Livy, History of Rome, Book 1
Humanities 220
Professor C. A. Easton
This approach to Livy's History of Rome, Book 1 asks you to think about the stories Livy conveys as narratives with mythical rather than factual significance. By constructing this mythical history, composed of traditional stories about the founding of Rome and the Age of Kings, Livy (in the first century BCE) demonstrates how the Roman people have expressed their cultural values across time.

As you review Livy's History,keep note of how he sees the Age of Kings in light of the subsequent Republic. The Age of Kings is crowned finally with tyranny; the Republic represents freedom from tyranny. (Kings' names are printed in bold.)
  (note R&R sucking at she-wolf)
  • Explain the ancestry, conception, birth, and childhood of Romulus and Remus (37-38).
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  • How does the competition between Romulus and Remus lead to the founding of Rome? What kind of Roman social organization does Romulus construct? (40-43)
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  • How does Romulus increase Rome's population? How is the war with the Sabines settled? (43-48)
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  • What stories are told about Romulus' death? What is gained by the election of the next king, Numa? (51-53) Numa organizes and regulates Roman life. How does he do this? (54-55)
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  • War returns under Tullus. How are Rome and Alba represented by the triplets, the Horatii and the Curiatii? (58-61) The surviving Horatius kills his sister, and he is tried for murder. What is the significance of this? (61-63)
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  • Tullus preserves Roman morale in the face of Mettius' cowardice. What does his punishment of Mettius suggest? (64-65)
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  • Lucumo (later, Tarquin) and Tanaquil immigrate to Rome. What is the significance of the sign Lucumo receives before entering the service of King Ancus? Why does he send Ancus' sons on a hunting trip? (72-75). 

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  • What is the meaning of the incident when little Servius' head bursts into flames? (77) What do Ancus' sons do to Tarquin after they grow up?(78-79)
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  • How does Servius organize Rome after he becomes king? (80-81) Why is he pleased by the tricky sacrifice of the heifer? (84)
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  • How clever was Servius to marry his daughters (Tullia the elder and younger) to the sons of Tarquin, Lucius and Arruns? (84-85). How do Lucius (later Tarquin the Proud) and Tullia the younger remove Servius from office? (85-88).

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  • What is Tarquin the Proud's strategy for gaining Gabii? (92-93) What is his interesting horticultural approach to poppies? (94)

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  • What Roman values are conveyed by the story of the Rape of Lucretia? (96-101)

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