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Early Roman Myth Trivia Quiz

Before the 8th Century BC when the Romans assimilated the Greek gods into their culture, they had various lesser-known gods of their own. Before Jupiter and Juno there were a good many others...

A multiple-choice quiz by alkmene. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
alkmene

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
164,619

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1431

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. For which of the following specific elements of childbirth did the early Romans not have a goddess? Hint

Caesarean section

Breech birth

Childbirth in general

Head-first birth

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Question 2 of 10

2. Contrary to what one may think (given the sound of the name), Puta was not the deity of prostitutes. Over what did Puta have dominion? Hint

Pruning

Weeding

Hoeing

Ploughing

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Question 3 of 10

3. Janus, the god of Beginnings, had what distinguishing physical characteristic? Hint

He had three heads

He was lame

He had two faces

He was horribly disfigured

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which goddess dealt with flowers?

Answer: (One word)

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Question 5 of 10

5. What area was Convector's primary responsibility? Hint

Rising air

Binding sheaves

The weather

The hearth

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Question 6 of 10

6. Nuo and Numina were two of the most important deities. Both of their names derive from Latin words or phrases - 'Numina' means 'divine power'; what does 'Nuo' mean, literally?

Answer: (Two words: pronoun + verb)

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was/were the dominion(s) of Robigus? Hint

Edible lichens and mosses

Headaches

Poisonous mushrooms

Blight and mildew

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Romans doted on several gods who effectively 'babysat' their children. Which of the following is *not* one of them? Hint

Cuba - watched over a child in bed

Hestia - watched over a child seated before the fire

Cunina - watched over a child in its cradle

Edusa - watched over a child eating

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Question 9 of 10

9. What name was given collectively to the minor gods of the store cupboard?

Answer: (One word)

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Question 10 of 10

10. What was the name of the goddess of shepherds and their flocks? Hint

Pasturus

Pales

Ovinus

Marino

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. For which of the following specific elements of childbirth did the early Romans not have a goddess?

Answer: Caesarean section

Although some sites (incorrectly) claim that the famous Julius Caesar was born by Caesarean section, at the time the procedure was only performed in an attempt to save the baby if the mother was already dead. Partula was goddess of childbirth, Prorsa the goddess of births occurring head-first and Postverba the goddess of the breech birth.

They also had Rumina, goddess of breast-feeding, and Vagitanus, who oversaw a baby's first cry.

2. Contrary to what one may think (given the sound of the name), Puta was not the deity of prostitutes. Over what did Puta have dominion?

Answer: Pruning

Obarator oversaw ploughing, while the busy Sarritor was patron of both hoeing and weeding.

3. Janus, the god of Beginnings, had what distinguishing physical characteristic?

Answer: He had two faces

Vulcan, god of blacksmiths (Hephaestus in Greek myth) was lame. A little-known branch of English known as 'Janus words' deals with the very few individual words in the language which can mean opposite things, such as 'sanction' ('restrict' and 'permit') and 'cleave' ('adhere' and 'separate').

4. Which goddess dealt with flowers?

Answer: Flora

Indeed she did, hence fauna and...

5. What area was Convector's primary responsibility?

Answer: Binding sheaves

Binding sheaves means to make bundles of grain stalks following the harvest.

6. Nuo and Numina were two of the most important deities. Both of their names derive from Latin words or phrases - 'Numina' means 'divine power'; what does 'Nuo' mean, literally?

Answer: I nod

The god Nuo existed to grant assent or dissent to human actions.

7. What was/were the dominion(s) of Robigus?

Answer: Blight and mildew

Robigus was also sometimes known as Robigo.

8. The Romans doted on several gods who effectively 'babysat' their children. Which of the following is *not* one of them?

Answer: Hestia - watched over a child seated before the fire

Hestia, which is in fact the Greek name of the Romans' Vesta, goddess of the hearth, was far too busy being worshipped by virgins to do anything as mundane as child-rearing. Vesta is a later goddess stolen from the Greek tradition and is terribly grand.

9. What name was given collectively to the minor gods of the store cupboard?

Answer: Penates

The Penates were rather like house elves.

10. What was the name of the goddess of shepherds and their flocks?

Answer: Pales

Not all early Roman gods' names are obvious. 'Marino' is a breed of sheep whose wool, particularly that of the ram, is highly prized. Sheep belong to the 'ovine' family, which word is Latinate in origin. Pasturus, of course, I made up from 'pasture'. Pales' festival falls on April 21.

Source: Author alkmene

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