Saturnalia Shoppers’ Quiz

How well do you know Rome?

Author M. Fabius Furius

1. You can buy salt near the Forum in the:
   A)  vicus Sandalarius
   B)  vicus Iugarius
   C)  clivus Argentarius
   D)  vicus Tuscus

2. Rome’s well-known Gift & Deco shop sells Saturnalia sigillaria. The shop was also the scene of thefts by an unusual thief this year. The culprit was:
   A)  an Etruscan haruspix
   B)  a Gaul
   C)  a monkey
   D)  the god Apollo

3. Written accounts of how some famous authors spent their Saturnalias can be found at:
   A)  Amazonia
   B)  Texta Orientis
   C)  Aventinus Scriptor
   D)  the library of Asinius Pollio

4. Fresh and preserved olives are sold at two shops in Rome. Both are located in this commercial center:
   A)  Basilica Aemilia
   B)  Porticus Aemilia
   C)  Forum Traiani
   D)  Macellum

5. Hungry shoppers can stop to snack on a treat of cooked dormice in which two Roman districts?
   A)  the Forum and the Esquiline Hill
   B)  the Aventine Hill and the Subura
   C)  the Subura and the Forum
   D)  the Campus Martius and the Esquiline Hill

6. Which prominent gens dominates the market for garum in Rome?
   A)  the Aemilii
   B)  the Valerii
   C)  the Flavii
   D)  the Julii

7. Fine jewelry is the specialty of this shop on the Aventine Hill:
   A)  Rings ’n’ Things
   B)  Ye Olde Gift Shoppe
   C)  Taberna Gemmaria
   D)  Porticus Aemilia Silversmiths

8. Cards for Saturnalia and other holidays can be found through a link at this shop:
   A)  Amazonia
   B)  Libera’s Thermopolium
   C)  Curius’ Gift & Deco
   D)  Ye Olde Gift Shoppe

9. Shoppers can find a variety of foodstuffs at the Macellum, but not this item:
   A)  Spices
   B)  Ham
   C)  Fish
   D)  Sardian nuts

10. If you were a senator dressing in a new outfit for the state’s Saturnalia banquet, you would probably want to visit all of these shops except:
   A)  Signor’s Sandal Shop
   B)  Murrius Brothers Purpurarii
   C)  Piscatorium
   D)  Texta Orientis