GCSE CLASSICAL GREEK — Actual May 2025 PAST PAPER: Language
All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR J292/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The GCSE (9–1) Classical Greek May 2025 Language Paper (OCR J292/01) brings together the
complete official examination paper and its full mark scheme to offer a clear, structured, and
dependable revision resource. This component assesses students’ proficiency in core linguistic
skills, including vocabulary recognition, grammar and morphology, sentence translation,
comprehension of adapted and unadapted Greek passages, and accurate rendering of Greek into
English. Candidates must demonstrate a secure understanding of syntax, verb forms, case usage,
and particle functions while applying these skills in both analytical and translation-based tasks. By
presenting each question directly alongside the mark scheme, the resource provides explicit
guidance on examiner expectations, showing how credit is awarded for grammatical accuracy,
precise translation, and clear demonstration of linguistic understanding. This integrated format
supports efficient revision, helps learners identify frequent errors, and strengthens both translation
technique and grammatical confidence. Overall, it equips students thoroughly for success in future
OCR GCSE Classical Greek Language examinations.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Answer both Section A and Section B.
Section A
Read the passage.
Answer Questions 1–9.
The Argonauts, while searching for the Golden Fleece, save the prophet Phineus from the monstrous
Harpies.
οἱ Ἀργοναῦται πολλὰς ἡµέρας πλεύσαντες ἦλθον πρὸς µικρὰν πόλιν. ἐκεὶ δὲ ᾤκει
γέρων τις, Φινεὺς ὀνόµατι, ὃς οἷός τ’ ἦν ὁρᾶν τὰ µέλλοντα. ἀλλὰ πάλαι τοῖς θεοῖς
ἔδοξεν κολάζειν αὐτὸν διότι ἐδίδασκε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους πολλά περὶ τῶν
µελλόντων. ἔπεµψαν οὖν τὰς Ἁρπυίας ἵνα κλέπτωσι τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ καὶ
κωλύωσιν αὐτὸν ἐσθίειν τε καὶ πίνειν. 5
ὁ δὲ Φινεύς εἶπε τοῖς Ἀργοναύταις, ‘ἐὰν ἀποπέµψητε τὰς Ἁρπυίας ἀπὸ ταύτης τῆς
γῆς, ὑµῖν ἐρῶ ποῦ εὑρήσετε τὸ χρυσόµαλλον δέρας.’
οἱ µὲν οὖν Ἀργοναῦται ἐποίησαν µέγα δεῖπνον καὶ κρυψάµενοι λάθρᾳ ἔµειναν.
ἐπεὶ δὲ αἱ Ἅρπυιαι ἀϕίκοντο, εὐθὺς οἱ Βορεάδαι, πτερωτοὶ ὄντες, αὐτὰς ἐδίωκον
εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν. µετὰ δὲ πολὺν χρόνον αἱ Ἅρπυιαι ἐπαύσαντο ϕεύγουσαι καὶ 10
ὑπέσχοντο µηδέποτε αὖθις βλάψειν τὸν Φινέα.
Names
Ἀργοναῦται, Ἀργοναύτων, οἱ the Argonauts (a mythical group of sailors)
Φινεύς, Φινέως, ὁ Phineus
Ἅρπυιαι, Ἁρπυίων, αἱ the Harpies (half-human, half-bird monsters)
Βορεάδαι, Βορεάδων, οἱ the sons of Boreas (two members of the
Argonauts who could fly)
Words
µέλλοντα, µελλόντων, τά the future
τὸ χρυσόµαλλον δέρας the Golden Fleece
πτερωτός, πτερωτή, πτερωτόν winged
1 οἱ Ἀργοναῦται πολλὰς ἡµέρας πλεύσαντες ἦλθον πρὸς µικρὰν πόλιν (line 1): where did the
Argonauts arrive after many days of sailing?
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR 2025
, 3
2 ἐκεὶ δὲ ᾤκει γέρων τις, Φινεὺς ὀνόµατι, ὃς οἷός τ’ ἦν ὁρᾶν τὰ µέλλοντα (lines 1–2): state two
things which we learn about Phineus.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
[2]
3 ἀλλὰ πάλαι τοῖς θεοῖς ἔδοξεν κολάζειν αὐτὸν διότι ἐδίδασκε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους πολλά περὶ
τῶν µελλόντων (lines 2–4): why had the gods decided to punish Phineus?
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [2]
4 ἔπεµψαν οὖν τὰς Ἁρπυίας ἵνα κλέπτωσι τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ καὶ κωλύωσιν αὐτὸν ἐσθίειν τε καὶ
πίνειν (lines 4–5): as well as stealing Phineus’ food, what else were the Harpies sent to do?
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [2]
5 ὁ δὲ Φινεύς εἶπε τοῖς Ἀργοναύταις, ‘ἐὰν ἀποπέµψητε τὰς Ἁρπυίας ἀπὸ ταύτης τῆς γῆς, ὑµῖν
ἐρῶ ποῦ εὑρήσετε τὸ χρυσόµαλλον δέρας.’ (lines 6–7): what did Phineus say he would do if the
Argonauts sent away the Harpies?
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [2]
6 οἱ µὲν οὖν Ἀργοναῦται ἐποίησαν µέγα δεῖπνον καὶ κρυψάµενοι λάθρᾳ ἔµειναν (line 8): what
did the Argonauts do after making a big dinner?
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [2]
7 ἐπεὶ δὲ αἱ Ἅρπυιαι ἀϕίκοντο, εὐθὺς οἱ Βορεάδαι, πτερωτοὶ ὄντες, αὐτὰς ἐδίωκον εἰς τὸν
οὐρανόν (lines 9–10):
(a) how soon after the Harpies arrived did the sons of Boreas chase them away?
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
(b) where did they chase the Harpies?
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
8 µετὰ δὲ πολὺν χρόνον αἱ Ἅρπυιαι ἐπαύσαντο ϕεύγουσαι καὶ ὑπέσχοντο µηδέποτε αὖθις
βλάψειν τὸν Φινέα (lines 10–11): how did things turn out well for Phineus in the end?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [3]
9 For each of the Greek words below, give one English word which has been derived from the
Greek word and give the meaning of the English word.
One has been done for you.
Greek Word: ἡµέρας
English Word: ephemeral
Meaning of English Word: lasting for a very short amount of time
Greek Word: γέρων
English Word: ......................................................
Meaning of English Word: ...................................................................................................
[2]
Greek Word: περὶ
English Word: ......................................................
Meaning of English Word: ...................................................................................................
[2]
© OCR 2025
All Assessment Questions & Mark Scheme [OCR J292/01]
Exam Resource Summary
The GCSE (9–1) Classical Greek May 2025 Language Paper (OCR J292/01) brings together the
complete official examination paper and its full mark scheme to offer a clear, structured, and
dependable revision resource. This component assesses students’ proficiency in core linguistic
skills, including vocabulary recognition, grammar and morphology, sentence translation,
comprehension of adapted and unadapted Greek passages, and accurate rendering of Greek into
English. Candidates must demonstrate a secure understanding of syntax, verb forms, case usage,
and particle functions while applying these skills in both analytical and translation-based tasks. By
presenting each question directly alongside the mark scheme, the resource provides explicit
guidance on examiner expectations, showing how credit is awarded for grammatical accuracy,
precise translation, and clear demonstration of linguistic understanding. This integrated format
supports efficient revision, helps learners identify frequent errors, and strengthens both translation
technique and grammatical confidence. Overall, it equips students thoroughly for success in future
OCR GCSE Classical Greek Language examinations.
OCR is an exempt Charity
Turn over
, 2
Answer both Section A and Section B.
Section A
Read the passage.
Answer Questions 1–9.
The Argonauts, while searching for the Golden Fleece, save the prophet Phineus from the monstrous
Harpies.
οἱ Ἀργοναῦται πολλὰς ἡµέρας πλεύσαντες ἦλθον πρὸς µικρὰν πόλιν. ἐκεὶ δὲ ᾤκει
γέρων τις, Φινεὺς ὀνόµατι, ὃς οἷός τ’ ἦν ὁρᾶν τὰ µέλλοντα. ἀλλὰ πάλαι τοῖς θεοῖς
ἔδοξεν κολάζειν αὐτὸν διότι ἐδίδασκε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους πολλά περὶ τῶν
µελλόντων. ἔπεµψαν οὖν τὰς Ἁρπυίας ἵνα κλέπτωσι τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ καὶ
κωλύωσιν αὐτὸν ἐσθίειν τε καὶ πίνειν. 5
ὁ δὲ Φινεύς εἶπε τοῖς Ἀργοναύταις, ‘ἐὰν ἀποπέµψητε τὰς Ἁρπυίας ἀπὸ ταύτης τῆς
γῆς, ὑµῖν ἐρῶ ποῦ εὑρήσετε τὸ χρυσόµαλλον δέρας.’
οἱ µὲν οὖν Ἀργοναῦται ἐποίησαν µέγα δεῖπνον καὶ κρυψάµενοι λάθρᾳ ἔµειναν.
ἐπεὶ δὲ αἱ Ἅρπυιαι ἀϕίκοντο, εὐθὺς οἱ Βορεάδαι, πτερωτοὶ ὄντες, αὐτὰς ἐδίωκον
εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν. µετὰ δὲ πολὺν χρόνον αἱ Ἅρπυιαι ἐπαύσαντο ϕεύγουσαι καὶ 10
ὑπέσχοντο µηδέποτε αὖθις βλάψειν τὸν Φινέα.
Names
Ἀργοναῦται, Ἀργοναύτων, οἱ the Argonauts (a mythical group of sailors)
Φινεύς, Φινέως, ὁ Phineus
Ἅρπυιαι, Ἁρπυίων, αἱ the Harpies (half-human, half-bird monsters)
Βορεάδαι, Βορεάδων, οἱ the sons of Boreas (two members of the
Argonauts who could fly)
Words
µέλλοντα, µελλόντων, τά the future
τὸ χρυσόµαλλον δέρας the Golden Fleece
πτερωτός, πτερωτή, πτερωτόν winged
1 οἱ Ἀργοναῦται πολλὰς ἡµέρας πλεύσαντες ἦλθον πρὸς µικρὰν πόλιν (line 1): where did the
Argonauts arrive after many days of sailing?
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR 2025
, 3
2 ἐκεὶ δὲ ᾤκει γέρων τις, Φινεὺς ὀνόµατι, ὃς οἷός τ’ ἦν ὁρᾶν τὰ µέλλοντα (lines 1–2): state two
things which we learn about Phineus.
1 .......................................................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................................................
[2]
3 ἀλλὰ πάλαι τοῖς θεοῖς ἔδοξεν κολάζειν αὐτὸν διότι ἐδίδασκε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους πολλά περὶ
τῶν µελλόντων (lines 2–4): why had the gods decided to punish Phineus?
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [2]
4 ἔπεµψαν οὖν τὰς Ἁρπυίας ἵνα κλέπτωσι τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ καὶ κωλύωσιν αὐτὸν ἐσθίειν τε καὶ
πίνειν (lines 4–5): as well as stealing Phineus’ food, what else were the Harpies sent to do?
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [2]
5 ὁ δὲ Φινεύς εἶπε τοῖς Ἀργοναύταις, ‘ἐὰν ἀποπέµψητε τὰς Ἁρπυίας ἀπὸ ταύτης τῆς γῆς, ὑµῖν
ἐρῶ ποῦ εὑρήσετε τὸ χρυσόµαλλον δέρας.’ (lines 6–7): what did Phineus say he would do if the
Argonauts sent away the Harpies?
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [2]
6 οἱ µὲν οὖν Ἀργοναῦται ἐποίησαν µέγα δεῖπνον καὶ κρυψάµενοι λάθρᾳ ἔµειναν (line 8): what
did the Argonauts do after making a big dinner?
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [2]
7 ἐπεὶ δὲ αἱ Ἅρπυιαι ἀϕίκοντο, εὐθὺς οἱ Βορεάδαι, πτερωτοὶ ὄντες, αὐτὰς ἐδίωκον εἰς τὸν
οὐρανόν (lines 9–10):
(a) how soon after the Harpies arrived did the sons of Boreas chase them away?
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
(b) where did they chase the Harpies?
. ................................................................................................................................................. [1]
© OCR 2025 Turn over
, 4
8 µετὰ δὲ πολὺν χρόνον αἱ Ἅρπυιαι ἐπαύσαντο ϕεύγουσαι καὶ ὑπέσχοντο µηδέποτε αὖθις
βλάψειν τὸν Φινέα (lines 10–11): how did things turn out well for Phineus in the end?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
. ................................................................................................................................................. [3]
9 For each of the Greek words below, give one English word which has been derived from the
Greek word and give the meaning of the English word.
One has been done for you.
Greek Word: ἡµέρας
English Word: ephemeral
Meaning of English Word: lasting for a very short amount of time
Greek Word: γέρων
English Word: ......................................................
Meaning of English Word: ...................................................................................................
[2]
Greek Word: περὶ
English Word: ......................................................
Meaning of English Word: ...................................................................................................
[2]
© OCR 2025
