What Livy was Trying to Convey Livy is a Roman historian who wrote the “Ab Urbe Condita Libri” during the reign of Augustus. Augusts had hundreds of writer’s record stories about the greatness and virtue of the Romans. Note that the Romans create stories about their generals, such as Scipio and Cincinnatus, to set an example of how further generations of general sand statesman should act. In the first sixteen books Livy describes the origin of the Roman people, while conveying humility and greatness of the founders from Aeneas to Romulus. Livy’s story starts off with Aeneas eventually arriving in Italy. After his men steal livestock another tribe arises to attack. Livy mentions that it is unclear on what happened. One account states that the armies fought and the Trojans beat back the attacking tribe lead by Latinus. Livy also states that after Latinus heard the attackers were the famous Trojans lead by Aeneas, he “marveled at both there fame and courage. (Livy 1)” Even though the Trojans lost the war Livy states that there fame and courage was widely well known. He has started to show the greatness within the beginnings. The next major example of Roman virtue is the story of Romulus and Remus. The twins are sons of the God Mars the patron god of Rome, which in itself is a major support. Then the two boys have grown up Livy describes them as men who have “gained strength in body and mind. (Livy 4)” The twins are already becoming a virtuous humans. Livy also shows the great deeds of the young men, as they hunt the wild animals, make attacks on robbers, and spread the spoils amongst the shepherds. Here the boys are almost destined to be great. They have a code of virtues, in which they fight off evil and give to the poor. To fu... ... middle of paper ... ... then picks up at the end of Romulus’s Rule and how he feels “mortification (Livy 9)” about the “rape of the Sabine women.” Livy demonstrates the compassion a leader must have, and how they should know right from wrong. Romulus has great public speaking skills judging by the speech that he gives to the parents and tribesmen of the women his fellow Romans have taken. This is a virtue that all great leaders must have. After the war was over Romulus was finally hailed as God, due to the fact that his rule ended with him being “carried away into the sky by storm, (Livy 15)” which could possibly be a connection to how great Roman are Gods. Augustus had recently declared Julius Caesar as a God to be worshiped. Livy was just trying to convey that how the major characters during the upbringing of Rome are virtuous men and the future leaders should model themselves after. .
...ation and well being of a country, people, and republic. “‘This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar; he, only in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them’”(998). Although a seemingly menacing traitor to his country at first, Brutus makes the journey to a sympathetic and noble tragic hero in the end.
Titus Livius also known as Livy is a roman analyst who was born in 59BC. Livy writing style is known for engaging the attention of an audience. He accomplishes this through emotive descriptions and long speeches. It is commonly known that Livy sacrifices chronology and ignores contradictory versions of events in or to make Rome seem victorious. Livy’s standard of writing was not always high and there where most likely political influences on Livy even though he played no official part in politics. Not being involved in the Senate served as both an advantage and a disadvantage to Livy as it excludes him from parliament which means he had no first-hand experience of the systems he wrote about. His exclusion also meant that he had no access to
...for success, he robs his audience of the right to make certain determinations about characters such as Tarquin Superbus and Romulus because of his bias toward the motivation behind their actions. Livy’s The Rise of Rome was a grand effort and an amazing undertaking. Cataloguing the years of Roman history consolidated rumor and legend into fact, creating a model for Rome to follow. Livy’s only error in this vast undertaking was in imprinting his own conception of morality and justice onto his work, an error that pulls the reader away from active thought and engaging debate. In doing so, Livy may have helped solidify a better Rome, but it would have been a Rome with less of a conception of why certain things are just, and more of a flat, basely concluded concept of justice.
Aurelius was one of rome's best leaders keeping it safe and leading it in the right direction.
In Titus Livius’, The Early History of Rome, Livy takes on the task of documenting Rome’s early history and some of the famous individuals who help contribute to the ‘greatness’ of Rome. Livy dedicates an entire portion of his writing to describe the reigns of the first seven kings of Rome; all who influence the formation and governance of Rome in some way. However, of the seven kings in early Roman history, King Romulus and King Numa Pompilius achieved godlike worship and high esteem from their fellow Romans. While both highly important and respected figures in Rome’s history, the personalities and achievements of King Romulus and King Numa Pompilius are complete opposites of one another. Despite the differences found in each king and of their rule over Rome, both Romulus and Numa Pompilius have a tremendous influence in the prosperity and expansion of Rome in its early days.
Julius Caesar, a man born in around 12 to 13, 100 BC, was considered the start of a new legacy in the history of Rome. Participating in several wars, becoming dictator after forming multiple military alliances, to being assassinated on the Ides of March, Julius Caesar was a politically-flexible, popular leader of the Roman Empire. (Julius Caesar Biography, April 23, 2014) Although Caesar’s birth was never confirmed on the exact date, he was born and raised by his mother, Aurelia, and by his father, Gaius Julius Caesar. (Julius Caesar: Historical Background, April 23, 2014)
To those who already knew the stories of the Trojan War heroes (which all of the original Greek audience of the epic would),
... wife and home as well as his place in Carthage in the name of the gods, in the name of a quest that does not directly benefit him. From this pursuit, he does not stand to gain spoils, and the most that could be said of his fame would be drawn from his descendents. It is this moral stance, this understanding of universal placement, of purpose, that sets Aeneas apart from other heroes.
To begin, both the leadership qualities and flaws of Aeneas and Odysseus must be examined in order to determine who the better leader is. Virgil presents Aeneas very differently than Homer presents Odysseus. They are both certainly heroes, but Aeneas seems more accessible and a stronger leader, due to the way Virgil presents him. Virgil illustrated Aeneas as a man that had to participate in many tests and tempering’s, and from that, his heroism was seen as flawless. The same goes along with Homers’ Odysseus, yet in a different, more astounding way.
Others will cast more tenderly in bronze Their breathing figures, I can well believe, And bring more lifelike portraits out of marble; Argue more eloquently, use the pointer to trace the paths of heaven accurately And accurately foretell the rising stars. Roman, remember by your strength to rule Earth's peoples - for your arts are to be these: To pacify, to impose the rule of law, To spare the conquered , battle down the proud. " Lines 1143-1154 Within this passage, Virgil uses literary allusions to the Iliad and the Odyssey by allowing Anchises to give Aeneas some history of his people as an incentive to carry out his mission as a leader. By mentioning the downfall of his people during the Trojan War and foreshadowing his destiny by "Sparing the conquered" Trojans and "battle down the proud" Greeks, can be looked upon as a reinforcement of his duties not only to his dead father and family, but to the entire Trojan population. To let another character found and rule Rome would just prove the failure of his people again, as shown through the Trojan war.
1)De, Selincourt Aubrey. Livy, the Early History of Rome: Book I - V of the History of Rome from Its Foundation. London: Penguin, 1960. Print.
Thesis: Despite his accomplishments and the glory associated with his life, Aeneas only achieves the status of hero through divine intervention, and this god-given position causes him just as much grief as it does splendor.
... prominent source of his weighty troubles. They are helpless to withstand the gods, restrain Aeneas from advancing towards Italy, and burn at women’s torches. Yet, his ships are invaluable to the overall success of his journey and the expression of his character. Aeneas is a ship, chugging toward western shores and providing refuge for his people. However, this extended analogy has greater importance to Virgil and the rest of human society. After the destruction of Troy, Aeneas has no country to protect or call his home. The cargo and soldiers aboard his ships are the remnants of his past civilization, but they are also the seeds for a new empire. Aeneas, just as his ships, is the invaluable carrier and protector of one of the greatest empires in all of human history – Rome.
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.
From the ashes of Troy, the light of Rome was born through an act by a man who would be deemed both courageous and cowardly by those who once protected it. The early Roman army was one of the most feared and capable armies in ancient times in part due to their strict code of loyalty and punishment of those who betray said code. One of the most reviled crimes was the act of cowardice and the Roman Empire enforced loyalty among its ranks. To betray Rome was to essentially betray the gods. The hero of Aeneas is a rare character in Ancient Roman history that both forsake the gods he serves but also abides to their will. In defying the code of the Roman soldier, Aeneas would help found a city that would outlive the fallen city of Troy.