Livy's The Rise Of Rome

In Livy’s The Rise of Rome, he details the history and rise of Rome as a powerful place full of many courageous leaders. He writes this history in the way that the Romans believed it to be, including the gods and poetic aspects. Livy’s intention in telling the history of Rome is not to “refute” or “affirm” the “poetic fictions” that have served as the truthful history of the founding of Rome to many Romans (Livy, Preface). In keeping those tales of the founding of Rome, Livy maintains the want of the Roman people to imagine their area coming from the ideas of several men who wanted nothing more than to build a great city. These historical fictions, involving Mars, the god of war, and children rescued by wolves, set up a legacy of examples of
With a history of people who showcase bravery, honor, and loyalty in the name of their city, the people of Rome are encouraged to act in the same way so they remain connected to Rome in every aspect of their lives. Romulus bravely founded Rome, even though it meant killing his brother. Lucius Tarquinius Superbus is a negative example of how some people in history did not show loyalty to Rome but to themselves. In his actions, Romans are able to learn that they should always be loyal to Rome first. And finally, Lucretia represents honor; her suicide allowed her to remain honorable and to avoid disgrace due to the actions of Sextus Tarquinius. Livy’s work not only details the history of the beginning of Rome but serves also as a guidebook on the ways a Roman should act when faced with challenges. These historical figures exemplify what the ideal Roman is and is not to be. By holding these figures, and many others, up as examples, Livy shows how important image and actions were to the Roman people when Rome was only Romulus’s idea and also through the reign of the kings that