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, Latin authors, 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.

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.

The first two championship teams, in 1971 and 1972, were from Handley High School in Winchester, Virginia, and were coached by Latin teacher Susan S. Schearer. Schearer, Virginia state chair at the time and in charge of the 1972 NJCL convention at Virginia Tech, introduced the game to NJCL. There was only one level. Intermediate, then called Lower, was added two years later, and Novice in 1987. Tennessee won the first two national championships.

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