ROME- ETRUSCAN KINGS (2) Flashcards

1
Q

Who was the fifth king of Rome?

A

Lucius Tarquinius Priscus

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2
Q

Who was the sixth king of Rome?

A

Priscus’ adopted son, Servius Tullius

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3
Q

Who was the seventh king of Rome?

A

One of Priscus’ biological children, Tarquinius Superbus

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4
Q

What is urnfield culture?

A

A culture that spread from central Europe into Italy; the name comes from the custom of cremating the dead and placing their ashes in urns

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5
Q

What is orientalising culture?

A

Art and technology from places like Syria influenced Greek cultures, as can be seen in pottery or metalwork of the period (late 8th century BC)

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6
Q

Whom was the Etruscan trade system with?

A

Egypt, Greece, Phoenicia, and Rome

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7
Q

What were some originally Etruscan practices?

A

Vestal Virgins and lictors

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8
Q

Who were the Etruscan kings?

A

Greeks who came from the Etruscan city Tarquinii. Livy claims Priscus was descended from Demaratus who fled Corinth in 657 and then created a trade empire in Tarquinii

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9
Q

How did Priscus come to the throne? (Part 1)

A

When Demaratus died, his eldest son, Lucumo, inherited his wealth. Livy suggested he could not stand for office as he was half-Greek. However, he knew that Numa had become king of Rome, even though he was not fully Roman. His wife, Tanaquil encouraged him to move to Rome.

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10
Q

What does Livy say happened to Lucumo as he reached Rome? (part 2)

A

As Lucumo saw the gates of Rome, and eagle flew down and snatched his cap, circled above him a few times, and then placed it back on his head. Tanaquil saw this as an opportunity for her husband to secure the throne of Rome. (part 2)

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11
Q

How does Dionysius explain did Priscus come to the throne? (part 3)

A

Lucumo, after seeing the omen went straight to the king, telling him that he had more money than any man would need, and was happy to give much of his wealth to the Roman people. Ancus was delighted and assigned him and his followers to one of the curiae, and gave him a plot of land. Ancus also suggested the Lucumo adopt a Roman name. So Lucumo became Lucius Tarquinius Priscus. (part 3)

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12
Q

What was a curiae?

A

One of the original groupings of the citizenry, eventually numbering 30, and later every Roman citizen was presumed to belong to one.

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13
Q

How did Priscus win over the people of Rome? (part 4)

A

He was a great horseman and fought bravely in the wars he funded for the king. He had good judgement and won the support of the patricians and the plebeians by investing so much money and affection into the city. (part 4)

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14
Q

How do Dionysius’ and Livy’s accounts of how Priscus became king differ?

A

Dionysius suggested that Priscus became king through his charitable nature and military record, but Livy suggests that ambitus was significant

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15
Q

What is ambitus?

A

Behaviour of men who used political corruption or bribery to gain power

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16
Q

Why is Priscus associated with ambitus?

A

Largesse- giving people gifts or money
Removing Ancus’ children from Rome to clear his way to power.

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17
Q

What happens to Priscus?

A

He was murdered by Ancus’ children in attempt to seize control of Rome from a foreigner

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18
Q

What were Priscus’ political changes?

A

Added one hundred of his men to the senate (described by Livy as ‘lesser families;, but by Dionysius as good warriors or excellent administrators)
Constructed the Circus Maximus

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19
Q

How old was Priscus when he was murdered?

A

80 years old

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20
Q

What did Priscus grant the patricians in the Circus Maximus?

A

To build their own 12-foot-high seating areas

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21
Q

What did Priscus change socially?

A

The construction of the Circus allowed Priscus to increase the number of festivals and games in Rome. Etruscan boxing and chariot racing were among the entertainments provided
The Forum was extended, and shops and colonnades were constructed
The construction of an open-air sewer was commenced, which would, under Superbus, become the Cloaca Maximus

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22
Q

What did Priscus change religiously?

A

He increased the number of vestal virgins to six
He introduced harsher punishments for Vestals who broke their vow of chastity

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23
Q

How successful was Priscus’ military record?

A

He successfully defeated several Latin, Etruscan and Sabine cities, and punished the Veii

24
Q

What happened while Priscus was strengthening the walls around Rome?

A

A sabine army crossed the Anio river and threatened the city. Priscus demanded several new centuries to meet the threat. Attus Navius, an augur, stopped him by demonstrating the gods did not support his plan. Livy says the omens did not support Priscus because he wanted to name the new centuries after himself. However, Pricus managed double the number of men in each century and add 1200 horsemen, and went on to defeat the Sabines

25
Q

Why is the story about the omens important?

A

It suggests that patrician families chosen by Romulus used their influence to oppose him
It implies that Priscus created Rome’s first separate cavalry unit, known as the ‘supplementary ones’

26
Q

When did Priscus come to the throne?

A

616 BC

27
Q

When did Priscus die?

A

578 BC

28
Q

How did Servius originate?

A

Version 1- Servius is depicted as a young slave whose head was surrounded by flame while he slept. This miracle was witnessed by Priscus’ wife, and she said that Servius would save the royal family in its hour of need. Priscus raised Servius as his son and married him to one of his daughters
Version 2 (Livy)- argues that Servius is the child of Servius Tullius (same name), the leading general of Corniculum. When the general was killed, his wife was brought to Rome and lived with Tanaquil, as her friend. This disputes the claim that Servius was a slave
Version 3- Servius was conceived when his mother was impregnated by a divine phallus which rose from the fire.

29
Q

How did Servius become king?

A

Livy says that when Priscus was assassinated, there was chaos, and Tanaquil summoned Servius; planned to avenge Priscus’ death and take the throne. Tanaquil told the leading men of Rome that her husband was sick and that he wished to install Servius as a temporary king. When Priscus’ death was revealed, Servius became king.

30
Q

What is Claudius’ version of Servius’ succession?

A

Servius, whose real name was Mastarna was an Etruscan soldier, who won fame and fortune after fighting with a great warlord called Caelius. Mastarna took control of Caelius’ army upon his death and created a settlement on the Caelian hill, this gave him a great deal of influence and he ruled Rome upon Priscus’ death

31
Q

What is special about Servius Tullius?

A

He was the first king since Romulus not to be chosen by the people

32
Q

What were some of Servius’ political changes?

A

He created the census, which decided how much each individual should contribute to the military
The equites were created as part of the census; given a state horse and would join the cavalry unit. Belonging to this unit was prestigious and helped promote successful plebeian families
Servius changed the voting system- votes were cast according to wealth- those who had contributed the most money voted first, and often the poorest did not get to vote because the decisions had already been made

33
Q

What was the Comitia Curiata?

A

A political assembly divided into 30 groups or curiae, who were split among three tribes, during the period of the first king, Romulus

34
Q

What were some of Servius’ social changes?

A

A new tribal system was introduced , based on where the citizen lived in Rome- Rome was divided into 4 areas, Suburana, Esquilina, Collina and Palatina.
Servius added the Quirinal and Viminal hills to Rome, and extended the Esquiline
Servius is also believed to have begun the construction of the Servian wall, during his expansion, although archaeological investigation dates the construction to the 4th century

35
Q

What were some of Servius’ religious changes?

A

The temple of Diana in Rome was built as a joint project between Rome and a number of Latin cities

36
Q

When did Servius Tullius become king?

A

578 BC

37
Q

When did Servius Tullius die?

A

535 BC

38
Q

How does Tarquinius Superbus become king?

A

Dionysius says that The Servian reforms made Servius quite unpopular among the patricians of Rome. The increasing financial and military burdens caused by the census helped Priscus’ son, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, win the support of the patricians.
Livy says that Servius’ old age gave Superbus the opportunity to seize power. Furthermore, Servius’ daughter, Tullia, encouraged Superbus to seize the throne.

39
Q

How does Livy describe the coup by Superbus?

A

Superbus won over the younger, more inexperienced senators through bribes and gifts
He then marched into the Senate with a small army and sat on the throne, demanding the senate meet its new king
Superbus then attacked the elderly Servius, saying Rome had allowed a slave to become king, and hadn’t been voted for either. He had stolen land from the patricians and poisoned Rome with the census
Servius demanded that his son-in-law explain himself. Superbus replied ‘the son of a king will always better a slave’ and picked up Servius, carried him out of the room, and hurled him down the Senate steps
Superbus’ men killed Servius before he could return to the pallace. One account suggests it was his own daughter, Tullia, who murdered him- in a maddening rage she drove the chariot over his dying body

40
Q

How was Superbus as a king?

A

He seized the throne by force, and (Dionysius says) ‘surrounded himself with dangerous men armed with swords and spears’ and only appeared ‘unannounced so that no-one could plan his murder’

41
Q

How did Superbus establish his tyranny?

A

He presided over all capital crimes, and so anyone who threatened his control of Rome would be accused of a capital crime and sentenced to death. In this way, he removed all of Servius’ supporters.

42
Q

What were some of Superbus’ political changes?

A

The Senate’s influence decreased until it was not consulted at all
Superbus refused to bury Servius
The plebeians were badly treated (Dionysius), and turned them into labourers, forced to modernise the Circus Maximus, Cloaca Maxima, and construct several temples
Superbus removed the census
Livy says that the building programme provided jobs, albeit unpleasant, and his military expansion created colonies for some to acquire new land

43
Q

What were the Sibylline Oracles?

A

When and. old woman visited Rome with nine books of Oracles, Tarquinius Superbus refused to pay the asking price. The old woman burnt three of the books and again offered to sell the books, at the original price. Tarquinius refused again, and the woman burnt three books again. To save the last 3 books, Tarquinius bought, them, but still at the original price. He appointed 3 men to take care of the books. One of these men tried to sell the books. Tarquinius punished him by sewing him inside a leather bag and throwing the bag into the sea.

44
Q

What were Superbus’ military successes?

A

He created two colonies- one at Signia and one at Circeii
His son Sextus pretended to flee Rome, rose through the ranks in Gabii’s political structure, and then murdered the leading mean of Gabii, seizing control of the city
Defeated the Volsci, although this victory apparently started a 200-year war with them

45
Q

What changes did Superbus make religiously and socially?

A

He banned religious ceremonies which could allow men to plot against him
He completed the Cloaca Maximus, which improved sanitation within the city
He extended the Circus Maximus
He built a number of temples around Rome

46
Q

When did Superbus become king?

A

535 BC

47
Q

When did Superbus die/was overthrown?

A

509 BC

48
Q

What does Lucumo mean?

A

Lucumo is understood to be the Latinized form of the Etruscan word ‘lauchame’, meaning king- it means that his name and title may have been confused in official tradition

49
Q

What did Ancus do to Priscus

A

Made him the guardian of his own sons

50
Q

What happened when Ancus died?

A

Priscus addressed to Comitia Curiata, convincing them that he should be elected king over his predecessor’s natural sons, who were only still youths.
In one tradition, the sons were away hunting at the time of their father’s death, and were thus unable to affect the assembly’s choice

51
Q

Who were one of the families added to the senate made by Priscus

A

the Octavii, from whom the first emperor, Augustus, was descended

52
Q

What temple did Priscus construct on the Capitoline Hill?

A

The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus

53
Q

Was Superbus Priscus’ grandson or son?

A

Many believe it was his son, but given the younger Tarquin died around 496 BC, 82 years after his ‘father’, it is more likely he was a grandson.

54
Q

In the story of Corniculum, who was Servius’ mother?

A

Ocrisia

55
Q

How do the three stories fit together, about Servius’ origins?

A

Servius either was born by his father, general of Corniculum, or Ocrisia was a virgin when her husband died and she fled to Rome. There she may have been impregnated by the divine phallus, after which she gave birth to Servius. Then, the Romans saw him sleeping with a nimbus of fire around his head.

56
Q

Where did the sons of Ancus flee to?

A

Suessa Pometia

57
Q

What did Superbus and Tullia also do

A

Arruns Tarquinius was married to Tullia the Elder and Superbus was married to Tullia the Younger. The Elder didn’t appreciate the lack of ambition of Arruns, and didn’t like that the Younger had no passion for Superbus’ ambition. So she hatched a plan with Superbus and killed the respective brother/sister so they could be together