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Quiz about Ancient Roman Writers
Quiz about Ancient Roman Writers

Ancient Roman Writers Trivia Quiz


Ancient Rome produced many famous and talented writers. Test how much you much you know about them and their works.

A multiple-choice quiz by nerthus. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
nerthus
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
73,766
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1109
Last 3 plays: Guest 84 (6/10), angostura (9/10), Dilysslytherin (3/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. This famous Roman historian was very interested in writing about the history of Rome. Renowned as a great prose stylist, he wrote the 'Historiae' chronicling Roman history and its emperors from 69AD to 96AD. He also wrote 'Annales' , dealing with Roman history and the decline of Roman political freedom from 14AD to 68AD. Who is he? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Born the son of a farmer in a village near Mantua, this poet wrote many great works like 'Bucolica' (aka 'Eclogue'), a series of pastoral poems, and the didactic 'Georgica' (Art of Husbandry). He is best remembered however, for his unfinished epic poem 'Aeneid'. Who is he? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Julius Caesar was not only known as a statesman but also for his prose which set normative standards for the Latin language.


Question 4 of 10
4. This Roman philosopher and writer was brought back from exile by the Empress Agrippina in order to teach her son Nero. He was an accomplished writer dealing usually with moral philosophical issues in dialogues and letters. Unfortunately, as is the case with many ungrateful students, in 65AD, he was accused of plotting to take Nero's life and forced to commit suicide. Who was he? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Titus Maccius Plautus was well known as a writer of comedies. He often took Greek comedies and adapted them for a Roman audience, using coarse humour with comic figures. Which of the following is NOT the work of Plautus? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Caius Petronius' greatest work is a Menippean satire called 'The Satyricon'.


Question 7 of 10
7. This great historian devoted 142 books on the history of Rome from the foundations of Rome to the year 9BC. Often writing from a moral standpoint, his history of Rome was considered a classic in his own lifetime and has had a profound influence upon the style of historical writing down the ages. Who is he? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Rome has produced many wonderful poets who excelled in writing epics. Which of the following is NOT a classic Roman poet? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This Roman biographer and historian was Secretary of Imperial Correspondence during the reign of Hadrian but around 122AD he was fired from the post for neglecting court formality. He then turned his hand at writing biographies of famous people, among them emperors, poets and orators. One of his most important works is 'De Vita Cesarum' - dealing with emperors from Julius Caesar to Domitian. Who is he? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which of the following writers was brought to Rome from Carthage as a slave but impressed his master so much that, not only was he emancipated, but he was also given a classic Roman education? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 84: 6/10
Mar 08 2024 : angostura: 9/10
Feb 27 2024 : Dilysslytherin: 3/10
Feb 19 2024 : Guest 92: 9/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This famous Roman historian was very interested in writing about the history of Rome. Renowned as a great prose stylist, he wrote the 'Historiae' chronicling Roman history and its emperors from 69AD to 96AD. He also wrote 'Annales' , dealing with Roman history and the decline of Roman political freedom from 14AD to 68AD. Who is he?

Answer: Tacitus

Marcus Claudius Tacitus grew up during Nero's reign and went on to achieve great distinction not only as a historian but also as a politician. He became governor of Asia Minor from 112 to 116 AD. Among his many works only parts of the 'Historiae' and the 'Annales' remain preserved. Terentius and Plautus wrote comedies while Seneca was a philosopher.
2. Born the son of a farmer in a village near Mantua, this poet wrote many great works like 'Bucolica' (aka 'Eclogue'), a series of pastoral poems, and the didactic 'Georgica' (Art of Husbandry). He is best remembered however, for his unfinished epic poem 'Aeneid'. Who is he?

Answer: Virgil

Publius Vergilius Maro (70BC - 19BC) is quite possibly the greatest of Latin poets to have graced this earth. Though he started off from a humble background, he had the opportunity to study philosophy and rhetoric in Rome. It was while he was in Rome that his poems caught the attention of Maecenas and Octavius (who later became Augustus).

It was in fact Augustus who gave orders that 'The Aeneid' be published and preserved after Virgil's death.
3. Julius Caesar was not only known as a statesman but also for his prose which set normative standards for the Latin language.

Answer: True

Caius Julius Caesar's two greatest works, 'Commentarii de bello Gallico' (Commentaries on the Gallic War) and 'Commentarii de bello civili' (Commentaries on the Civil War) were skillful works of propaganda.
4. This Roman philosopher and writer was brought back from exile by the Empress Agrippina in order to teach her son Nero. He was an accomplished writer dealing usually with moral philosophical issues in dialogues and letters. Unfortunately, as is the case with many ungrateful students, in 65AD, he was accused of plotting to take Nero's life and forced to commit suicide. Who was he?

Answer: Seneca

Seneca (also known as Seneca Philosophus or Seneca the Younger, to distinguish him from his father who was also known as Seneca) also wrote nine tragedies , such as 'Medea', 'Phaedra', 'Agamemnon' etc which were later to influence many dramatists such as Shakespeare and Racine. Petronius was another of Nero's tutors. He suffered a fate similar to Seneca's.
5. Titus Maccius Plautus was well known as a writer of comedies. He often took Greek comedies and adapted them for a Roman audience, using coarse humour with comic figures. Which of the following is NOT the work of Plautus?

Answer: Andria

Plautus had a great influence upon later writers like Shakespeare, Moliere, Jonson etc. The braggart soldier in 'Miles Gloriosus' is instantly recognizable as Shakespeare's Falstaff. Shakespeare also adapted 'The Menaechmi' into 'The Comedy of Errors'. Moliere's 'The Miser' had its inspiration from 'Aulularia' or 'The Pot of Gold'. 'Andria' was written by Terentius.
6. Caius Petronius' greatest work is a Menippean satire called 'The Satyricon'.

Answer: True

Only fragments of this work remain. 'Cena Trimalchionis' also known as 'Trimalchio's Feast' is one of them. Petronius was also a tutor and adviser to Emperor Nero. He committed suicide in 66AD on Nero's orders after being accused of complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy.
7. This great historian devoted 142 books on the history of Rome from the foundations of Rome to the year 9BC. Often writing from a moral standpoint, his history of Rome was considered a classic in his own lifetime and has had a profound influence upon the style of historical writing down the ages. Who is he?

Answer: Livy

Titus Livius popularly known as Livy, was born in Padova, Northern Italy. He began writing his greatest work of 'Ar Urbe Condita' in 26BC but never finished it. Of this great work of 142 books, only a handful remain preserved , Books 1 - 10 and 21 - 45.

The rest are in fragments. Lucretius was a little known poet. Juvenalis was a satirist who criticized Roman life during the reigns of Domitian and Nero. Cicero of course is well known for his many speeches and philosophical documents. He was a Roman writer and politician who unfortunately was murdered at the orders of Marc Antony in 43BC.
8. Rome has produced many wonderful poets who excelled in writing epics. Which of the following is NOT a classic Roman poet?

Answer: Quintilianus

Horatius (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) better known as Horace, wrote the famous 'Ars Poetica'. Ovidius is of course the great poet Ovid who wrote such accomplished works like 'Metamorphoses' and 'Ars Amandi' ('The Art of Love'). Vergilius is better known to us as Virgil , the writer of 'The Aeneid'. Marcus Fabius Quintilianus was an orator and a teacher.

Although he was born in Spain circa 35AD , he taught in oratory in Rome. Among his students were Pliny the Younger and even Tacitus.
9. This Roman biographer and historian was Secretary of Imperial Correspondence during the reign of Hadrian but around 122AD he was fired from the post for neglecting court formality. He then turned his hand at writing biographies of famous people, among them emperors, poets and orators. One of his most important works is 'De Vita Cesarum' - dealing with emperors from Julius Caesar to Domitian. Who is he?

Answer: Suetonius

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (circa 70 - 140 AD) may have also written an encyclopedia called 'Prata' ('Meadows') which is similar to Pliny the Elder's 'Natural History'. Cato was a Roman statesman who wrote 'De Agricultura' - the oldest Latin prose that is preserved.
10. Which of the following writers was brought to Rome from Carthage as a slave but impressed his master so much that, not only was he emancipated, but he was also given a classic Roman education?

Answer: Terentius

Born in Carthage circa 190BC, Publius Terentius Afer, aka Terence, may have started off as a slave but quickly became the darling of the aristocracy. He is widely recognized as the creator of the comedy of manners. Like Plautus, he too adapted Greek plays, especially the plays of Menander. Unlike Plautus who wrote for the public, Terence was more interested in capturing the essence and spirit of the Greek plays in his adaptations.

His works too have had a profound effect upon later writers. 'Phormio', a play he adapted from Appollodorus, was later to inspire Moliere's 'The Trickery of Scapin'. Tertullianus was another writer from Carthage.
Source: Author nerthus

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