Weekly Wisdom Quiz

Gods, Goddesses, and Marcus Aurelius

Dear Classical Wisdom Reader,

It’s time for the Weekly Wisdom Quiz!

All questions are based on articles and resources published here at Classical Wisdom during the past week. A full roundup of these resources is available just after the questions, along with the answers.

So, let’s get to it…

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1. What year was Marcus Aurelius born?

A) 202 AD

B) 121 AD

C) 150 AD

D) 10 BC

2. According to Ovid, which goddess did Arachne boast she was better than?

A) Minerva

B) Venus

C) Diana

D) Vesta

3. What makes Enheduanna a uniquely important figure in literary history?

A) She translated the Epic of Gilgamesh
B) She invented the Sumerian language
C) She is considered the world’s first known author
D) She was the first ruler to codify religious law

4. How did Marcus Aurelius secure the loyalty of the army early in his reign?

A) By holding massive public games in the Colosseum
B) By granting a generous donative alongside Lucius Verus
C) By marrying his daughter to the Parthian king
D) By promising to restore the Republic

5. What artistic skill led to Arachne’s downfall in the myth recounted by Ovid?

A) Sculpting lifelike statues
B) Painting divine portraits
C) Weaving tapestries
D) Singing sacred hymns

6. Which ancient Greek painter was credited with being the first to portray emotion in his work and arrange figures with realistic depth?

A) Apollodorus
B) Pamphilos
C) Apelles
D) Polygnotos of Thasos

7. Why did Sargon the Great appoint Enheduanna as High Priestess of the moon god Nanna?

A) To punish local Sumerian leaders
B) To unite Akkadian and Sumerian cultures under shared religious authority
C) To elevate his daughter above the gods
D) Because she had previously served in the same role in Akkad

8. What deeper purpose might the Pantheon have served beyond functioning as a temple?

A) A repository for astronomical charts and Roman laws
B) A meeting house for the Roman Senate
C) A solar cathedral and imperial ritual stage designed to mirror and embody the cosmos
D) A mausoleum for fallen Roman generals

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Answers

1. B) 121 AD The Life of Marcus Aurelius

2. A) Minerva The Spider’s Web

3. C) She is considered the world’s first known author Enheduanna

4. B) By granting a generous donative alongside Lucius Verus The Life of Marcus Aurelius

5. C) Weaving tapestries The Spider’s Web

6. D) Polygnotos of Thasos The Brightly Colored Past

7. B) To unite Akkadian and Sumerian cultures under shared religious authority Enheduanna

8. C) A solar cathedral and imperial ritual stage designed to mirror and embody the cosmos The Secret of the Roman Pantheon

🏆 The Wisdom Scale

• 0–2 correct – Novice Philosopher: Welcome, young acolyte! Your journey to Olympus begins today.

• 3–4 correct – Aspiring Sophos: You’re on your way! More scrolls and symposiums await you.

• 5-7 correct – Agora Adept: You walk among the Stoics and Sophists with grace.

• 8 correct – Master of the Classics: Marcus Aurelius would raise a cup to you.

So, how did you do? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

All the best,

Sean Kelly

Managing Editor

Classical Wisdom