1- Sabine Women

Legendary Women- section 1

Romulus

founder of Rome (named it after him)

why did very few women join his new city and what does this show about the nature of women?

Rome was a new city and its future was uncertain, so fathers didn’t want to marry their daughters off to the men of Rome

women can’t escape to freedom like men can; no agency

why was there being no women in the city a problem and what does this show about the nature of women

without women there would be no new children or heirs, meaning that Rome would have no future generations and would seize to exist

women only valued for childbearing

how did Romulus try to get more women to join his city and what does this show about the nature of women

Romulus sent messengers to neighbouring cities offering intermarriage between his men and their women

women have no say in this process, only offered it to their fathers; lack of agency

what was the response to Romulus’s solution to lack of women?

the offer of intermarriage was rejected and the messengers were mocked; asked if Rome “opened a sanctuary for runaway women, since that was the only way they would find suitable wives”

what was Romulus’s trick to acquire women and what does this show about the nature of women

• he invited the neighbouring cities to come to Rome for a religious festival

• many came, including the Sabine people

• in the middle of the festival, Romulus’s men each grabbed a young woman

• they took them back to their homes and Romulus declared them married

women only valued for their youth- better young as more beautiful and more able to bear children; therefore also valued for childbearing and beauty

how did the women feel about their abduction

upset, did not agree to it and didn’t want to he there

what did Romulus offer the women as a consolation for their abduction and what does this show about the nature of women

Roman citizenship

Romulus trying to placate the women, showing them as weak and easily influenced; also shows that Roman citizenship is viewed as good enough to make up for forced abduction

what did the foreign kings do in response to the abduction and what does this show about the nature of women

the parents of the kidnapped women upset and asked their kings to wage war against Roman

shows that women valued for marriage; them being kidnapped gives them no dowry or any gain

what city first tried to attack Roman and what happened

Caenina; Rome easily won, Romulus killed their king and built a temple to Jupiter as thanks

who did the Sabines meet at the Roman gate

Tarpeia

where was the battle between the Sabines and the Romans

the Forum (centre of Rome)

how was the battle ended and what does it show about the nature of women

the Sabine women appeared, dressed in mourning clothes and begged the men to stop fighting and that they were the cause of the war so any violence should be directed at them; they said that the men were now related by marriage and some by blood since some of the women had born children by their Roman captors

women scapegoating themselves; always the woman’s fault; women shown to be deceptive and evil; women valued for being political tools- used to connect the two cities

what happened as the result of the Sabine women stopping the war

the men agreed to stop the war and to merge the Romans with the Sabines and Romulus and Tatius ruled side by side

what are curiae and who were they named after

political constituencies; each was named after one of the Sabine women

shows women had some value

source for the Sabine women

Livy’s History of Rome

when was Livy’s History of Rome written

1st century BCE

purpose and genre of Livy’s History of Rome

genre= history

purpose= to tell the story of the rape of the Sabine women and Rome came to be

what does the Sabine women story tell us about the nature and value of women

• political tool- alliance

• no concern for womens feelings at the start

• objectified

• only valued for having children’

• only have influence via their relationships

• submissive

• scapegoat themselves; always a victim

• valued for their beauty and youth

• appealing to vanity is the most effective way to win over a woman’s heart

who is Tarpeia

• daughter of general Spurius Tarpeius

• thought to be a priestess, maybe even a vestal virgin

who’s the king of the Sabines

king Tatius

how was she involved in the story of the rape of the Sabine women

• at the time the Sabines went to attack Rome, she was outside the city, collecting water for a religious ritual, king Tatius managed to bribe her to give them entry to the city

• she betrayed her people, seen as dishonourable and then killed by her own people

• without Tarpeia, the Sabines would never have been able to breach the city walls

what does the History of Rome say about Tarpeia

• the Sabines wore heavy gold bracelets and jewelled rings and Livy says that Tarpeia asked for what they had on their arms in exchange for their entry to the city (bribery)

• the men agreed but instead they crushed her underneath their shields

alternate story of Tarpeia in the History of Rome

• it says that by bargaining for what they had on their left hands, she was asking for their shields and being suspected of wishing to betray them, was killed

• here shes shown as a victim and a saviour

whats the Tarpeian rock

the cliff where traitors were thrown off in Rome, shows what the Romans thought of her

what does Tarpeia fetching water for a religious ceremony show about her character

• an honour to serve the gods in this way

• important, makes her dutiful

• she’s helping the pax deiorum and is an every day heroine, positive light

• most important duty to the gods (through fetching the water), and then to her state by asking for the shields

• spiritual, and so isn’t greedy and would therefore not want the jewels of the Sabines

• makes her a heroine for asking for their shields

what does Tarpeia accepting bribes show about her character

• deceptive and wrong, caring about herself over her state, her people and her family

• luxuria

• makes her a traitor

what are the two views on Tarpeia being killed

punishment if she gave into the jewels; lack of stoic-self-control and a traitor

martyr if she asked for their shields- heroine

what does Tarpeia being easily tricked show about her character

• traitor

• weak

• disloyal

sources for Tarpeia

• prescribed- Livy’s History of Rome

• additional-Propertius’ Elegies 4.4

• additional- Roman coin showing Tarpeia

Propertius’ Elegies 4.4 quotes

• “jar of earthenware burdened her head”

• “how could one death be sufficient for that wicked girl, who wanted, Vesta, to betray your flames”

• “stunned by the kings face”

• “careless hands”

what does “jar of earthenware burdened her head” show about Tarpeia

hardworking for the gods; characterises Tarpeia as a good person

what does “how could one death be sufficient for that wicked girl, who wanted, Vesta, to betray your flames” show about Tarpeia

• betrayed the flames of Vesta, patron deity of Rome

• betrayed her family, her people and the gods

what does “stunned by the kings face” show about Tarpeia

attracted to Tatius over her people; gave into desire

what does “careless hands” show about Tarpeia

• careless not only to her urn, but careless about who she trusts

• metaphore for letting go of the vows she’s made to stay chaste

• dropping Vesta’s water; failing pietas and her duties; no stoic self control

• acts on her love, isn’t dutiful; no pudicitia

what does the Roman coin showing Tarpeia display and analysis of Tarpeia’s character

• shows two men with shields standing above Tarpeia as she is on the ground

• her arms flailing- shows she’s scared

• men upright above Tarpeia- shows she is weak and had no choice to open the gate

• surrounded by soldiers; she’s standing straight like she’s asking for help

• victim- shes kneeling on the ground; submissive and begging not to be killed'; a martyr, not fighting back

• facing on and forwards at us, the audience; shows she’s self-aware, hows she isn’t guilty and they are on the same side

• she’s on a coin, must be a martyr