The Tiber river was held in high regard by the people of ancient Rome. Not only had it provided Rome’s first king, but it also offered natural defenses, and eventually came to represent much of which the empire stood for. Whether it be Rome’s founding, trade routes, or examples of Roman bravery, the tiber is highly symbolic of Roman values and contributed greatly to the growth of the city’s power and influence. The role of the tiber in Rome’s history dates as far back as 753 BC when the twins Romulus and Remus were sent to be drowned in its waters. This failed however, and they were saved and raised by a nearby shepherd and his wife. Following that incident the twins grew to eventually overthrow King Amulius and restore the crown to their maternal grandfather Numitor. It was only after that incident that Remus and Romulus then returned to the tiber in hopes of founding a new settlement. Livy describes this as the twins being “seized by an urge to found a new settlement on the spot where they had been left to drown as infants” (Livy, 1.5). The Roman river symbolized the beginning of their lives, and suitably, the beginning of their great Roman Empire. It is very fitting that the story of the founding of Rome returns to its starting point. The river would continue to play an important role in the …show more content…
Without its proximity to trade the settlement may have never grown to be quite as influential. Furthermore, the river became an important boundary for the city. This led to it being featured in several battles and becoming a focal point in exemplary stories of bravery and self-sacrifice. The tiber was a constant in ancient Rome, from the lore surrounding its founding, to its role in trade, and to the values and morals characterized by figures such as Horatius. The river was highly symbolic of Roman values and contributed greatly to the growth of the city’s power and
Even though the current city is under the church its beginnings were not at all related to Christianity. The old legend tells the reader that two brothers, Romulus and Remus, found the city. In reality group of people settled in the seven hills and the population grew and the Roman population came about (Trauman). From there on the city went under various ruling strategies such as being senatorial republic to finally being under the emperor (Cowling). Then onwards it became the capital of the Roman Empire. Even though the Roman outskirts land was very organized like a grid pattern, this was not the case at the capital. The capital never followed a structure (Kostof 1991). Being built near river Tiber is the only strategy it f...
When people think of the ancient Roman civilization, notions of trained legions bent on conquering territory and evocative oratory from celebrated politicians often come to mind. And while early Romans will always be credited for both their insatiable military expansion and their enlightened ideas of government, the rapid growth of Rome was not built on these two pillars alone. Indeed, what led to the rise of such a dominating power in a matter of centuries was not simply from the end of a sword, but from that which grew from the earth -- what the people cultivated, traded and consumed. One very significant agricultural need of a growing population that transformed the bounty of the harvest into a cultural ritual and tradition of Roman life was wine. This presentation will demonstrate how the beverage became a locally grown and manufactured staple that played a powerful role in the social, institutional and economic life of the civilization.
Having served in U.S. Army thirty years ago, from a military point of view, I see a strategic spread of fully incorporated cities (friendlies marked in green), colonies with hostiles (marked in red), and on the coast in Antium, a colony with citizens enjoying Latin Rights. It looks deliberate to me that next to hostil Praeneste and Velitrae are cities with fully incorporated Roman citizens. Because Tibur is on a river (pun intended), having complete control makes because of commerce and strategic value. With Antium, being far from Rome would have been easier to manage with a placated
While the contributions of Romulus are often associated to violence and bloodshed, King Romulus is still reverently recalled by many of the citizens in Rome for forming the foundation of their city. Likewise, the achievements of Numa Pompilius are fondly recollected because they instil many of Rome’s domestic traditions and spiritual monuments in its early history. Without the contributions from King Romulus and King Numa Pompilius, who each giving the people of Rome something vital to refine and redevelop after their deaths, made it possible for Rome to become one of the most powerful and influential city in all of Italy.
It has been debated by varying scholars as to whether Caesar Augustus’ foreign policy to expand Rome’s empire had more to do with defensive imperialism as a response to encroaching threats, or rather, an aggressively, unprovoked move to claim hegemony over the known world. However, I would like to postulate in support of the former theory that in an attempt to restore and ensure long-lasting security to their empire, Augustus was forced to take proactive measures in order to preserve it. With territorial boundaries normally running along the rivers so as to provide a better defensive posture, he felt it necessary to expand the northern border to the river so as to secure their autonomy and position. Perhaps if he could establish a wide buffer
The Roman Empire began as a small colony, in the city of Rome, and eventually, became one of the largest empires that the world has ever known before its ultimate demise. Because of the vast size of their territory, and the number of cultures they consumed throughout their existence, the Romans were heavily influenced by the Greeks and other Hellenistic civilizations. Two different groups of professors argue this point. Professors Matthews, Platt, and Noble argue this influence is reflected by Roman music, philosophy, literature, architecture, art, culture/government, and technology and science; and Professor Weber argues this is reflected in the areas of government/law, the influence and effects of conquests, culture, religion, architecture and art, and philosophy. Both parties make compelling arguments as to why the Romans were heirs to Greek and Hellenistic civilization however, it will be demonstrated that Matthews et al. provide a more thorough argument than Weber.
Bernini’s Fountain of Four Rivers constructed from 1648 to 1651 in the Piazza Navona in Rome for Pope Innocent X. The whole building consisted of two parts: the horizontal fountain and the rising Egyptian obelisk. The massive fountain is made of travertine, supporting the four river gods above and also serving as the foundation of the obelisk. Danube represents Europe. The Ganges refers to the continent of Asia. The Río de la Plata represents America, the New World, and the Niles is Africa. A certain amount of the allegory and metaphors also surround the four river gods respectively. On the slim body of Roman made obelisk (Curran 284), hieroglyphics are displayed in sequential, and a dove and an olive branch, the pacific symbol of the Pamphili family, are on the top of the obelisk. Considering the holy light and papal government the obelisk represented, the four river gods have different responses for the Catholic churches. Since the Niles is the only god who has less visible appearances, therefore, this article argues about the submissive representation of non-western cultures in Bernini’s work of art. At the time, since both the Egyptian obelisk above the fountain and the Nile coming from the same region, the different representations of two objects would be compared
... hundreds of years after the empire’s fall. In Washington D.C., the use of columns, arches, and domes is a common theme in most political buildings, as well as domestic homes. Christianity is now a widely adopted religion, practiced by approximately thirty-three percent of the entire world’s population. Justinian’s codification of Roman law can still be compared with legal and justice systems from around the world, especially in western civilization. The idea that Rome actually fell and that Rome had been killed is horribly wrong, for today, as vividly as yesterday; as true as the promise of tomorrow’s rising sun - Rome lives on. In the subtle curve of an elegant column, in the chromatic dazzle of a church’s stained glass window, and in the crack of a judge’s mallet, bringing justice to all those our mighty nation gives promise to protect and serve, Rome survives.
As the story goes, Rome was founding in 753 B.C. by two brothers Remus and Romulus who were raised by wolves. The two brothers started fighting over the leadership of the land. Eventually Romulus killed Remus and took control own his own. The city was only a small settlement at that time. As the civilization grew, the Etruscans took over. The Romans drove out the Etruscans in 509 B.C. By this time Rome had become a city. As the empire came to its peak it included lands throughout the Mediterranean world. Rome had first expanded into other parts of Italy and neighboring places during the Roman Republic, but made wider conquests and made a strong political power for these lands. In 44 BC Gaius Julius Caesar, the Roman leader who ruled the Roman Republic as a dictator was assassinated. Rome descended into more than ten years of civil war. After years of civil war, Caesar's heir Gaius Octavius (also known as Octavian) defeated his last rivals. In 27 B.C. the Senate gave him the name Augustus, meaning the exalted or holy one. In this way Augustus established the monarchy that became known as the Roman Empire. The Roman Republic, which lasted nearly 500 years, did not exist anymore. The emperor Augustus reigned from 27 BC to AD 14 and ruled with great power. He had reestabl...
The third and most important way that Roman culture and ideals were spread throughout western civilization is through mere contact. Whether this is through physical influence, or the study of Roman relics, Rome's ideas spread like wild fire. An importan...
Rome, even at its beginnings, proved to be a force to be reckoned with. It’s rapid growth and accumulation of power and repeated victories over powerful neighbors set Rome in a position of great authority and influence. As the leader of early Rome, Romulus’ effective command of his men and governance of his people provided the foundation for the building of a great city. Livy emphasizes Romulus’ possible divine origins and strong ties to deities as a validation and reinforcement of his ability to rule. A nation’s sole defense cannot be just bricks and mortar, it requires an army and a will and Romulus was able to successfully take action against the aggressors when action was needed.
Marks, Anthony, and Graham Tingay. The Romans. Tulsa, OK, USA: Published in the USA by EDC Pub., 1990. Print.
The river tore through the earth as a hungry worm, ripping its way to the ocean. Along the shore of the river stood an army’s camp, the war tents and gathering tents stood well-kept, but empty. Not a soul could be found on the camp, even the lowly camp followers had left. The men who inhabited the camp stood on a small hill nearby, they encircled the base of the hill as a man on top read a letter. “The Senate and People of Rome address you, Gaius Julius, and the men under your service. The Senate places your service as governor of Gaul at an end and requests you to return to Rome, immediately. We do not think it necessary to remind you of Roman law. If a general returns to the Roman Republic accompanied by a standing army he, and his men, are traitors, and will dealt with as such. Senātus Populusque Rōmānus. The man looked up from the letter and stared into the eyes of every soldier, peasant, and roman there. Then he strode to the edge of the Rubicon, mounted his horse; which stood there, and looked back at the army. The historian Suetonius wrote: "Overtaking his cohorts at the river Rubicon, which was the boundary of his province, he paused for a while, and realizing what a step he was taking, he turned to those about him and said: 'Even yet we may draw back; but once cross yon little bridge, and the whole issue is with the sword.' As he stood in doubt, this sign was given him. On a sudden there appeared hard by a being of wondrous stature and beauty, who sat and played upon a reed; and when not only the shepherds flocked to hear him, but many of the soldiers left their posts, and among them some of the trumpeters, the apparition snatched a trumpet from one of them, rushed to the river, and sounding the war-note with mighty blas...
Rome contributed to major cultural advancements that transform cultural heritages and legacy through major attributes. Romans influenced groups and societies that history transpired to generations that came after the Roman era. Speaking of Rome has an essence in its own right when uttering the name “Rome” my mind automatically thinks of regal, royalty, power, and leadership. If this semester didn’t teach me anything it taught me the importance and significant of our history and how Rome is at forefront of making it all possible. The evidence of Rome’s nostalgic, historic input is evident throughout Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa.
...ortant such as the development of the economy. In addition to the respect given to Trajan there was a level of respect that was owed to the Roman government and its own members of society as well. With these standards employed, it ensured that the people of Rome would realize that they were representing the city in which they lived.