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Roman Place Names Trivia Quiz

Under emperor Trajanus, the Roman Empire stretched from Britain to the Caucasus and from Morocco to Egypt. Do you know the modern names of the cities and places in this empire?

A multiple-choice quiz by Gnomjas. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Gnomjas

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
49,130

Updated
Apr 09 23

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
12 / 20

Plays
5983

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. Argentoratum - in this city, now residence of the European Parliament, many debates about money (argentum) are held. Hint

Marseille (France)

Xanten (Germany)

Strasbourg (France)

Barcelona (Spain)

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Question 2 of 20

2. Aquincum - the Roman name only applies to (part of) one half of the city Hint

Budapest (Hungary)

Lisbon (Portugal)

Warsaw (Poland)

Vienna (Austria)

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Question 3 of 20

3. Mediolanum Hint

Milan (Italy)

Algiers (Algeria)

Nijmegen (Netherlands)

Regensburg (Germany)

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Question 4 of 20

4. Hispalis - in 1992, this city attracted a lot of tourists Hint

Valencia (Spain)

Malaga (Spain)

Sevilla (Spain)

Palma (Spain)

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Question 5 of 20

5. Lugdunum - the 'Rhodanus' river ran through this city Hint

London (UK)

Lyon (France)

Voorburg (Netherlands)

Larnaca (Cyprus)

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Question 6 of 20

6. Gratianopolis - this city was once host of the Olympic Games Hint

Utrecht (Netherlands)

Grenoble (France)

Belgrade (Yugoslavia)

Geneva (Switzerland)

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Question 7 of 20

7. What is the modern name for Lutetia Parisiorum?

Answer: (You should not need a hint)

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Question 8 of 20

8. What was the former name of the English harbor city Dover? Hint

Aquae

Dubris

Bonna

Durovernum Cantiacorum

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Question 9 of 20

9. The Roman city Emona is now a capital city. Of which country? Hint

Macedonia

Norway

Netherlands

Slovenia

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Question 10 of 20

10. Savaria is the Roman name for the oldest town in which country? Hint

Austria

Germany

Switzerland

Hungary

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Question 11 of 20

11. Padua's Roman name was: Hint

Lusitania

Patavium

Avaricum Biturigum

Danuvius

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Question 12 of 20

12. Which country was called 'Helvetia' during the Roman empire?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 13 of 20

13. Where could you find the Columnae Herculis (think about Atlas, Hercules...)? Hint

Suez Canal

The Channel

Strait of Gibraltar

Bosporus

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Question 14 of 20

14. The former name of (most of) France, which has become world famous for its comic characters Asterix and Obelix.

Answer: (A former French president has a name similar to the answer )

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Question 15 of 20

15. Which city was called Aelia Capitolina (it is still a capital city)? Hint

Jerusalem (Israel)

Tanger (Morocco)

Istanbul (Turkey)

Cologne (Germany)

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Question 16 of 20

16. Ceasaraugusta Hint

Augsburg (Germany)

Zaragoza (Spain)

Avignon (France)

Cagliari (Italy)

17. Some Roman names for famous European rivers are the Sequana (Seine, after the Gaul tribe the 'Sequani'), Rhenus (Rhine), Padus (Po), and the Albis (Elbe, 'white'). For which western river was the name Tamisis used?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 18 of 20

18. Pannonia is a region which covers most of present: Hint

Turkey

Poland

Hungary

Greece

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Question 19 of 20

19. What is the name of the coastal strip of Croatia? There is a pedigree dog named after this region. Hint

Dalmatia

Cappadocia

Aquitania

Macedonia

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Question 20 of 20

20. What is the present name of Carthago Nova (Spain!)?

Answer: (Obviously not the famous city Carthago)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Argentoratum - in this city, now residence of the European Parliament, many debates about money (argentum) are held.

Answer: Strasbourg (France)

Argentum is Latin for 'silver' or 'money'. Strasbourg is the residence of the European Parliament. Xanten was called Castra Vetera ('old fortress'), Barcelona was Barcino ('barca' means 'small boat'), and Marseille was Massilia ('heavy', 'bulky').

2. Aquincum - the Roman name only applies to (part of) one half of the city

Answer: Budapest (Hungary)

Buda and Pest were two separate cities, with the Danube river between them. A part of modern Buda used to be called Aquincum ('aqua' means 'water'). Lisbon was called (O)Lisipo, Vienna was Vindobona ('good vindo', vindo perhaps referring to 'wind'). Warsaw was never part of the Roman empire.

3. Mediolanum

Answer: Milan (Italy)

Mediolanum means 'middle of the plain. Milan is now famous for fashion and cars (Fiat). Nijmegen was called Noviomagus Batavorum (Novio = 'new'; magus = 'wise') , Algiers (which is not European) Icosium (icere = 'to hit, strike'), and Regensburg: Regina Castra (Queen's Castle).

4. Hispalis - in 1992, this city attracted a lot of tourists

Answer: Sevilla (Spain)

His = 'this', panum = 'spade'. In 1992, the expo was held here. Malaga was called Malaca ('soft', delicate'), Palma was Palma and Valencia was Valentia ('strong', 'vigorous').

5. Lugdunum - the 'Rhodanus' river ran through this city

Answer: Lyon (France)

The Rhodanus is the modern 'Rhone'. London was called Londinium, Voorburg (near Leiden, which was called Lugdunum Batavorum) was Forum Hadrianii (Gate of Hadrianus), and Larnaca: Citium .

6. Gratianopolis - this city was once host of the Olympic Games

Answer: Grenoble (France)

'Gratitude City'. Grenoble is nowadays a popular ski resort. Utrecht was called Trajectum ad Rhenumeen ('river crossing at the Rhine'), Belgrade was Singidunum, and Geneva: Genava (gena = 'eyes')

7. What is the modern name for Lutetia Parisiorum?

Answer: Paris

Lutetia means 'yellow', paris means 'equal' or 'suitable'

8. What was the former name of the English harbor city Dover?

Answer: Dubris

Aquae ('water') is Baden Baden (Germany), Bonna is Bonn (bona = 'good'), once the capital of West Germany, and Durovernum Cantiacorum (durovernum = 'lasting spring', cantia = 'song', corum = 'northwest wind' or 'seed, plant') is Canterbury, famous for Chaucer's Tales (UK).

9. The Roman city Emona is now a capital city. Of which country?

Answer: Slovenia

Currently called: Ljubljana (derived from the slavic word for 'love'). Skopje was called Scupi. Amsterdam and Oslo were left 'untouched by civilization': Romans used to regard the people living in these areas as barbarians. The Romans never reached further than a few towns close to Amsterdam; the northern border (Limes) of the Roman empire followed (more or less) the Rhine river.

10. Savaria is the Roman name for the oldest town in which country?

Answer: Hungary

Hungary: Savaria is the old name for Szombathely

11. Padua's Roman name was:

Answer: Patavium

Lusitania is the former name of Portugal, Avaricum Biturigum (an avarus is a greedy person) is modern Bourges (in the famous French Bourgogne), and Danuvius is the Roman name for the Danube river.

12. Which country was called 'Helvetia' during the Roman empire?

Answer: Switzerland

Named after the Helvetii, who eventually settled in present Switzerland. The name is still often used.

13. Where could you find the Columnae Herculis (think about Atlas, Hercules...)?

Answer: Strait of Gibraltar

This is the place where Hercules met Atlas, who was compelled to support the weight of the heavens by means of a pillar on his shoulders. Hercules briefly relieved him from his burden, but quickly gave it back when he found Atlas was trying to leave him with the pillar forever. The Channel was called Pretum Gallicum, and the Suez Canal in Egypt did not exist yet.

14. The former name of (most of) France, which has become world famous for its comic characters Asterix and Obelix.

Answer: Gallia

Asterix and Obelix lived in Armorica, the western part of Gallia. The president was Charles de Gaulle. "Galia" is the Spanish spelling.

15. Which city was called Aelia Capitolina (it is still a capital city)?

Answer: Jerusalem (Israel)

Another antique name for this city is Hierosolyma. Istanbul was called Constantinopolis (capital of the Byzantine empire), Tanger was Tingis ('wet') and Cologne: Colonia Agrippina ('Agrippina's Settlement', named after emperor Nero's mother).

16. Ceasaraugusta

Answer: Zaragoza (Spain)

An important city under the Romans, held by the Moors from 713 until 1118. Augsburg was called Augusta Vindelicum, Avignon was Avennio, and Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia: Carales.

Answer: Thames

18. Pannonia is a region which covers most of present:

Answer: Hungary

19. What is the name of the coastal strip of Croatia? There is a pedigree dog named after this region.

Answer: Dalmatia

The name the Romans gave the name Dalmatia to this coastal strip of Croatia. There is a pedigree dog, the dalmatian named after this region.

20. What is the present name of Carthago Nova (Spain!)?

Answer: Carthagena

Cartagena was an important port town on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Not to be confused with Carthage (or Carthago), a city northeast of present Tunis, destroyed by the Romans in the Third Punic War (146 B.C.)

Source: Author Gnomjas

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor minch before going online.
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