Certamen

Certamen may be

See also

Certamen (quiz bowl)

Certamen (Classical Latin: [kɛrˈtaːmɛn]), Latin for "competition", is a quiz bowl-style competition with classics-themed questions. The reference invokes the brief ancient Greek account of the Contest of Homer and Hesiod, Certamen Homeri et Hesiodi. The questions are on topics ranging from the minutiae of Latin grammar and vocabulary, Latin-based etymology, Roman history and culture, and classical mythology. Certamen competitions are organized by classics organizations, usually chapters of the Junior Classical League and are held at local high schools, state forums or conventions, and the National Junior Classical League national convention.

History

Certamen was created by Tony Ruffa, who taught in Richmond, Virginia in the 1960s and 70s. He invited all Virginia schools — both secondary and collegiate — offering Latin courses to come to Richmond for the first tournament. This single-elimination event had local schools play on Thursday afternoon and out-of-towners on Friday; the winners of each division faced off the next week on taped public television.