Classical Literacy Level IPart I

Adriatic Sea:An arm of the Mediterranean Sea between

the Balkans and the Italian peninsula.

aegis:An attribute of Zeus and Athena usually

represented as a goatskin shield. Protection, shield, defense, backing, support.

Aeneas/Aeneid:A Trojan leader, son of Anchises and Aphrodite, and

legendary ancestor of the Romans. When Troy fell to the Greeks he escaped and after wandering for many

years eventually reached Italy. The story of his voyage is recounted in Virgil's Aeneid.

Aesop:Greek storyteller. The moral animal fables

associated with Aesop were probably collected from many sources and initially

communicated orally.

alma mater:the Latin for "nourishing mother", this phrase

was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses. The school,

college, or university that one once attended.

alpha and omega:the first and last letters of the Greek

alphabet, used to signify the beginning and the end.

Alps:A mountain system in Europe that extends in

a curve from the coast of southeastern France through northwestern Italy, Switzerland,

Liechtenstein, and southern Germany into Austria.

alter ego:a second self, a second personality or persona within a person, who is often oblivious to the

persona's actions.

alumna/alumnae:A female graduate or former student of a

particular school, college, or university.

alumnus/alumni:A male graduate or former student, of a particular school, college, or university

amor omnia vincit:Love conquers all.

antebellum:Before the war, the time period preceding a

war. Antebellum architecture is a style of southern architecture that makes one think

pre-Civil War.

Apennines:A mountain range in Italy that extends for

880 miles (1,400 km) from the northwest to the southern tip of the country. It is

considered the "spine" of Italy.

Capitoline Hill:one of the seven hills of Rome; It was the

citadel (equivalent of the ancient Greek acropolis) of the earliest Romans

Chimera:Fire-breathing she-

monster with a lion's head and a goat's body

and a serpent's tail

errare humanum est:To err is human.

et al./et alii:"and the others." In an English sentence: the

new history textbook is written by Jones, Smith, et al.

Etruscans:Beginning in the 700s B.C., people from Etruria ,

(north of Rome) who were the first rulers of Roman Republic. for more than 100 years. Built up Rome,

streets, temples, mining. Laid the foundation for Rome and Roman civilization.

ex officio:by virtue of an office or position. Example--the head of the department serves as an ex

officio member of the board.

Excelsior!:Ever higher! Upward!

fasces:Bundle of rods with an axe used to symbolize

authority

Ge/Gaea:Roman/Greek name for the earth goddess,

married to Uranus, mother of the Titans, Cyclops, and Hecatonchires.

homo sapiens:the biological species to which modern

human beings belong

Hydra:Sea monster with nine heads. When struck

off, each head was replaced by two new ones. Hydra was slain by Hercules.

in loco parentis:in the place or role of a parent

in memoriam:in memory of

in toto:in total, completely

iota:a very small amount; the 9th letter of the

Greek alphabet

Ithaca:Odysseus' home, an island off the west coast

of Greece

labor omnia vincit:Work conquers all.

lapsus linguae:A slip of the tongue.

laurels:Apollo's wreath of foliage worn on the head

as an emblem of victory

magnanimous:noble and generous in spirit

magnum opus:a great work of art or literature, from the

Latin for "great work"

Medea:(Greek mythology) a princess of Colchis who aided Jason in taking the Golden Fleece from

her father, King Aeetes

mellifluous:pleasing to the ear (from the Latin words mell

- honey + fluere - to flow)

mentor:1. a wise and trusted guide and advisor 2. a friend of Odysseus who guided Telemachus

while Odysseus was away

mores:fixed customs or manners; moral attitudes

Mt. Parnassus:A mountain in central Greece near Delphi,

8061 feet high; sacred to Apollo and the Muses

N.B./nota bene:Italian and Latin phrase meaning "note well"