Roman knowledge

Frank 013 · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:31 am Post subject: Roman knowledge

Hi all

I just joined a club (Nova Roma) that specializes in studying Roman history, in order to become a member (citizen) I had to take a test. For me it was rather easy but I have been studying Roman society for decades.

I am posting the test below; I would like to get your opinion on its difficulty level.

There are 10 questions; some I think of as common knowledge others are rather obscure.

The actual test consists of 15 questions, 5 of which covered knowledge of the club itself I left those out.

My score was 100% on the questions below; I did miss one of the club related questions however.

So feel free to take the test, we will see how good of a Roman you would make.

Good luck.

1. The Roman numeral "X" stands for:
A. 10
B. 100
C. 5
D. 1000

2. The Roman numeral "C" stands for:
A. 10
B. 100
C. 5
D. 1000

3. Salve (or the plural Salvete) at the start of a letter or email literally means:

A. Be well
B. Greetings
C. Salutations
D. Welcome

4. Vale (or the plural Valete) at the end of a letter or email literally means:

A. Goodbye
B. Sincerely
C. Be well and strong
D. Until I write (you) again

5. "Pax Deorum" means:
A. Peace of the Sword
B. Peace of the Gods.
C. Peace of Rome
D. Prayer to the Gods.

6. If a Vestal Virgin was shown to have violated her vows of chastity her punishment was:
A. Crucifixion
B. Strangulation
C. Decapitation
D. Buried Alive

7. According to legend the city of Rome was founded by:
A. Romulus and Remus
B. Amulius and Numitor
C. Iuppiter Optimus Maximus
D. Faustulus and Rhea Silva

8. The last king to rule Rome before the establishment of the Republic was
A. King Numa
B. King Tarquinius Superbus
C. King Sextus Tarquin
D. King Quintus Hortensius

9. The Roman Virtue described as: "Spiritual Authority" The sense of one's social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria is:

A. Auctoritas
B. Gravitas
C. Industria
D. Honestas

10. The Roman Virtue described as: "Frugalness" Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly is:

A. Pietas
B. Prudentia
C. Severitas
D. Frugalitas

Later

Frank 013 · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

So no one even wants to attempt this? ::75

How about commenting on its difficulty level?

Anyone?

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:12 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

Sorry Frank...but every time I come to this thread, I get the picture of you wearing a toga...and I get a little scared and have to close out my browser...

::100

Mr. P.

I'm not saying it's usual for people to do those things but I(with the permission of God) have raised a dog from the dead and healed many people from all sorts of ailments. - Asana Boditharta (former booktalk troll)

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

What is all this shit about Angels? Have you heard this? 3 out of 4 people believe in Angels. Are you F****** STUPID? Has everybody lost their mind? - George Carlin

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

Chris OConnor · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:58 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

Frank...I'll give it a shot. But I'm guessing on most of these!

1. The Roman numeral "X" stands for:
A. 10

2. The Roman numeral "C" stands for:
B. 100

3. Salve (or the plural Salvete) at the start of a letter or email literally means:

B. Greetings

4. Vale (or the plural Valete) at the end of a letter or email literally means:

C. Be well and strong

5. "Pax Deorum" means:

B. Peace of the Gods.

6. If a Vestal Virgin was shown to have violated her vows of chastity her punishment was:

A. Crucifixion

7. According to legend the city of Rome was founded by:

A. Romulus and Remus

8. The last king to rule Rome before the establishment of the Republic was

D. King Quintus Hortensius

9. The Roman Virtue described as: "Spiritual Authority" The sense of one's social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria is:

A. Auctoritas

10. The Roman Virtue described as: "Frugalness" Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly is:

D. Frugalitas

Later

Don't laugh. I was guessing!

Chris OConnor · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:08 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

These are the questions where I really was winging it. When I doubt I guessed.

#3 - I have no clue

#6 - I assume they killed her.

#8 - I looked this one up and see I was indeed wrong. But who the hell would have thought there was a king named "Superbus!?" LOL

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:35 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

And lets not forget...

Biggus...Dickus...

Mr. P.

I'm not saying it's usual for people to do those things but I(with the permission of God) have raised a dog from the dead and healed many people from all sorts of ailments. - Asana Boditharta (former booktalk troll)

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

What is all this shit about Angels? Have you heard this? 3 out of 4 people believe in Angels. Are you F****** STUPID? Has everybody lost their mind? - George Carlin

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

Chris OConnor · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

I loved that movie!

Mr. Pessimistic · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

Pontius Pilate: So, yaw fatha was a Woman? Who was he?

Brian: He was a Centurion, in the Jerusalem Garrisons.

Pontius Pilate: Weally? What was his name?

Brian: 'Naughtius Maximus'.
[the Centurion laughs]

Pontius Pilate: Centuwion, do we have anyone of that name in the gawwison?

Centurion: Well, no, sir.

Pontius Pilate: Well, you sound vewy sure. Have you checked?

Centurion: Well, no, sir. Umm, I think it's a joke, sir... like, uh, 'Sillius Soddus' or... 'Biggus Dickus', sir.

Pontius Pilate: [guard chuckles] What's so funny about "Biggus Dickus? "

Centurion: Well, it's a joke name, sir.

Pontius Pilate: I have a vewy gweat fwiend in Wome called 'Biggus Dickus'.
[guard chuckles]

Pontius Pilate: Silence! What is all this insolence? You will find yourself in gladiator school vewy quickly with wotten behaviour like that.

Brian: Can I go now, sir?
[slap]

Brian: Aaah! Eh.

Pontius Pilate: Wait till Biggus Dickus hears of this!
[guard chuckles]

Pontius Pilate: Wight! Take him away!

Centurion: Oh, sir, he - he only...

Pontius Pilate: No, no. I want him fighting wabid, wild animals within a week.

Centurion: Yes, sir. Come on, you.
[takes the guard away as continues laughing histerically]

Pontius Pilate: I will not have my fwiends widiculed by the common soldiewy. - - Anybody else feel like a little... giggle... when I mention my fwiend... Biggus...
[another guard chuckles]

Pontius Pilate: ... Dickus?
[more chuckling]

Pontius Pilate: What about you? Do you find it... wisible... when I say the name... 'Biggus'...
[chuckle]

Pontius Pilate: ... Dickus?
[both guards chuckle]

Pontius Pilate: He has a wife, you know. You know what she's called? She's called... 'Incontinentia'... Incontinentia Buttocks

Pontius Pilate: [Guards are laughing] Stop! What is all this?

Pontius Pilate: [Laughing continues] I've had enough of this wowdy webel sniggewing behaviour. Silence! Call yourselves Pwaetowian guards? You're not - Seize him! Seize him! Blow your noses and seize him!

I'm not saying it's usual for people to do those things but I(with the permission of God) have raised a dog from the dead and healed many people from all sorts of ailments. - Asana Boditharta (former booktalk troll)

The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P.

What is all this shit about Angels? Have you heard this? 3 out of 4 people believe in Angels. Are you F****** STUPID? Has everybody lost their mind? - George Carlin

I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper

Loricat · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:37 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

Mr. P -- shame on you. Frank is trying to have an intellectual conversation, and you bring up Monty Python. ::77

Okay, I'll bite:

1. The Roman numeral "X" stands for:
A. 10

2. The Roman numeral "C" stands for:

B. 100

3. Salve (or the plural Salvete) at the start of a letter or email literally means:

A. Be well

4. Vale (or the plural Valete) at the end of a letter or email literally means:

C. Be well and strong

5. "Pax Deorum" means:

B. Peace of the Gods.

6. If a Vestal Virgin was shown to have violated her vows of chastity her punishment was:
A. Crucifixion
[no idea really]

7. According to legend the city of Rome was founded by:
A. Romulus and Remus

8. The last king to rule Rome before the establishment of the Republic was

D. King Quintus Hortensius
[uh...?]

9. The Roman Virtue described as: "Spiritual Authority" The sense of one's social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria is:

A. Auctoritas
B. Gravitas
C. Industria
D. Honestas
[sorry, don't understand the question ::169

]

10. The Roman Virtue described as: "Frugalness" Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly is:

C. Severitas

[My score?]

::204

"All beings are the owners of their deeds, the heirs to their deeds."

Loricat's Book Nook
Celebrating the Absurd

Frank 013 · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:22 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

Most of you did pretty well,

Here are the answers so you can check your scores.

1. The Roman numeral "X" stands for:
A. 10

2. The Roman numeral "C" stands for:
B. 100

3. Salve (or the plural Salvete) at the start of a letter or email literally means:
A. Be well

4. Vale (or the plural Valete) at the end of a letter or email literally means:
C. Be well and strong

5. "Pax Deorum" means:
B. Peace of the Gods.

6. If a Vestal Virgin was shown to have violated her vows of chastity her punishment was:
D. Buried Alive

7. According to legend the city of Rome was founded by:
A. Romulus and Remus

8. The last king to rule Rome before the establishment of the Republic was
B. King Tarquinius Superbus

9. The Roman Virtue described as: "Spiritual Authority" The sense of one's social standing, built up through experience, Pietas, and Industria is:
A. Auctoritas

10. The Roman Virtue described as: "Frugalness" Economy and simplicity of style, without being miserly is:
D. Frugalitas

And just for the record I do not own a toga!

Togas are for wimpy senators!!! ::82

I just own a few things like 8 suits of Roman armor, 10 gladius (Roman sword), 2 pilum (Roman spear), and 4 scutum (Roman shield) oh yea I have 5 helmets as well... I nearly forgot about those, and 2 pugio (roman dagger).

My wife and I sword fight regularly so I need this stuff!

I also have a small bag of actual roman coins and several recipes for roman food, a pair of the roman sandals called calaga, a roman necklace with SPQR on it, and 2 roman military belts called cingulum.

But not one toga.

Later

Edited by: Frank 013 at: 4/12/07 10:25 am

Loricat · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:37 am Post subject: Re: Roman knowledge

Frank, do you really have all that stuff? That's a cool collection.

There's a recipe for garum in the book Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky...supposedly the forerunner of ketchup (through numerous incarnations, of course).

"All beings are the owners of their deeds, the heirs to their deeds."

Loricat's Book Nook
Celebrating the Absurd


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