Q 01/05

Rome's first emperor shunned the titles of king and dictator and styled himself princeps, meaning what?

A) Father of the army

B) First citizen

C) Chosen of the gods

D) Lord of the world

Answer · why

B) First citizen

First citizen: Augustus kept the Republic's offices and assemblies in place and posed as merely its leading man, while quietly holding the real power ...

Q 02/05

Which Roman god was the equivalent of the Greek god Poseidon, ruling over the sea and freshwater?

A) Neptune

B) Jupiter

C) Mars

D) Vulcan

Answer · why

A) Neptune

Neptune probably began as a god of fresh water; only once the Romans matched him with Poseidon, by 399 BC, did he take charge of the sea.

Q 03/05

Under which Roman Emperor did the construction of the Colosseum begin?

A) Domitian

B) Vespasian

C) Hadrian

D) Titus

Answer · why

B) Vespasian

Vespasian began the Colosseum around AD 72 on the site of a drained artificial lake, returning the land to public use; his son Titus inaugurated it in...

Q 04/05

Which ancient Roman road was famously known as the 'Regina Viarum' or 'Queen of Roads'?

A) Via Flaminia

B) Via Salaria

C) Via Aurelia

D) Via Appia

Answer · why

D) Via Appia

Via Appia: after the slave revolt of Spartacus was crushed in 71 BC, some 6,000 captured rebels were crucified along it, all the way from Rome to Capu...

Q 05/05

Which month did Romans call Quintilis, 'fifth', until it was renamed in 44 BC for a murdered dictator?

A) March

B) July

C) August

D) January

Answer · why

B) July

July: Quintilis became Julius in honour of Julius Caesar, who was born in that month; Sextilis, the sixth, was later renamed August for his heir.