Tarpeia Rocks!

Rome was a new city, and it was under attack by the Sabine king Titus Tatius (say his name a few times!). A young Roman woman, Tarpeia by name, came up with a great plan to gain wealth.

The Sabine warriors were bracelets of gold on their left arms. Tarpeia approached the Sabines. She said, “If you give me what you wear on your left arms, I will help you sneak into the city.”

She let the Sabines into the city, and then asked for her reward. The Sabines, even though they needed Tarpeia, were disgusted that someone would betray her country for jewelry.

The Sabines also wore their shields on their left arms The Sabines also wore their shields on their left arms. They took off their shields and crushed Tarpeia.

Then they threw her body off a cliff on the Capitoline Hill Then they threw her body off a cliff on the Capitoline Hill. The Romans continued to use that hill as a place from which they tossed people who had betrayed Rome and her values.