Term Test 3 - Lecture 5 Flashcards
Who were the Vestal Virgins?
Virgins dedicated to Hestia, the hearthfire of Rome (and of the home everywhere else). Vestal virgins tend to the flame of Hestia.
They are appointed around the age of 10 years old. They spend 10 years as apprentices, then 10 years as vestal virgins, then 10 years as teachers (30 years as Vestal Virgins). They become free around the age of 40.
What does the name “Rhea Silvia” mean?
Silver woods/Ilea = Rome
What is rape used to depict in Roman stories?
Women are like the sacrificial victims - their rape leads the state of Rome to a next stage
What is a common theme of many Roman myths?
They are patriotic, in support of the Roman state. Reflects pragmatic (sensible and realistic) and patriotic values.
What did Augustus Caesar bring to the city of Rome in terms of culture?
Art, architecture, literature
What is Lares?
The numen of the people of the household.
Who becomes ruler after Julius Caesar is assassinated?
His adopted son Augustus (Octavian) Caesar, who is actually his nephew
What is the name Quirinus derived from?
The Sabine word for “spear” - Romulus as the war god
How did the Romans integrate the Greek culture into their own? Religion and gods?
They bowed to the Greeks and admired them, Greek art and literature was adapted to meet their own needs
Religiously, Roman numen took on the personalities of some of the Greek gods: ex. Jupiter/Jove, an Italian sky god took on the qualities of Zeus
After ridding the land of robbers, what is the first thing that Remus and Romulus do?
They avenge Numitor (their grandfather) after Amulius usurped the throne from him. They kill Amulius
What is a Senate?
A collection of old men
What does Lucretia do after Sextus Tarquin rapes her?
She summons her husband, Collatinus, and his friend Brutus. She tells them about Sextus Tarquin, and then is so upset she kills herself.
What is represented by the Pantheon? When was it built?
Built in 120 CE
It represents that the Romans were practical. The dome roof was extremely practical and architecturally stable. The front of the Pantheon was adorned with columns, and decorated like a Greek temple (ex. the Parthenon)
Like the Greeks, but better
What is the foundation sacrifice for the founding of Rome?
The life of Remus - Romulus kills him
Who was Lucretia?
A roman virtue and beauty, the wife of the Roman soldier Collatinus
Who are the parents of Remus and Romulus?
Rhea Silvia and Mars (Ares)
After Brutus hears of Lucretia’s rape, what does he do?
He led a revolt against the Etruscan monarchy (because Sextus Tarquin was Etruscan) and founded the Republic and the Senate
How are numina different from the Greek gods?
They are not anthropomorphic, and there are many more of them. Numina are also very limited in their functions.
How did the Greeks directly influence Roman myth?
By colonizing Southern Italy, passing their myths along from there.
What does Amulius do to Rhea Silvia?
She is appointed as a Vestal Virgin by Amulius, he does this to prevent her from having any children, so that Amulius is not driven from the throne by Numitor’s rightful kin
What is Penates?
The numen of the things in your house; your belongings
How did Augustus Caesar keep the peace while ending the Rupublic?
His allowed them to keep their institutions (The Senate)
Out of Numitor and Amulius, which one took the throne? Who was rightful?
Numitor was the rightful king, but he was driven out by Amulius
Where is Latium?
Italy. This is where Rome is located.
At the beginning of Rome, what did the population consist of?
A lot of fugitives, and Romulus
Aeneas founded ____ and his son Acanius founded ____
- Lavinium
- Alba Longa
Lavinium is kind of a linker city before Rome… what is the next one where the line of legendary kings that Livy wrote about?
Alba Longa - had a long line of legendary kings
Where did Amulius leave Remus and Romulus to die in a basket?
In the river Tiber
Where is Etruscan?
In Italy
What type of numen is Janus?
A gate, the numen of doors, bridges, etc.
Who contributed the names Minerva (Athena), Juno (Hera), and Jupiter (Zeus)?
The Etruscans
Why and when is Julius Caesar assassinated?
The Senate of Rome saw him as a threat, as the dictator of Rome from 47-44 BCE. He is assassinated on the Ides of March. (March 15, 44 BCE)
When did the Roman Empire conquer the Greek Empire?
In the 2nd century, BCE
Cf. Roman rape to Greek rape
Greek rape (ex. Helen) - leads to death and destruction on both sides (Paris, stealing her from Menelaus) - Trojan war
Roman rape: leads to the progression of the Roman state (Lucretia, Rhea Silvia, Sabine women)
After Rhea Silvia is appointed as a Vestal Virgin, what happens to her?
She is raped by Mars (Ares, the war god) and becomes pregnant with twins; Remus and Romulus
Who are the parents and grandparents of Romulus and Remus?
Parents: Mars/Ares (war-god) and Rhea Silvia (Ilia)
Grandparents: Numitor (brother of Amulius)