Myths and the Early Myths and the Early Roman RepublicRoman Republic

Wiseman Ch. 4Wiseman Ch. 4

Liber and the Free RepublicLiber and the Free Republic In Roman Calendar the In Roman Calendar the LiberaliaLiberalia (festival in honour of Liber (also (festival in honour of Liber (also

Pater Liber) = Dionysos) Mar. 17 in Roman calendar following the Pater Liber) = Dionysos) Mar. 17 in Roman calendar following the festival festival RegifugiumRegifugium – – fugerefugere=to flee (kingsflight) Feb 24 =to flee (kingsflight) Feb 24

Liber =Latin for free Liber =Latin for free Cult instituted soon after the expulsion of the last king, Tarquinius Cult instituted soon after the expulsion of the last king, Tarquinius

SuperbusSuperbus Liber - god of intoxication, ecstacy, freedom from social Liber - god of intoxication, ecstacy, freedom from social

inhibitions, wine, viticulture, sex, orgiastic rituals, fertility.inhibitions, wine, viticulture, sex, orgiastic rituals, fertility. In archaic Rome cult was very popular became less acceptable in In archaic Rome cult was very popular became less acceptable in

22ndnd century BC Rome – by then considered un-Roman (keep this in century BC Rome – by then considered un-Roman (keep this in mind)mind)

Later festival of Later festival of Anna PerennaAnna Perenna added, goddess of the year on added, goddess of the year on Mar. 15 the day that magistrates entered office in the Republic (in Mar. 15 the day that magistrates entered office in the Republic (in 44thth century) century)

Dates as start of civic year signify importance of LiberDates as start of civic year signify importance of Liber Triad of Ceres, Liber, LiberaTriad of Ceres, Liber, Libera – message: bread and wine, liberty – message: bread and wine, liberty

and lawand law Ceres and Libera = Greek Demeter and Persephone goddesses Ceres and Libera = Greek Demeter and Persephone goddesses

who gave laws to men who gave laws to men

After the expulsion of the last After the expulsion of the last king king

Historically unlikely that Republican system was immediately Historically unlikely that Republican system was immediately institutedinstituted

Tarquin tried for 10 years to returnTarquin tried for 10 years to return Eventually Romans engaged in battle against Latin alliance at Lake Eventually Romans engaged in battle against Latin alliance at Lake

Regillus. Close battle with Romans eventually victorious; believed Regillus. Close battle with Romans eventually victorious; believed to have won with divine help (Castor and Pollux the divine twins – to have won with divine help (Castor and Pollux the divine twins – temple built to them)temple built to them)

War historical – reported by Greek historians who had interest in War historical – reported by Greek historians who had interest in affair since Tarquin died at court of Aristodemos soon after battle affair since Tarquin died at court of Aristodemos soon after battle at Lake Regillus.at Lake Regillus.

Followed by conquest of Veii (Etruria); in 387 Rome sacked by Followed by conquest of Veii (Etruria); in 387 Rome sacked by GaulsGauls

Century between conquest of Veii and sack by Gauls – no Century between conquest of Veii and sack by Gauls – no informationinformation

Dark ages: economic decline, struggles between rich and poor – Dark ages: economic decline, struggles between rich and poor – called by later Roman tradition – struggle of the orders.called by later Roman tradition – struggle of the orders.

Period in which Roman Republic developedPeriod in which Roman Republic developed By end of 4By end of 4thth century - Rome’s military expansion into an empire century - Rome’s military expansion into an empire

beganbegan

The struggle of the ordersThe struggle of the orders For over 200 years struggle of orders between For over 200 years struggle of orders between

patricians (dominant land-owning families dating patricians (dominant land-owning families dating back to regal period and everyone else (plebeians)back to regal period and everyone else (plebeians)

Patricians – Patricians – patrespatres (fathers) followers/advisors of the (fathers) followers/advisors of the kingskings

Early Republic: patricians held monopoly of military Early Republic: patricians held monopoly of military commands, religious and political institutions and commands, religious and political institutions and lawlaw

Exploitation and abuse of non-patrician population Exploitation and abuse of non-patrician population who demanded equality who demanded equality

Concessions: codification and publication of laws: Concessions: codification and publication of laws: Laws of the XII Tables c. 450 BC; plebeian assembly Laws of the XII Tables c. 450 BC; plebeian assembly (plebiscita(plebiscita 339 BC) and plebeian magistrates; one of 339 BC) and plebeian magistrates; one of two consuls plebeian (366 BC); end of debt bondage two consuls plebeian (366 BC); end of debt bondage 326 or 313 BC;326 or 313 BC;

Marsyas and the struggle of the Marsyas and the struggle of the ordersorders

Marsyas, servant of Liber, pipe player. Lost Marsyas, servant of Liber, pipe player. Lost musical competition against Apollo who musical competition against Apollo who hung him up on tree and flayed him, freed hung him up on tree and flayed him, freed by Liber, ended up in Italy, founded Marsian by Liber, ended up in Italy, founded Marsian people, master of augury,people, master of augury,

Gave name to Pleibeian family of Marcii Gave name to Pleibeian family of Marcii well-known for seerswell-known for seers

Symbolic for plebeians being freed from Symbolic for plebeians being freed from debt bondage: the statue of Marsyas debt bondage: the statue of Marsyas unshackled but still irons around ankles set unshackled but still irons around ankles set up in plebeian Comitium (assembly) see up in plebeian Comitium (assembly) see page 69 for imagepage 69 for image

Athens as inspirationAthens as inspiration

Athens served as example of inspiration for RomansAthens served as example of inspiration for Romans

“ “ And you have never considered what manner of And you have never considered what manner of men are these Athenians with whom you will have men are these Athenians with whom you will have to fight, and how utterly unlike yourselves. They are to fight, and how utterly unlike yourselves. They are revolutionary, equally quick in the conception and revolutionary, equally quick in the conception and in the execution of every new plan; while you are in the execution of every new plan; while you are conservative--careful only to keep what you have, conservative--careful only to keep what you have, originating nothing, and not acting even when originating nothing, and not acting even when action is most urgent. They are bold beyond their action is most urgent. They are bold beyond their strength; they run risks which prudence would strength; they run risks which prudence would condemn; and in the midst of misfortune they are condemn; and in the midst of misfortune they are full of hope” (Thucydides 1.70.) full of hope” (Thucydides 1.70.)

Athenian ImperialismAthenian Imperialism

We cannot cut down an empire as we We cannot cut down an empire as we might a household; but having once might a household; but having once gained our present position, we gained our present position, we must, while keeping a firm hold upon must, while keeping a firm hold upon some, contrive occasion against some, contrive occasion against others; for if we are not rulers we others; for if we are not rulers we shall be subjects. (Thucydides 6.18.)shall be subjects. (Thucydides 6.18.)

Athenian parallelsAthenian parallels Romans expelled Tarquins in 508/7 BC just after the Romans expelled Tarquins in 508/7 BC just after the

Athenians expelled the last of the Peisistratids, the tyrant Athenians expelled the last of the Peisistratids, the tyrant Hippias 511/510 BCHippias 511/510 BC

Roman: Voice in woods of Faunus or Silvanus; Roman: Voice in woods of Faunus or Silvanus; Athens: Pan told Athenians he would be on their side at Athens: Pan told Athenians he would be on their side at

MarathonMarathon Lars Porsena marches on Rome to reinstate Tarquin; Lars Porsena marches on Rome to reinstate Tarquin;

Kleomenos of Sparta marched on Athens to reinstate Kleomenos of Sparta marched on Athens to reinstate HippiasHippias

Marcius Coriolanus, exiled by Romans, threatened Rome in Marcius Coriolanus, exiled by Romans, threatened Rome in 448 – (warlord), Athenian Themistokles, popular and 448 – (warlord), Athenian Themistokles, popular and successful Athenian general exiled by ungrateful peoplesuccessful Athenian general exiled by ungrateful people

Romans borrowed these motifs from Athenian examples to Romans borrowed these motifs from Athenian examples to make sense of Roman stories. make sense of Roman stories.