Myths and Values Myths and Values

Part IIPart II

The Rape of LucretiaThe Rape of Lucretiathe contest:the contest:

Etruscan princes and Collatinus were drinking, and Etruscan princes and Collatinus were drinking, and each claimed their wives were superior to the each claimed their wives were superior to the others’. others’.

““The evening shadows were lengthening when they The evening shadows were lengthening when they came upon the royal princesses feasting and came upon the royal princesses feasting and frolicking with their friends. Then they sped off to frolicking with their friends. Then they sped off to Collatia: though the evening was late, they found Collatia: though the evening was late, they found Lucretia still in the main hall of her home, bent Lucretia still in the main hall of her home, bent over her spinning and surrounded by her maids as over her spinning and surrounded by her maids as they worked by lamplight. Lucretia was the clear they worked by lamplight. Lucretia was the clear winner of the contest. She graciously welcomed her winner of the contest. She graciously welcomed her husband and the Tarquins as they approached. …husband and the Tarquins as they approached. …When Sextus Tarquin set eyes upon her he was When Sextus Tarquin set eyes upon her he was seized by the evil desire to debauch her, spurred seized by the evil desire to debauch her, spurred on as he was by her beauty and redoubtable on as he was by her beauty and redoubtable chastity.” (Livy 1.57)chastity.” (Livy 1.57)

The rapeThe rape

““When he saw she was resolute and would When he saw she was resolute and would not yield even out of fear for her life, he not yield even out of fear for her life, he threatened to disgrace her even in death by threatened to disgrace her even in death by placing the naked body of a murdered slave placing the naked body of a murdered slave next to her corpse, evidence that she had next to her corpse, evidence that she had been killed in the act of committing been killed in the act of committing adultery of the basest sort. When by this adultery of the basest sort. When by this threat his lust vanquished her resolute threat his lust vanquished her resolute chastity, he left the house exulting in his chastity, he left the house exulting in his seeming conquest of the woman’s honour. seeming conquest of the woman’s honour.

Lucretia’s resolveLucretia’s resolve Lucretia, stricken to the heart at the disgrace, sent the Lucretia, stricken to the heart at the disgrace, sent the

same messenger to her father in Rome and husband in same messenger to her father in Rome and husband in Ardea: each was to come with one trustworthy friend; …Ardea: each was to come with one trustworthy friend; …a terrible ting had happened…(they arrived and found a terrible ting had happened…(they arrived and found her very upset) ..”What can be right when a woman’s her very upset) ..”What can be right when a woman’s virtue has been taken from her? The impress of another virtue has been taken from her? The impress of another man is in your bed, Collatinus; yet only my body was man is in your bed, Collatinus; yet only my body was defiled; my soul is not guilty. Death with be my witness defiled; my soul is not guilty. Death with be my witness to this. But pledge …that the adulterer will not go to this. But pledge …that the adulterer will not go unpunished. Sextus Tarquin did this, a guest who unpunished. Sextus Tarquin did this, a guest who betrayed his host, …(they) tried to comfort betrayed his host, …(they) tried to comfort the ..woman..there is no guilt when intent is absent. ‘It is the ..woman..there is no guilt when intent is absent. ‘It is up to you’, she said, ‘to punish the man as he deserves. up to you’, she said, ‘to punish the man as he deserves. As for me, I absolve myself of wrong, but not from As for me, I absolve myself of wrong, but not from punishment. Let no unchaste woman herafter punishment. Let no unchaste woman herafter continue to live because of the precedent of continue to live because of the precedent of Lucretia,’ She took a knife ..and drove it into her Lucretia,’ She took a knife ..and drove it into her breast.breast. (Livy 1.58) (Livy 1.58)

The function of the storyThe function of the story

Real Rape – a crime against the honour of Real Rape – a crime against the honour of a woman’s male relatives a woman’s male relatives

Lucretia, wife of Collatinus,Lucretia, wife of Collatinus, Sextus Tarquinius, son of last Roman king Sextus Tarquinius, son of last Roman king

Tarquinius Superbus (kinsman of Tarquinius Superbus (kinsman of Collatinus)Collatinus)

Story demonstrates central values Story demonstrates central values associated with the role of females in the associated with the role of females in the family: the ‘ideal’ daughter and wife, family: the ‘ideal’ daughter and wife, behaviour and obligations expected of herbehaviour and obligations expected of her

The function of the Lucretia The function of the Lucretia storystory

Lucretia an Lucretia an exemplaexempla (an example) demonstrating (an example) demonstrating most important quality expected of the ‘ideal’ Roman most important quality expected of the ‘ideal’ Roman wife: wife: pudicitiapudicitia = chastity and sexual fidelity = chastity and sexual fidelity

A woman was expected to be aware that her actions A woman was expected to be aware that her actions reflected reflected on the reputation of her male relativeson the reputation of her male relatives – –

To be found in bed with a slave - would have brought To be found in bed with a slave - would have brought shame to her husband and her paternal family.shame to her husband and her paternal family.

Lucretia represents the ultimate example of a good Lucretia represents the ultimate example of a good wife. She sacrifices herself, so that no other Roman wife. She sacrifices herself, so that no other Roman woman who committed adultery could claim that she woman who committed adultery could claim that she was actually raped and blameless. was actually raped and blameless.

Although Romans did not blame the woman when Although Romans did not blame the woman when raped, the story clearly implies that it is the woman’s raped, the story clearly implies that it is the woman’s role to avoid bringing shame to her male kin at any role to avoid bringing shame to her male kin at any cost. cost.

Lucretia and the Etruscan Lucretia and the Etruscan cliché cliché

Etruscans considered by Greeks and Etruscans considered by Greeks and Romans as decadent and immoral. Romans as decadent and immoral.

Greeks of Classical Period especially Greeks of Classical Period especially Athenians shared similar ideology with the Athenians shared similar ideology with the Romans about women, male-female roles Romans about women, male-female roles and marriage and marriage

Etruscans also linked to tyranny (last king Etruscans also linked to tyranny (last king Tarquin the Proud was Etruscan)Tarquin the Proud was Etruscan)

End of monarchy associated with End of monarchy associated with liberation oppressive monarchyliberation oppressive monarchy

Theopompus, Greek historian Theopompus, Greek historian (4(4thth century B.C.) century B.C.)

“…“…Etruscans were extraordinarily Etruscans were extraordinarily

pleasure-loving, …slave girls wait on the pleasure-loving, …slave girls wait on the men naked….normal for Etruscans to men naked….normal for Etruscans to share their women …..Etruscans raise all share their women …..Etruscans raise all their children born…, not knowing who the their children born…, not knowing who the father is of each one. ….have many father is of each one. ….have many drinking parties,… make love with all the drinking parties,… make love with all the women…no shame for Etruscans to be women…no shame for Etruscans to be seen having sexual experiences……etc.,”seen having sexual experiences……etc.,”

Etruscan couple at banquetEtruscan couple at banquet

Banquet Scene Banquet Scene

The role of women in the The role of women in the legends of early Romelegends of early Rome

Many stories link women to crucial events in Many stories link women to crucial events in Rome’s history: women have an important role in Rome’s history: women have an important role in public narrative as instruments of political public narrative as instruments of political alliances or political changealliances or political change

Legend of the Sabine WomenLegend of the Sabine Women - alliance - alliance between Romans and their next-door neighbors between Romans and their next-door neighbors allowed the young state to continue; women were allowed the young state to continue; women were central to the survival of the family, and, by central to the survival of the family, and, by extension, of the state. extension, of the state.

Legend of LucretiaLegend of Lucretia - linked to a revolution - linked to a revolution instigated by her kinsmen and ends with instigated by her kinsmen and ends with expulsion of last king Tarquinius Superbus and expulsion of last king Tarquinius Superbus and the establishment of the Roman Republicthe establishment of the Roman Republic

The nature of the Traditional stories The nature of the Traditional stories from Rome’s early historyfrom Rome’s early history

Not factual accounts, but how Romans Not factual accounts, but how Romans of later periods viewed their past;of later periods viewed their past;

Stories are anachronistic - they reflect Stories are anachronistic - they reflect not so much values 6not so much values 6thth to 4 to 4thth centuries centuries of the city but values of later periods of the city but values of later periods shared by Livy’s own contemporaries. shared by Livy’s own contemporaries.

Stories are also an illustration of how Stories are also an illustration of how the Roman themselves envisioned the the Roman themselves envisioned the history of their state.history of their state.

Traditional stories as Traditional stories as exempla exempla (examples)(examples)

Early history of Rome filled with examples (Early history of Rome filled with examples (exempla) exempla) of good of good and bad conduct: Lucretia’s sense of pudicitia represents the and bad conduct: Lucretia’s sense of pudicitia represents the ideal behaviour every respectable young woman should ideal behaviour every respectable young woman should follow.follow.

Young Tarquin represents an example of un-Roman behaviour Young Tarquin represents an example of un-Roman behaviour and its subsequent consequences.and its subsequent consequences.

Stories convey ideals and values associated with the Roman Stories convey ideals and values associated with the Roman state, patriotism, and central Roman institutions such as state, patriotism, and central Roman institutions such as marriage, the family, role of females and the social hierarchy; marriage, the family, role of females and the social hierarchy;

Convey important ideals;Convey important ideals; Examples of good behaviour and bad behaviour and Examples of good behaviour and bad behaviour and

consequences. consequences. Didactic function (serve to educate about important values) – Didactic function (serve to educate about important values) –

told to childrentold to children Note: By Livy’s time these stories represent the developed Note: By Livy’s time these stories represent the developed

tradition – shaped over centuries – tradition – shaped over centuries –