Greek and Roman Myths and Legends Quiz

Answer: A Lararium

The lararium was a sacred place where prayers and offerings are made. A tesserae is a piece used in a mosaic. A basilica is a large building where the Romans carried out town business. A forum is like a market square in the middle of a town, where people can meet.

Answer: Romulus

Romulus and Remus were twins who were raised by a she-wolf. When they were grown, they built a city to live in. They couldn't decide on a name for the city so they fought over it. Remus was killed by Romulus, and so the city was named Rome. Romulus was born in 771 BC and died in 717 BC.

Answer: False

Midas wished that everything he touched turned to gold. He was happy at first, but then he became very sad. EVERYTHING he touched turned to gold, including his food, horses, the palace, nature and even his children. Eventually, he was so unhappy that he went back to the god, Dionysus, (who granted the wish) and told him he wanted everything as it was. Dionysus took pity, and told him to go to the river and wash everything to return it to its original state.

Answer: River Styx

Charon varies in his appearance, sometimes he is shown as a miserable old man, or a demon. Charon appeared in both Greek and Roman myths. (The other "River" names I made up.)

Answer: The Story of Persephone

Persephone was the young and beautiful daughter of Demeter, the goddess of crops. Hades, the god of the dead, fell in love with her and took her away to the underworld. Demeter was very sad, and so she did not let crops grow. However, there was a way Persephone could be freed - if she did not eat anything in the underworld. Before she knew it, Persephone was back in her mother's arms.

But then, Hades' gardener appeared and told Zeus Persephone had eated six pomegranate seeds! A decicion was made that Persephone would live on earth for six months (our seasons of spring and summer) and in the underworld for the remaining six months (our seasons of autumn and winter).

In those months, Demeter didn't let anything grow because she was missing her daughter so much.

Answer: Zeus

Zeus is the leader of the GREEK gods. Jupiter is his Roman equivalent. Venus is the goddess of love, and Minerva is Athena's equivalent.

Answer: His own reflection

This is a Greek story. Narcissus was a very handsome boy, and a nymph named Echo fell in love with him. However, he teased her, so Aphrodite, the goddess of love, punished Narcissus and made him fall in love with his own reflection. He pined for his love, but if he tried to touch his face in the river, it broke up on the surface. Eventually, he died, and Aprodite felt sorry for him, and grew a flower in his place by the river. Narcissus flowers can still be found by water.

Answer: Psyche

Psyche was a mortal princess who Venus (Cupid's mother) was jealous of. Venus sent Cupid to punish Psyche, but he fell in love with her instead. He let her live with him, but told her to never look at his face, to see who he really was. Psyche was tricked by her jealous sisters and looked at Cupid. She was then punished again, but eventually reached the gods.

Answer: Hope

Pandora, and her husband, Epimetheus, were given a wedding by Zeus, a beautiful box. However, Zeus said it was not to be opened. Pandora grew very curious day by day, and longed to know what was in the box. One day, she could wait no more, and opened the box. Before she could stop them, terrible things flew out of the box, and plagued the world, like war, despair, old age, malice, jealousy etc. Quickly, she slammed the lid shut, trapping the only thing left in there: hope, which was saved for humankind.

Answer: True

If the Vestal Virgins let the fire to die out it would mean that the goddess had stopped protecting Rome. This is a serious offence. Vesta is the Roman goddess of the hearth.