| Character | (B.C.) |
Short Biography |
|---|
Legendary Rome |
|---|
| Aeneas | ~ 1200 |
Hero of Virgil's Aeneid. Prince of Troy who escaped from the burning city and after a long voyage, settled in Italy and became the ancestor of Romulus. |
| Rhea Silvia | ~ 771 |
Legendary mother of Romulus and Remus. Daughter of Numitor, king of Alba Longa, forced to become a Vestal Virgin by her usurping uncle, Amulius. |
| Numitor | ~ 771 |
Deposed king of Alba Longa, restored to his throne by his grandsons, Romulus and Remus. |
| Romulus | 771–716 |
Legendary founder of the city of Rome, with brother Remus. |
| Remus | ~ 0 |
Twin brother of Romulus, killed in a conflict over who should rule the new city. |
| Tarpeia | ~ 740 |
Maiden who opened gates of Rome to the Sabines. Gave name to Tarpeian Rock from which Roman traitors were hurled. |
Kings of Rome |
|---|
| Numa Pompilius | d. 674 |
Second king of Rome, instituted calendar, holidays, worship practices. |
| Tullus Hostilius | d. 642 |
Third king, conquered Alba, made Rome the greatest city of the Latins. |
| Horatii | ~ 650 |
Three brothers who won man-to-man combat to resolve Rome/Alba dispute. |
| Ancus Marcius | d. 617 |
Fourth king, conquered Latins, built Sublican Bridge across the Tiber. |
| Tarquin the Elder | d. 559 |
Fifth king, built great sewer, circus, temple of Jupiter, and forum. |
| Servius Tullius | d. 535 |
Sixth king, built Servian Wall; helped plebians, murdered by daughter. |
| Tarquin Superbus | ~ 535 |
Killed Servius and usurped throne, eventually overthrown but tried to regain throne by force. |
| Tullia | ~ 535 |
Helped her husband Tarquin Superbus murder her father Sevius Tullus, and seize the throne of Rome. |
| Cumaean Sibyl | ~ 535 |
Legendary priestes who presided over the Oracle at Cumae. Presented the Sibylline Books to Tarquin Superbus. |
War Against Tarquinii |
|---|
| Lucretia | d. 510 |
Virtuous Maiden, killed herself after assault by son of Tarquin Superbus. |
| Junius Brutus | d. 509 |
First Consul of Rome; executed sons for plotting against the republic. |
| Publicola | d. 508 |
Consul of Rome during the wars with Porsena. |
| Lars Porsena | ~ 508 |
Etruscan king, and supporter of the Tarquins who raised an army to march against Rome. |
| Horatius | 535–509 |
Hero who held the Sublican Bridge against Porsena's entire army. |
| Mucius Scaevola | 535–509 |
Hero who burned his right hand to defy Porsena. |
| Cloelia | ~ 510 |
Roman hostage swam across the Tiber to escape from Lars Porsenna. |
|