Chapter Twenty-Three Lecture Two The Etruscan Dynasty and the Wicked Tullia

Etruscan Dynasty / Wicked Tullia Servius Tullius (the slave’s son) becomes king of Rome –Signs of destiny when flames danced around his head His daughters, two Tullias –Both married to sons of the previous king, Tarquin the Elder One Tullia has an affair with Tarquin the Proud, her brother-in-law

Etruscan Dynasty / Wicked Tullia Tarquin the Proud kills his own wife, the other Tullia and kills the husband of his lover Tullia. They overthrow and murder the elderly Servius Tullius

Lucretia and the End of Monarchy

Lucretia is the virtuous wife of Tarquin Collatinus Sextus Tarquin, a son of Tarquin Superbus, rapes her Lucretia denounces Tarquin; kills herself out of shame in front of her father, husband, and others –Also there is Lucius Junius Brutus

Lucretia and the End of Monarchy Brutus reveals that he is not “stupid” and rallies the people to overthrow and end monarchies in Rome The Republic is established (traditionally date to 510 BC)

The Etruscans

Rome has deep cultural roots in the Etruscans –City plan, cult places, and institutions –Tarquin built the first Temple to Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill. –Much of what the Roman inherit from Greece came through the Etruscans Religious practices –fulguriator, haruspex, hecatoscopy Perhaps the gladiatorial games came from the Etruscans

Heroes of the Early Republic Brutus and his Sons

“He who kisses his mother first...” Allowed his own sons to be killed for treason Died in battle for Rome

Horatius at the Bridge Lars Porsenna Horatius Coclas defended the bridge until the last

Mucius Scaevola Thrust his hand into the fire, proving his courage to die for Rome Porsenna withdrew Scaevola (“lefty”)

Other Patriotic Heroes Coriolanus –But later fell out of favor because of his contempt of common men –Brings a foreign army (Volscians) against Rome, but the pleas of his wife persuaded him to withdraw

Other Patriotic Heroes Cincinnatus Accepted the imperium only long enough to avert the crisis, but then set it down and returned to his plow

Myth and Public Display at Rome

The Triumph Rome: “He (Augustus) found it in brick, but left it in marble.”Rome –The Great ForumThe Great Forum –Campus MartiusCampus Martius –Horologium AugustiHorologium Augusti

An Imaginary Past Preserves the Present

Past Preserves the Present Roman government remarkably stable while the world around it changed Rule was violent, but it provided stability and security Its understanding of the moral nature of its history provided its tenacity: the selfless devotion of its founders and equality Even the emperor was referred to only as princeps

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