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Ancient Roman Culture Trivia Quiz

This quiz will try to cover a lot of interesting material about ancient Rome.

A multiple-choice quiz by broadwaygal. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
broadwaygal

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
203,195

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2019

Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (7/10), Guest 174 (10/10), Guest 165 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was Rome's seaport, located at the mouth of the Tiber River? Hint

Pompeii

Herculaneum

Brundisium

Ostia

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which tribe's women were kidnapped by the Romans in order to increase the Roman population? Hint

Gallians

Carthaginians

Sabines

Barbarians

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Question 3 of 10

3. What does the saying "Ars longa, vita brevis" mean? Hint

Life imitates art

Art is long, life is short

Art is an imitation of life

Art is long, and life suffers

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the meaning of the Latin verb that the word "to salute" is derived from? Hint

Honor

Greet

Worship

Salute

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Question 5 of 10

5. On which hill was Rome founded by Romulus? Hint

The Capitoline

The Palatine

The Quirinal

The Aventine

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who said "I came, I saw, I conquered"? Hint

Cincinnatus

L. Tarquinius Superbus

Hostus Hostilius

Gaius Julius Caesar

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Question 7 of 10

7. What is the Cloaca Maxima? Hint

The biggest clothing store (taberna) in the Forum, that was run by the Senate

The sewer of ancient Rome, built by the fifth king

The giant cover for the Colosseum that was intended for use in bad weather

It was the name for the solar eclipse, when the sun's light is "cloaked"

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Question 8 of 10

8. How many kings of Rome were there ? Hint

9. This goddess's mother mocked Latona for having only two children, while she had fourteen. All her siblings were killed by Apollo and Diana, but she was left alive. She is the goddess of spring, flowers, and nature. Who is she? Hint

Tarpeia

Egeria

Chloris

Aricia

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Question 10 of 10

10. Last but not least: How many birds did Romulus see the night before he killed his brother? Hint

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 16 2024 : Guest 136: 7/10
Nov 11 2024 : Guest 174: 10/10
Oct 27 2024 : Guest 165: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was Rome's seaport, located at the mouth of the Tiber River?

Answer: Ostia

Pompeii is the famed city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Brundisium is the city at the other end of the Appian Way, in the heel of the "boot" of Italy. Herculaneum is a city that was, believe it or not, named after Hercules!

2. Which tribe's women were kidnapped by the Romans in order to increase the Roman population?

Answer: Sabines

This was known as the "Rape of the Sabine Women". The Sabines were invited to a great feast, and they had no idea of what was going to happen. In the end, Romulus and the Sabine leader, Titus Tazio, ruled Rome together, and the Sabines joined the Romans.

3. What does the saying "Ars longa, vita brevis" mean?

Answer: Art is long, life is short

I hope that you were able to figure out that "longa" means "long". The English words "brevity" and "brief" come (indirectly) from the Latin "brevis", meaning "short", so the quote means "Art is long, life is short", telling us that we're mortal, but our art will (or may) be recognized after we die.

4. What is the meaning of the Latin verb that the word "to salute" is derived from?

Answer: Greet

The Latin verb is "saluto - salutare", which means "to greet". A number of English words including "safe" and "salvation" share a common root with it.

5. On which hill was Rome founded by Romulus?

Answer: The Palatine

The Palatine, from which the word 'palace' is derived, was the first hill of Rome. There were seven hills eventually: the Palatine, the Aventine, the Capitoline, the Quirinal, the Viminal, the Esquiline and the Caelian.

6. Who said "I came, I saw, I conquered"?

Answer: Gaius Julius Caesar

In Latin: "Veni, vidi, vici".

Cincinnatus was a politician who retired to become a farmer. He was pulled out of retirement briefly to serve as dictator during a war, but refused to stay once it was over.

Hostus Hostilius was a Roman hero who died in battle fighting against the Sabines, a tribe that lived near Rome.

Tarquinius Superbus was the seventh and last king of Rome, ruling from about 535 to 510 B.C.

7. What is the Cloaca Maxima?

Answer: The sewer of ancient Rome, built by the fifth king

The Cloaca Maxima was built by Tarquinius Priscus during his reign, sometime between 616 and 579 B.C. He also began building the great temple to Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill, and laid out the Circus Maximus.

8. How many kings of Rome were there ?

Answer: 7

The seven kings were, in order, as follows: Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullius Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, L. Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius and L. Tarquinius Superbus.

Answer: Chloris

She is known by the Greeks as Flora. So the goddess of flowers is called "Flora". Do I sense a connection?

10. Last but not least: How many birds did Romulus see the night before he killed his brother?

Answer: 12

There was a prophecy that Rome would last one hundred years per bird that Romulus saw. 12*100=1200. Rome lasted almost exactly 1200 years, fulfilling the prophecy.

Hope you enjoyed my quiz, and learned something, too!

Source: Author broadwaygal

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