. circus
c. peristyle
b. aqueduct
d. dome
10. This most important Roman road originally extended from Rome to Capua and later east
to Brundisium.
a. Via Flaminia
c. Via Appia
b. Via Aurelia
d. Via Sacra
11. Early Roman legends said that Romulus and Remus were the sons of ____________
a. Jupiter
c. Neptune
b. Mars
d. Apollo
12. The pool used to catch rainwater in the Roman house was the _____________
a. cubiculum
c. triclinium
b. impluvium
d. tablinum
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National Latin Exam Culture Notes
MCMXCVIII (1998) Quaestionēs
1. Quid agunt Romani in triclinio?
a. currunt et pugnant
c. scribunt et legunt
b. tacent et dormiunt
d. cenant et bibunt
2. In Arabic numbers, MMV would be
a. 205
c. 1505
b. 2005
d. 2505
3. In its earliest days, Rome was ruled by __________.
a. generals
c. emperors
b. consuls
d. kings
4. Often pictured wearing a war helmet, ____________ is also known to the Greeks as the
goddess of arts and crafts.
a. Athena
c. Aprhodite
b. Hera
d. Demeter
5. The Roman equivalent of our proverb “Haste makes waste” is
a. Ad infinitum
c. Festina lente!
b. Caveat emptor!
d. Nota bene
6. According to its name, the Pacific Ocean should be
a. immense
c. peaceful
b. dark blue
d. very deep
7. What Roman province was located between Hispania and Germania?
a. Britannia
c. Africa
b. Graecia
d. Gallia
8. The French word soeur, the Italian word sorella, and the English word sorority come
from the Latin word for
a. kind
c. community
b. fate
d. sister
9. Pluto took Proserpina, the daughter of _________, to the Underworld to be his queen.
a. Juno
c. Minerva
b. Ceres
d. Vesta
10. A bystander was trying to ignite a conflict between two candidates. The use of the word
ignite here reflects its Latin root meaning
a. fire
c. battle
b. sword
d. hatred
11. According to the Roman custom of naming children, which of these men was the father
of a daughter named Cornelia?
a. C. Julius Caesar
c. M. Tullius Cicero
b. P. Cornelius Scipio
d. C. Caecilius Iucundus
12. When you attend sports events in a huge, circular, multi-story building with entrances all
around, you might think back to the Roman
a. curia
c. Forum
b. Colosseum
d. basilica
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