I. FOUNDING OF CITY OF ROME
A. TROJAN/GREEK FOUNDING MYTH:
Romans adopt Greek version of their origins
(“Greek”
because of connection to Homeric epic tradition, Iliad)
AENEAS THE TROJAN son of
Anchises of Troy, and Venus;
wanders
in Mediterranean after defeat of Troy by the Greeks
falls in love
with Dido, Queen of Carthage, but leaves to found Rome
arrives in
Lavinium, near Rome; his son Ascanius starts line of
Kings of Alba Longa,
from whom Romulus is descended
source = Livy’s
History of the Roman Republic, Book I
dating system: Ab Urbe Condita = from the
founding of the city
connects Romulus’ story with
Aeneas’ by filling in chronological gap:
12th C fall of Troy : 1184 BC
8th
C April 21, 753 BC traditional date for founding of Rome
succession
of Kings of Alba Longa, descended from Ascanius
NUMITOR
& AMULIUS: brothers, rivals for kingship; Amulius wins unfairly
RHEA SILVIA (ILIA): daughter of Numitor,
forced to become Vestal Virgin so she will have
no heirs
raped by MARS, who wants Rome founded;
becomes father of
ROMULUS
& REMUS: twins, floated down Tiber to die, land at foot of
Palatine Hill, at fig tree called Ruminal, near cave called
Lupercal, where
they are nursed by She-Wolf,
found by Faustulus,
shepherd of King Amulius, raised as shepherds on Palatine Hill
grow up to overthrow King, restoring their grandfather Numitor
as King of Alba Longa; permission to start their own
city
QUARREL OF
ROMULUS & REMUS: who should found Rome?
AUGURIES: wait for omen, Romulus on Palatine, Remus on Aventine
Romulus sees 6 vultures (!), Remus then
sees 12
= priority, older
= numerical majority
(patrician aristocracy)
(plebians)
WALL:
Romulus builds first wall on Palatine; kills Remus
FRATRICIDE = founding
act of Roman state; purpose is defense of wall
RAPE
OF THE SABINE WOMEN: Rome needs men, opens to anyone
men
need wives, invite Sabines, rape the women, then marry them
= allegory of the forcible expansion of city of Rome
DEATH
OF ROMULUS: ascends into Heaven from CAMPUS MARTIS,
defied
as the god QUIRINUS, worshipped on Quirinal Hill
NUMA:
second Roman King, founder of religion, fixes calendar
TARQUIN
KINGS: last Roman Kings, overthrown by Republic
RAPE OF LUCRETIA,
wife of COLLATINUS, Roman Army officer, by
SEXTUS
TARQUINIUS, son of the Tarquin King; she commits suicide
LUCIUS
JUNIUS BRUTUS avenges her death by overthrowing King
Brutus
governs as one of two Consuls: no more Kings in Rome
Moral
purpose to the founding of republic:
defense
of domestic virtue of women by military virtue of men
Roman virtues:
PIETAS = loyalty to family, state
GRAVITAS = seriousness of purpose & demeanor
MORALITY
as key to Roman approach to life:
MOS
MAIOREM = customs of ancestors = rules of how to live
JULIUS CAESAR: rises as
military leader of popular party, against Senate
leads army
into Italy by crossing of the Rubicon
44BC assassination of Caesar in Theater of Pompey
by MARCUS JUNIUS BRUTUS,
CASSIUS and other Senators
descent
from first Brutus, 509BC
defender
of role of Senate and Republic
AUGUSTUS 31BC-14AD Octavian, nephew of Julius Caesar,
wins civil war following assassination of Caesar
takes title of “princeps” = first citizen; actually first Emperor
granted title of Augustus by Roman Senate
Pax Romana: the “Roman
peace” under Augustus
interpreted by Christians as divinely ordained for spread of Christianity
IV. CHRISTIAN ROME: Christ born under reign of Augustus, executed 33
AD
early Christian church: periodic persecutions by Roman authorities
St. Peter:
first of the Apostles, then Bishop of Rome (considered first Pope)
Scriptural foundation of Peter's authority: Gospel of Matthew
16:18
"Thou
art Peter & upon this rock I will build my church."
executed
by Romans: buried at St. Peter’s Basilica: pilgrimage site
St. Paul: Jewish convert to Christianity, author of N.T. Epistles
(Letters)
also executed in Rome, buried in San Paolo fuori le Mure
(St. Paul Outside Walls)
Emperor
Constantine: first Emperor to convert to Christianity
312 Battle of Milvian Bridge: sign inscribed on sun (sun god =
Apollo)
IHS = In hoc signo vinces = "In this sign you will
win"
324 moves capital of Empire to Byzantium – Constantinople
DONATION OF CONSTANTINE: Emperor gives authority in west to Pope
historical controversy about validity or historical reality of this
donation