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Please do not assume that a book's appearance in 'The Builder' library means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe. The Webmaster Ancient Legends of Roman History ETTORE PAIS" LL.D of the University of Chicago Professor in the University of Wisconsin (iQOj) Professor in the University of Naples Member of the Academies of Sciences of Rome ( Lincei) and of Munich Author of 44 Storia di Rom*," " Storia della Sicilia," etc. Translated by MARIO E. COSENZA The College of the City of Ne<w York NEW YORK DODD, MEAD & COMPANY 1905 C o Hp * x i\ J&4 (THE LIB CONG*' Two Oop OCT II f905 0U8S £* *&. Copyright, 1905, by Dodd, Mead & Company Published October, IQOJ To my wife and affectionate companion ANNETTA On the twenty- fifth anniversary of our wedding PREFACE With the exception of a few pages which have already appeared in Italy, this volume was written in America. The majority of the chapters were prepared as lectures for the Lowell Institute of Boston. The others were read before Columbia University, Harvard University, the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, and the University of Chicago. The present volume contains special and minute demon- strations of subjects already succinctly treated by me in my Storia di Roma, and represents new studies and new experiences. The judgments of intelligent and honest critics have been considered. Nevertheless I uphold and affirm the fundamental views set forth by me in my previous works. This is not the result of obstinacy. It is the logical conclusion of an objective and untiring exami- nation of facts. The conclusions attained in my Storia di Roma have been the source of many controversies in my native country. In compensation, however, they have gained for me the sym- pathy of the scientific public in the other countries of Europe, and also in America. It is natural, then, that I, who have been so cordially welcomed by the American uni- versities, should present to the English-speaking public of this country these and future results of my researches. The volume has been composed under the shadow of the universities already mentioned. I feel it incumbent upon me, therefore, to extend my sincere thanks to the professors who so kindly aided me. It is impossible to mention all. I trust, however, that it may be granted me to express my gratitude, in a particular manner, to Professors A. L. Lowell and W. T. Sedgwick, of the Lowell Institute ; Pro- fessors J. C. Egbert and N. G. McCrea, of Columbia Uni- versity; Professors C. H. Haskins, M. H. Morgan and J. H. Wright, of Harvard University ; Mr. M. S. Prichard, of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Professors D. C. x PREFACE Munro, M. S. Slaughter and F. I. Turner, of the Univer- sity of Wisconsin ; President W. R. Harper and Professors F. F. Abbott and J. F. Jameson, of the University of Chicago. My special thanks are due to Professor Harry Thurston Peck, of Columbia University, who has kindly undertaken to read the English version of my young compatriot, Mario E. Cosenza. Ettore Pais New York, February 15, 1905. CONTENTS CHAPTER I The Critical Method to be pursued in the Study of the Most Ancient Roman History i CHAPTER II The Excavations in the Forum Romanum, and their Importance for the Most Ancient Roman History . 15 CHAPTER III The Origins of Rome, and a New Pompeian Fresco ... 43 CHAPTER IV Acca Larentia, the Mother of the Lares and Nurse of Romulus; and the Most Ancient Divinities of the Palatine « 60 CHAPTER V The Story of the Maid Tarpeia 96 CHAPTER VI The Saxum Tarpeium . 109 CHAPTER VII The Legend of Servius Tullius; and the Supremacy of the Etruscans at Rome 128 CHAPTER VIII The Legends of the Horatii, and the Cult of Vulcan . 152 xi xii CONTENTS CHAPTER IX The Fabii at the River Cremera and the Spartans at Thermopylae 168 CHAPTER X The Legends of Lucretia and of Virginia, and the Cults of the Prisci Latini 185 CHAPTER XI The Legends of Spurius Melius, Servilius Ahala and Lucius Minucius 204 CHAPTER XII On the Topography of the Earliest Rome 224 EXCURSUS I The Stips Votiva of the Niger Lapis, and the Faliscan Museum of Villa Giulia 242 EXCURSUS II The Authenticity of the Etruscan Tile from Capua, and the Supremacy of the Etruscans in Campania ... 250 EXCURSUS III The Relations between the Square Palatine, the Square Palisades in Emilia, and the Pretended Terramara of Tarentum 257 EXCURSUS IV Celius Vibenna, the Friend of Romulus, Servius Tullius, and Celer the Slayer of Remus 264 EXCURSUS V Servius Tullius and the Lex ^Elia-Sentia 268 EXCURSUS VI The Topography of the Via Nova, the Vicus Orbius or Sceleratus, and the Vicus Cyprius, or Good 272 ILLUSTRATIONS The Origin of Rome. A Pompeian Fresco Re- cently Found Frontispiece The Capitolium Facing Page 6 " Temple of Vesta. Ancient Relief . 12 The Capitol " " 12 The Archaic Stele of the Forum " 16 Ancient Base, Cippus and Pillar beneath the Niger Lapis " " 18 Altar of the Year 9 B.C., with Archaic Out- lines (Magazino Comunale, Roma) ..." 18 Campanian Inscriptions of the End of the Re- public (Naples Museum) " 20 Monuments beneath the Niger Lapis 21 Greek Inscription from S. Mauro Forte near Matera (Naples Museum) Facing Page 22 Campanian Inscription not Earlier than the Fifth Century (Naples Museum) . " 24 Italic Inscription not Earlier than the Fourth Century " 24 Veneto-Latin Inscription (Museum of Este) 24 The Niger Lapis Facing Page 28 The Origin of Rome, after an Altar from " OSTIA " 46 The Temple of Magna Mater Lxea on the " Palatine " 46 Coin, Wolf Nursing Twins 50 Coin, Wolf Nursing Twins SO Coin of the Gens C^esia, Showing the Lares 52 The Most Ancient Walls of the Palatine, Attributed to Romulus Facing Page 52 Coin Showing the Laurelled Head of Janus 64 The Northwestern Corner of the Palatine . Facing Page 68 The Northeastern Corner of the Palatine " (Curiae Veteres) " 68 Western End of the Forum, with a General View of the Palatine " " 78 xiii xiv ILLUSTRATIONS Coin of the Gens Cesia, Showing the Lares 93 Coin of Turpilianus 97 Coin of L. Titurius 97 Church of S. Maria in Araceli, Seen from the North. (The Site of the Temple of Juno Moneta) Facing Page 104 The So-Called Tarpeian Rock " " 104 The Tabularium, between the Capitolium (Templum Iovis) and the Arx (Templum Iunonis) " " no The Mamertine Prison " " 120 Remains of Walls Attributed to Servius Tullius " " 140 Nemi and the Lacus Nemorensis " " 142 Aricia and the Lacus Turni " " 146 The Mons Velia " " 150 Palazzo Caffarelli, on the Site of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus " " 154 Coin of the Gens Horatia 158 Coin of the Gens Valeria 165 A Roman Divinity (Magazino Comunale, Roma) Facing Page 166 The Island of the Tiber " " 166 Coin of the Gens Valeria 167 Map of Rome, Fidenje and Veii Facing Page 174 View of Veii (From Dennis, Etruria) .... " " 178 View of Veii " " 178 The Country of the Prisci Latini " " 188 Monte Cavo (Mons Albanus) and the Lake of Albano " " 194 Remains of the Basilica ^Emilia, on the Site of the tabern,e novae " " i98 Coin of L. Mussidius Longus 199 Valley of the Lacus Turni Facing Page 200 Plan of the Forum 210 Site of the Tabern^e Novae Facing Page 212 The Aventine and the Porta Trigemina ... " " 218 Plans of the Most Ancient Rome " " 234 The Etruscan Tegula from Capua (Berlin Museum) " " 250 The Temple of Castor and a Corner of the Palatine " " 260 Ancient Walls of the Palatine " " 264 Ancient Gate of Republican Times Assigned to the Age of the Kings ' * 270 ANCIENT LEGENDS OF ROMAN HISTORY CHAPTER I THE CRITICAL METHOD TO BE PURSUED IN THE STUDY OF THE MOST ANCIENT ROMAN HISTORY The greatness of the deeds of the Roman people and the charm of the beautiful land of Italy explain why, from the Renaissance on, the early history of Rome has many times been the subject of thought and investigation.