2010
Section A
Answer any two questions; you must answer all parts of
the questions you choose.
EITHER
1 The picture below shows a Roman sacrifice. Study the
picture and answer all the questions that follow.
(a) Where would a Roman sacrifice usually take place
and which officials would be present? (5)
2011
2012
Section A
Answer any two questions; you must answer all parts of
the questions you choose.
Section A
Answer any two questions; you must answer all parts of
the questions you choose.
6 - The picture below shows a temple of Jupiter. Study
the picture and answer all the questions that follow.
6 The picture below shows a
Roman goddess. Study the
picture and answer all the
questions that follow.
(a) Which goddess is shown in the picture? How
can you tell? Answer in detail. (5) (b) Explain what happened to the animal throughout the
sacrifice and why. (5)
(c) Explain why sacrifice was important to the Romans.
(5)
(b) What were the responsibilities of this goddess?
(5)
(c) Explain how the gods and goddesses were
worshipped within a Roman household. (5) OR
2 The picture below shows a Roman dinner. Study the
picture and answer all the questions that follow.
OR
7 The picture below shows some Roman slaves at
work. Study the picture and answer all the
questions that follow.
a) Describe the religious functions of a Roman temple,
such as the one in the picture above. (5)
b) Discuss the ways in which Jupiter was important to
the Romans. (5)
c) Why do you think the Romans built such impressive
temples? (5)
OR
17 The passage below describes a chariot race in the
Circus Maximus. Read the passage and answer
All the questions that follow.
O lucky horse rider, whoever it is you support! So has
he had the good luck to interest you? If only I could
have that luck, if only they were my horses released
from the gate! Now I shall press on eagerly, now I shall
slacken the reins, now I shall mark their backs with the
whip, now I shall graze the turning-post with my inner
wheel: if I catch sight of you as I speed by, I
shall slow down, and the reins will go slack and drop
from my hands ...
Why do you edge away from me? It’s no good, the seat
boundary forces us together – a great advantage this in
the rules of the Circus.
Ovid, Amores
(a) What was the typical arrangement of a dining-room for
a Roman dinner party (cena)? (5)
(b) Explain how a Roman might entertain his guests at a
dinner party. (5)
(c) Explain why dinner parties were important to the
Roman household. (5)
OR
3 The picture below shows the chariot-racing track in
Rome. Study the picture and answer all the questions
that follow.
(a) What jobs did slaves, such as the ones in the
picture, do in a Roman household? (5) (b) Explain how people became slaves in Roman
society. (5)
(c) Why do you think slaves were important for the
Romans? (5)
OR
8 The picture below shows different objects used
for reading and writing in a Roman school. Study
the picture and answer all the questions that
follow.
a) Use the passage to help you describe the main
features of the Circus Maximus (5)
b) Explain how the design of the Circus Maximus
helped the crowd to enjoy a chariot race. (5)
c) Why do you think some charioteers became very
popular? (5) OR
18 The picture below shows two types of gladiator.
Study the picture and answer all the questions that
follow.
(a) Name the chariot-racing track in Rome and describe
how a chariot race started. (5)
(a) What equipment, such as that in the picture,
was used for reading and writing in a Roman
school? (5) a) Name two types of gladiator and describe how each
was armed and protected. You may use the picture to
help you. (5)
(b) Explain how a chariot race might be dangerous for a
charioteer. (5)
(b) Explain how this equipment was used in a
Roman school. (5) (c) Why do you think Romans enjoyed going to the
chariot-races? (5)
(c) Imagine that you are a Roman boy. Do you
enjoy your lessons with the grammaticus? Give
reasons for your answer. (5) b) ‘Never a dull moment.’ How far do you think this is a
good description of the different events in the
Colosseum? (5)
c) Explain why emperors put on shows in the
Colosseum (5)
Section B
Answer one question from this section.
1 - ‘Comfort or confusion.’ Explain which emotion
you think a Roman was more likely to feel in a
society which had many gods.
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 the different gods and their responsibilities;
 their importance in the lives of the Romans;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
OR
Section B
Answer one question from this section.
9 - ‘Romans watched chariot-racing only because
it was dangerous.’ To what extent do you think
that this statement is accurate?
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 what happened during a day at the races;
 the different reasons for the audience
enjoying the day;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
OR
Section B
Answer one question from this section.
9 - ‘A preparation for life.’ To what extent do you
think children’s education in Rome prepared them
for life?
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 what children learnt at home and at school;
 the relevance of what they learnt for later
life;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
OR
10 - To what extent do you think that a Roman
2 - ‘Death, death and yet more death.’ How useful is
this statement in helping us to understand why a day wife led a fulfilling life? In your answer, you might
like to discuss:
at the Colosseum was so popular?
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 the various duties a Roman wife was
expected to carry out;
 the visual spectacle of the show;
 her status in Roman society;
 the different reasons for the audience
enjoying the day;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
10 - ‘The success of a Roman family rested
entirely on the paterfamilias.’ To what extent do
you agree with this statement?
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 what the paterfamilias did and his
importance within the family and the
household in general;
 the contribution and importance of other
members of the household;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
2013
2014
Section A
Answer any two questions; you must answer all
parts of the questions you choose.
Section A
Answer any two questions; you must answer all
parts of the questions you choose.
6 The picture below shows a cena (dinner party).
Study the picture and answer all the questions that
follow.
6 This passage is about a Roman child’s education.
Study the passage and answer all the questions that
follow.
I went to school. Sitting in my place, I wrote the
sentence my teacher gave me. When I had
finished it, I showed it to the teacher. He
corrected it and wrote over my errors.
Corpus Glossariorum Latinorum 3 (adapted) a) What kinds of entertainment took place at a cena
(dinner party), such as the one in the picture? (5) a) What and how did Roman boys and girls learn
during the first stage of their education with the
litterator? (5)
(b) Explain how a cena was organised (5).
b) Explain how the second stage of education with
the
Grammaticus developed what boys had already
been taught. (5)
c) ‘Education with the rhetor was an excellent
preparation for adult life.’ How far do you agree with
this statement about the third stage of education? (5)
c) Why do you think the paterfamilias (head of the
household) would have wanted to host a cena? (5)
OR
7 The picture below shows the selling of a slave. Study
the picture and answer all the questions that follow.
7 The picture shows a scene from a sacrifice. Study the
picture and answer all the questions that follow
a) Use the picture to help you describe how slaves were
usually sold in Rome. (5)
b) ‘Male slaves were more important to a Roman
household than female slaves.’ To what extent do you
agree with this statement? (5)
c) Explain why a Roman slave might have been set free.
(5)
a) What happened during a sacrifice before the animals
were killed? Use the picture to help you. (5)
b) Why were sacrifices held outside and not inside the
temple? (5)
c) ‘The more important part of the sacrifice happened after
the killing of the animal.’ How far do you agree with this
statement? (5)
OR
8 This passage is from the tombstone of a Roman wife.
Read the passage and answer all the questions that
follow.
here lies
Amymone
wife of Marcus
most good and
most beautiful
wool spinner
dutiful modest
careful faithful
home-loving
(CIL VI.11602)
a) What types of animals did Romans like to see in shows
at the amphitheatre? (5)
a) What were the main duties of a Roman wife? (5)
b) Explain how animals were used in shows at the
amphitheatre. (5)
b) Explain why a Roman wife was important to her family
and household. (5)
c) Why do you think animal shows took place? (5)
c) How limited do you think the lifestyle of a Roman wife
was? (5)
OR
8 The picture below shows a scene from an animal show
in the amphitheatre. Study the picture and answer all the
questions that follow.
Section B
Answer one question from this section.
9 - ‘A visit to the Colosseum would have been much
more impressive for a Roman than a visit to the
Circus Maximus.’ How far do you agree with this
statement?
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 the appearance and layout of the Colosseum
and the Circus Maximus;
 how impressive the occasion was at each
venue;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
OR
10 - How and why did the Romans honour their
gods?
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 the different ways they showed respect to
their gods;
 the different reasons why they showed
respect to their gods;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
Section B
Answer one question from this section.
9 - ‘The life of a Roman slave was a miserable one.’
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 what sort of jobs male and female slaves did;
 the way male and female slaves were
treated;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)
OR
10 - ‘The only purpose of a day at the Colosseum
was to entertain the Romans.’ To what extent do you
agree with this statement?
In your answer, you might like to discuss:
 what happened during a day at the
Colosseum;
 the purposes of the different things that
happened;
 anything else that you think is significant.
(30)