Welcome to the 2001 Ad Fontes Certamen.

1. Valentine's Day was just a short time ago, and our culture typically associates that day with love. What does the Latin phrase "Amor omnia vincit" mean? Love conquers all/everything

Bonus:Sometimes lovers must learn to forgive and it's good to remember "errare humanum est" What does that phrase mean? To err is human.

2. Venus, the Roman goddess of love, was jealous of what mortal whose beauty might have surpassed even her own? Psyche

Bonus:What does the name Psyche mean? Soul

3. Who was the king of Rome known for giving Rome its religion?
Numa Pompilius

Bonus:Who was the last king of Rome? Tarquinius Superbus/ Tarquin the Proud

4. What was the charm that children wore around their necks to ward off evil spirits? Bulla

Bonus:Before a boy gave up the bulla and sacrificed it, what did he put in it? A lock of hair or the stubble from his first shave

5. Change amat to the imperfect tense. amabat

Bonus:Now change that to the passive. amabatur

6. Venus' husband was Vulcan. Who was her lover? Mars

Bonus:Mars and Vulcan were brothers. Who was their mother? Juno

7. What emperor's name meant "little boot"? Caligula

Bonus:How did he get this nickname? He grew up in military camps and was dressed in miniature soldier's uniform

8. Name three first declension masculine nouns. Athleta, incola, pirata, nauta, scriba, poeta, agricola, auriga, propheta, etc.

Bonus:Name two more. See above

9. We get our word candidate from the Latin word candidus, -a, -um meaning bright white. How did it come to mean a person running for a position or office? In ancient Rome, people who were running for office would be recognized by their bright white togas (rubbed with chalk to make them highly visible).

Bonus: In an election, how many people could be elected for the position of consul? Two

10. Deucalion and Pyrrha, the sole survivors of the flood in Greek mythology, were instructed to "throw the bones of their mother over their shoulders." What did they do to carry out these directions? They threw STONES (the bones of "Mother Earth") over their shoulders. (Do not accept "They threw the bones of their mother ...")

Bonus:What happened when they threw the stones over their shoulders? Men and woman sprang up.

11. One emperor of Rome is famous for supposedly fiddling while Rome burned. Who was he? Nero

Bonus:He was the last emperor of what dynasty, or family? Julio Claudian Emperors

12. Ater, atra, atrum is a Latin word for dull black. What room in the Roman house is derived from it? Atrium.

Bonus:Why was the atrium black? Smoke/soot from the fire.

13. Zeus' father ate his children out of fear that they would one day overthrown him. Who was this father? Cronus

Bonus:What does Cronus mean? Time

14. What emperor named his horse a senator? Caligula

Bonus:What was the horse's name? Incitatus

15. What is the name for a family of nouns in Latin? Declension

Bonus:How many declensions are there? Five

16. Who were the plebeians in Rome? Common people/lower classes

Bonus:Who were the Equites? Rich plebeians/ knights

17. In what room of the Roman house did people eat? triclinium

Bonus:What did the Romans call dinner? cena

18. Complete this analogy: cat: feline :: dog : ____? Canine.

Bonus:From what Latin word does canine come from? Canis

19. Every Roman knew of the temple in which a fire must always be burning. To what goddess was this temple dedicated? Vesta

Bonus:What did the Romans think would happen if the fire went out? Rome would fall

20. When recognized, perform the following command. Sta et dic mihi nomen tuum. The person recognized should stand and tell you his/her name.

Bonus:State omnes et dicite Anglice "Pulchros equos videmus." All on the team should stand and say, "We see beautiful horses."