The Rape Of Lucretia Analysis

Many known historians have existed throughout time, Titus Livy was one of the many well-known Roman historians that told their own opinion and version of stories. Livy worshiped roman history and enjoyed the storytelling aspect of history. He works constrained on teaching Romans about moral values and virtues. Two of his most popular legends have been “Romulus and Remus” and the “Rape of Lucretia.” The legend of “Romulus and Remus” is about two twin brothers considered to have founded Rome. The two twin boys’ mother was Rhea Silva daughter of Numitor who was King of the ancient city of Alba Longa. It has been said that Rhea was raped by Mars the God of War, and had a set of twin boys. When the King heard of the twin boys, he ordered them to be thrown into the current of the river, for not only were they bastards, if the boys grew up they could threaten his position as King. However the
attempt of having the boys killed failed due to the river being overflown and so they were just left near the river where a thirsty she-wolf found them. The she-wolf adopted and took care of them till the King’s flock keeper found the she-wolf licking them. The Keeper and his wife Laurentia didn’t have children of their own, so he decided to take the boys and raise them. As they grew up, they helped their adoptive father with the flocks, but they also robbed robbers and afterward shared the loot with the other shepherds. Unfortunately, some of the robbers hatched a plot against the brothers. Which ended in Remus being caught and taken prisoner. Remus was taken to King Amulius to be punished but was sent to Numitor’s land instead. As soon as Numitor saw the twin, he recognized him to be his grandson and soon told him what had happened. They hatched a plan to kill King Amulius, and they succeed. Afterward, their grandfather told the citizens of the kingdom that he had ordered the assassination of the king, he then presented the twin brothers as Kings and explained their origins. The two young Kings wanted more power and separated into two kingdoms, yet it was still not enough for them. Turning to Romulus killing his own brother and completely ruling both kingdoms and naming it Rome.
In the legend of the “Rape of Lucretia,” the story bases itself on revenge and as a result, initiation of a great empire.
Lucretia was a beautiful girl and Prince Sextus desired to have her. One night after getting drunk with his companies afterward they go home to see which one of their wife’s is the best/worst and Lucretia husband Collatinus, wins. The Prince, after meeting her, is then overcome with lust and so rapes Lucretia that night. Lucretia is ashamed of what has happened, therefore, she calls for her brother Brutus and husband Collatinus tells them happenings. Lucretia makes the men in the room for promising to avenge her and then commits suicide in front of them with a blade to her chest. Brutus and Collatinus are devastated by grief and then the anger of the loss of Lucretia. So they swear an oath to for full Lucretia dying wish, and they make everyone in the room to swear vengeance as well, because of the loss of Lucretia and indignation she suffers. They spread the word and overthrow the Kingdom, afterward the unity of the people stay and a new era was
created.
These two legends theorized how Rome was started and I believe Livy found the story about “Romulus and Remus” more important because it is more well known, more explained and more accepted. These stories mattered to the Romans because it attempts to explain how the great Roman Empire came to be known as one of the greatest empires ever to be and tells the origins of their culture and so their sole existence.