Jan 14

Question 1

Describe the chronology of early Rome

Answer 1

• Aeneas and Alba Longa (c1184-753 BC): From Aeneas’ departure from Troy to the time of Romulus
• The Regal period (753-509 BC): This period covers the foundation of Rome itself and the seven kings of the city
• The Early Republic (509-390 BC): This period is an invention of modern scholarship. Modern authors conceived of ‘the Republic’ as a single period
  
  • In contrast, modern historians have divided the Republic into three periods: early (509-390 BC), middle (390-133) and late (133-27)

Question 2

What is a myth

Answer 2

A ‘myth’ can be defined as a tale that explains the origin of natural features, such the formation of mountain or cities; it does not need to have a basis in scientific but is rather a divine explanation for a visible phenomenon. In contrast,

Question 3

what is a legend

Answer 3

a ‘legend’ is usually based on a factual event and has been exaggerated. The elaboration of these tales may include fantastic elements sucha s the use of magic or hte possessino of special powers by the hero or his companions - but hte legend still must have a “kernel of truth”.

Question 4

what is important to recognize with the terms myths, legends, historical myths, etc

Answer 4

It is important to recognize that these terms - myths, legends, ‘historical myths’ - are not universally recognized or mutually exclusive/ Modern historians disagree on the appropriate vocabulary to use when discussing Rome’s traditional tales

Question 5

what was the Trojan war

Answer 5

The Trojan War was a cultural touchstone for many societies: Homer’s poem the Iliad, Greek plays such as Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, Sophocles’ Ajax, etc

Question 6

What happened with Aeneas

Answer 6

• Aeneas adventures are retold in Vergil’s epic, The Aeneid.
  
  • Vergil’s account is the longest, not the only one
  • Many Roman writers referred to Aeneas as the founder of the Roman people
    
    • These stories show differences from Vergil

Question 7

Who was Aeneas

Answer 7

• Aeneas was one of several Trojans who were allowed to leave Troy after the city was sacked
• Aeneas departs with his father Anchises and his son.
  
  • The name of his son changes: most common options are Ascanius and Lulus

Question 8

What happened in Aeneas’ travels

Answer 8

• In his travels, Aeneas encounters new and old friends and founded several cities
• The Italian mainland is Aeneas’ ultimate destination

Question 9

Are al accounts of Aeneas’ journey the same

Answer 9

Different writers write about different sets of stops Aeneas took

The most notable was Virgil, involving Cartagine in north Africa. This was possibly included to justify the Punic was as other authors did not mention it.

Question 10

What happened with Aeneas reached Italy

Answer 10

• He fights against some of the natives
  
  • Turnus, the leader of the Rutuli
  • Mezentius, king of Etruria
• Allies with others
  
  • Evander, a Greek exile living on the future site of Rome
  • Latinus, king of latins
• Eventually Aeneas marries Latinus’ daughter (Lavina) and founds a city
  
  • The initial city founded by Aeneas was called Lavinium
  • Later a second city called Alba Longa was founded

Question 11

where was Aeneas worshipped

Answer 11

• Aeneas was known to the Etruscans as early as the 6th c BC
  
  • Worshipped in Lavinium

Question 12

What did the Greeks view about Aeneas

Answer 12

• There are also references to him in that role in Greek writers of the 5th c BC
  
  • In the 2nd C BC, ambassadors from the Greek island of Delos, appealing for an alliance with Rome, reminded the Romans, that Aeneas had stopped at Delos during his journey towards the west.

Question 13

What does Greek Red figure show about Aeneas

Answer 13

Greek red figure was distributed across Italy, Greece, Sicily, etc. Achilles, Herakles, and Theseus were all highly represented in sites from Etruscan Territories. However, Aeneas was not highly represented, as he was a minor character.

Question 14

Describe Etruscan vs Greek style

Answer 14

• in the greek style all images show Theseus about to kill the Minotayr
• In the Etruscan images Theseus is showed killing the minotaur
• Pre-climactic vs Climactic

Question 15

Describe the Bolsena mirror

Answer 15

• The Bolsena bronze mirror (350-325 BC) depicts Rome’s foundational myth
• In the branches of the tree are 2 birds:
  
  • Mars (= Picchio, the woodpecker)
  • Rea Silvia (= the owl)
• Mercury is lying under the tree and next to him, Aca Larentia
  
  • She-woolf, Romulus and Remus (civic/lares gods of the Romans) below
  • Parents of the Lareas near them (Fauno and Latinus are the Lares of Latins)

Question 16

Describe the Pompeian Fresco

Answer 16

Pompeian Fresco

• House of M. Fabio Secundo (Museum of Naples)
• Mars and Rea Silvia (Sw of palatine hill)
• Aeneas has been added

Aeneas most likely added to foundation story later, 3-1ºC BCE maybe

Question 17

How did the early imperial Romans see Aeneas

Answer 17

• By the early imperial period, Aeneas is seen as ‘the founder of the Roman people.”
  
  • Statue in the Augustan Forum
  • Key in Vergil’s narrative
• Aeneas appears on diverse monuments
  
  • Ara Pacis in Rome

Question 18

How did Roman tradition view Aeneas

Answer 18

• But only a few Roman traditions were associated with Aeneas
  
  • Roman household gods
  • The sacred statue of Troy that was kept safe by the Vestal Virgins
• Aeneas was more connected with the Julii, and thus the imperial family that was Roman tradition.

Question 19

How was the story of Aeneas used

Answer 19

• 1st c AD authors (Vergil and Livy) used as teaching texts among Roman elites.
  
  • These texts reiterate familial legends of the most powerful families in Rome, especially the family of Julius Caesar
• Varro, for example, wrote a whole book that outlined the history of Rome’s “Trojan Families”. This work, is unfortunately, lost.

Aeneas tied Rome to the legends of Troy, explained the Punic wars, glorified.