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Quiz about Wicked Women in the Ancient World

Wicked Women in the Ancient World Quiz

The portrayal of women in the ancient world is often negative and morally questionable. Women can be murderesses, sorceresses, shrewd politicians, and incite terror using magic where they lack in physical prowess.

A multiple-choice quiz by Minerva. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Minerva

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
274,855

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1258

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which Colchian wife of Jason murdered her children for revenge after he insulted her by taking a second wife? Hint

Locusta

Jocasta

Medea

Circe

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Question 2 of 10

2. The witch Erichtho, who feeds on the dead and searches for dead bodies at night for her necromancy, features in which Roman epic? Hint

Statius' Thebaid

Virgil's Aeneid

Lucan's Civil War

Ovid's Metamorphoses

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Question 3 of 10

3. The sorceress Circe, who traps Odysseus on her island, turns his crew into what? Hint

Pigs

Rabbits

Horses

Snakes

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Question 4 of 10

4. Agrippina the Younger is widely believed to have had her husband murdered so that her son could seize power. Who was her son? Hint

Nero

Caligula

Claudius

Domitian

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which famous poisoner was suspected of murdering both Claudius and Britannicus by slipping poison into their food and wine? Hint

Claudia

Clodia

Locusta

Mara

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which powerful and influential wife of Claudius was executed after she was involved in a conspiracy to kill her husband?

Answer: (One or two words)

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Question 7 of 10

7. One more on Claudius' disastrous choice of women: For what reason did Claudius and Plautia Urgulanilla divorce? Hint

Promiscuity and involvement in a plot to assassinate the emperor

Giving birth to an illegitimate son and slandering Claudius in public

Infertility and debauched behaviour

Adultery and suspicion of her involvement in the murder of her sister-in-law

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which was NOT a motivation for Clytemnestra's murder of Agamemnon? Hint

Pressure from her new lover (Aegisthus)

Revenge for Agamemnon sacrificing their daughter (Iphigeneia)

Punishment for her son's betrayal (Orestes)

Jealousy over Agamemnon's concubine (Cassandra)

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which unfortunate woman in Greek myth supposedly let all the evils into the world due to her curiosity? Hint

Narcissa

Daphne

Pandora

Persephone

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which goddess, originating in Asia Minor and known as Trivia in Roman myth, was associated with witchcraft, sorcery and known as "Queen of the Ghosts"? Hint

Amphitrite

Nemesis

Hecate

Persephone

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which Colchian wife of Jason murdered her children for revenge after he insulted her by taking a second wife?

Answer: Medea

Medea was essential for Jason's success in obtaining the Golden Fleece. He promised to marry her in return and got more than he bargained for. This version of the myth is most famous in the play "Medea" by Euripides.

2. The witch Erichtho, who feeds on the dead and searches for dead bodies at night for her necromancy, features in which Roman epic?

Answer: Lucan's Civil War

Roman literature has many more instances of evil women and, in particular, wicked stepmothers. Greek women are more three-dimensional.

3. The sorceress Circe, who traps Odysseus on her island, turns his crew into what?

Answer: Pigs

This tale is recounted in the Odyssey, and Circe is said to have intimate ties with nature. She attempts to detain Odysseus on her island but is ultimately unsuccessful. Medea is Circe's niece.

4. Agrippina the Younger is widely believed to have had her husband murdered so that her son could seize power. Who was her son?

Answer: Nero

The emperor was Claudius who was the uncle of Caligula. When Nero became emperor Agrippina was, it is widely thought, instrumental in the murders of Claudius and his legitimate son. He soon had his mother executed.

5. Which famous poisoner was suspected of murdering both Claudius and Britannicus by slipping poison into their food and wine?

Answer: Locusta

To make herself immune to poison she drank a small amount each day. She was granted immunity from execution by Nero following her successful murder of Britannicus.

6. Which powerful and influential wife of Claudius was executed after she was involved in a conspiracy to kill her husband?

Answer: Valeria Messalina

As the mother of Britannicus she was threatened by the rise of Agrippina the Younger and the aggressive moves that Agrippina was making towards her son Nero being named the heir of Claudius. Writers such as Juvenal and Seneca wrote of her cruelty and nymphomania.

7. One more on Claudius' disastrous choice of women: For what reason did Claudius and Plautia Urgulanilla divorce?

Answer: Adultery and suspicion of her involvement in the murder of her sister-in-law

Claudius married Urgulanilla when he was 18 years old and, as she was the illegitimate daughter of a freedman, Claudius repudiated her son.

8. Which was NOT a motivation for Clytemnestra's murder of Agamemnon?

Answer: Punishment for her son's betrayal (Orestes)

Clytemnestra was the sister of Helen, Castor and Pollux. Agamemnon sacrificed their daughter, Iphigeneia, in order to guarantee favourable winds to Troy. While he was away Clytemnestra began an affair with Aegisthus and, when Agamemnon returned home with a new concubine, Cassandra, Clytemnestra murdered both Agamemnon and his prize. Orestes was then obliged to kill Clytemnestra in vengeance for murdering his father and was chased by the Furies from then on.

9. Which unfortunate woman in Greek myth supposedly let all the evils into the world due to her curiosity?

Answer: Pandora

This myth is recounted most famously in Hesiod's "Theogony". Pandora managed to prevent hope from being released and this is man's only defence against these evils.

10. Which goddess, originating in Asia Minor and known as Trivia in Roman myth, was associated with witchcraft, sorcery and known as "Queen of the Ghosts"?

Answer: Hecate

She was also the goddess of crossroads and is associated with the modern day Wicca.

Source: Author Minerva

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