Download End of Monarchy

The End of Rome’s Monarchy
myth and History
Lecture Outline
 1. Wiseman Ch. 3: Early Rome (6th century
BC) a few more important points and
terms
 Wiseman Ch. 4: Liber and the Free
Republic
 Greek story motifs for Roman stories
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Tarquin and Servius Tullius:
the Etruscan version:
(early 6th century BC)
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Sources: 1. Etruscan tomb paintings (4th century BC)
Etruscan mirror; 2. Etruscan traditions related by
Romans 1st century BC onwards
Caile Vipinas = Cailius Vibenna;
Macstrna = Mastarna his slave and companion; driven
out from Etruria with army, occupied Caelian hill – (gave
name)
Aule Vipinas = Aulus/Olus Vibenna also driven out from
Vulci, killed by Macstrna, buried in Rome
Lucius Tarquinius found his head on site of future temple
of Jupiter: hill named Capitolium – caput Oli = the head
of Olus
The Etruscan side of the Story
Marce Camitlnas drawing sword on Cneve
Tarchunis Rumach (Marcus Camillus
versus Gnaeus Tarquinius of Rome
 Emperor Claudius (also a historical
scholar) had Etruscan sources that
claimed Macstrna (a slave) who killed
Aulus Vibinas made himself king
 Romans no knowledge about a king
Maxtarna
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The Roman Version
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Tarquinius captured slave girl Ocrisia from Latin neighbours as a war prize
as present for his wife.
Myth of penis in ash of hearth – believed to have been household guardian
Lar or a Genius (household power of procreation); others s
Rationalizing historians suggest she was pregnant by husband Tullius when
captured, or married one of Tarquin’s followers and boy was an ordinary
slave (Servius Tullius)
Servus = slave from servare = to save; a war captive who was enslaved
and not killed was saved from death
Story of portent: flames around his head without burning him; boy was
then groomed for Tarquin’s succession
Story about Tanaquil concealing death of Tarquin until Servius Tullius could
be installed as ruler
Very likely opposition to his succession
Etruscan version claims slave of Caile Vipina’s slave Macstrna
Roman version morphed Macstrna into a divinely conceived king – ordinary
slave as king unacceptable for Roman historical tradition
6th century continued
Corinthian influence had become weaker
 More intensive trade with Ionian city
states;
 New ideas and arrivals in Italy:
 Xenophanes of Kolophon, poet and
philosopher
 Promation of Samos, geographer
 Pythagoras of Samos, mathematician,
mystic, social reformer
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Promathion of Samos:
the story of Tarchetios, the penis in the hearth and the birth of twins
Told story about Tarchetios, a lawless and cruel king of
the Albans (Latins)
 Tarchetios is linguistically close to Etruscan name
Tarchon, legendary founder of city of Tarquinii as well as
of the house of the Tarquins.
 Another story about a penis in the ash but king’s
daughter refused to have sex with the phallus, and
sends slave girl instead; The nymph Tethys (wife of
Oceanus) promises birth of one son, but girl gives birth
to two (Plutarch, Romulus 1.3-6, pg. 47);
 Twins exposed at river
 At some point later The Romans adjusted this story to
fit into the later foundation legend of Romulus and
Remus
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Making sense of these stories
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In historical context of 6th century BC – early Rome was
politically very unstable, similar to the American WildWest – anything was possible for wealthy and ambitious
warlords with plenty of muscle men.
The descendants of Demeratos tried to establish their
family dynasty;
Macstrna was a rival war-lord who had popular support
Rome was not yet an organized state in any sense; over
the following centuries Romans developed a less
confusing story which interprets stories in context of the
political developments.
Pythagoras of Samos
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Lived at Kroton late 6th century BC(Greek colony in S. Italy)
People thought he was Apollo
A secret doctrine of his cult: 3 types of rational living beings: gods, men,
Pythagoras
200 years later, in the 4th century sees a revival of his cult;
Oracle at Delphi told Romans to set up statues to wises and braves of
Greeks
Romans set up statue of Pythagoras and of Alkibiades (Athenian aristocrat
of 5th century)
Important: What Pythagoreans of 4th century BC believed see primary
source on page 49 Wiseman: all decisions had to be made in accord with
the divine;
Reason for Pythagoreans’ interest in divination – communication with divine
to find out what they wanted;
Sibyl of Kyme (story of old woman trying to sell king gold scrolls); Sibyl
important in divination; consulted to interpret important portents
Numa Pompilius
2nd Roman King
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From Sabine country; represented the Romans’ paradigm of a wise
and pious king;
Associated with law giving, creation of religious institutions, reign
considered peaceful and tranquil
Associated with the nymph Egeria (one of Roman Camenae goddess
of inspiration (Greek Muses).
Egeria Taught him how to make gods reveal their knowledge, read
oracles, mollify divine anger and soften their demands
Bargained with Jupiter who wanted human sacrifice – living human
heads
Got him to accept living fish, human hair, and onion heads; Jupiber
laughed and accepted – clear Pythagorean influence (to find out
what delights gods and then do that)
By 6th century – Romans knew what a good king should do and
what not. Threw out Tarquinius Superbus – a tyrant.
The later tradition of the Tarquins
and Brutus
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Filled with anachronism and Roman patriotism, closely associated with the
free Republic; account in Livy reflects the fully developed tradition written
500 years later
However, some elements of real historical context of early Rome are still
discernable
Story of the Vultures, the Snake and the Dog: garden of Tarquin’s palace
palm tree with nest of eagles. Tarquin had wife and 2 sons and a mute boy
Brutus (an idiot);
At one banquet huge snake came out of tree attacked diners (one version
has it bark). Then vultures killed the young eagles in nest. When parents
returned - attacked and driven away
King sent sons and Brutus to Apollo to interpret portent. Sons gave
expensive gifts, Brutus his wooden stick.
Apollo’s response: throne threatened when dog spoke with human voice. He
who would kiss his mother first would succeed king Tarquin.
Brutus fell and kissed ground – his wooden stick was of gold inside, was
treated like a dog and now he spoke
The meaning of this story
Romans must have destroyed Tarquin’s palace,
killed sons, drove royal couple into exile.
 In this version portents ugly: Brutus a barking
snake – not a Roman tradition but earlier
tradition; Greek historians were sympathetic to
Tarquin (descendant of Demeratos the
Corinthian);
 Also Apollo promises regal power to Brutus not
the consulship of the developed Republic
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Livy’s account
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..at almost the same moment Brutus arrived at Aredea
and Tarquin Rome. The gates were closed to Tarquin and
his exile proclaimed. The liberator of the city received a
delighted welcome in the camp, and the king’s sons
were expelled from it. Two of them accompanied their
father into exile at Caere among the Etruscans. Sextus
Tarquin went to Gabii, apparently regarding it as his
personal fiefdom; but there he was killed by those who
had witnessed his murders and depredations and were
bent on settling old scores. Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
reigned fro twenty-five years. The monarchy at Rome
from her foundation to her liberation lasted two hundred
and forty-four years. (Livy 1.60)
The Revolution
Did not originally achieve political freedom
 Account of immediate creation of
consulship is anachronistic
 Etruscan warlord Lars Porsena of Clusium
occupied Rome after Tarquin’s exile;
withdrew when his army was defeated at
Aricia
 The Latins won with help from Greek city
state Kyme
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The Tribus
Late 6th century Roman territory divided into districts =
tribus – not tribe/kin group in modern sense but defined
geographic area;
 20 tribes: 16 rural tribes, 4 urban tribes (later number
increased)
 Rural tribes were given names of dominant landowners
of district – evidence of big land-owning families dating
back to regal period
 6 families died out
 Rest prominent throughout Roman Republic and beyond
 i.e. Claudii produced an emperor
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Patrician Families
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Fabii – descended from Herkules
Aemilii, descendants of Aimylia, daughter of Aeneas
Claudii, originally from Sabine country – Attus Claudus arrived in Rome with
5000 followers (2 stories about the early Claudii: Siege of Rome, one jumps
from wall and kills enemy commander, injures leg – limps: Claudus = lame
Cornelii - story about huge heifer’s sacrifice, ensured promise that Romans
would rule over Italy; huge horns (cornua) set up on temple; The cunning
priest was called Cornelius
Cornelli extremely prominent, i.e. Lucius Cornelius Scipio Africanus – victor
over Hannibal
Horatii - elaborate stories each with exceptional hero – family disappears in
4th century: story of triplets; story of Marcus Horatius who finds out about
his son’s death during dedication of temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on
Capitos - story example that duty to god and community is more
important than mourning a son’
Story 3 -Horatius Cocles - born with one eye; defends bridge with his life –
example to inspire young Romans - in Vergil’s Aeneid – story put on shield
of Aeneas