Core narrative

Romans, like most people, had a body of core narratives. Not propaganda, these were internal stories, stories that they told about themselves. They helped Romans define who they were, at least in the ideal. They also helped to explain their past.

In the recent past, some of these stories were labeled as myth, but in some cases recent archaeological work has tended to support some of the details of these narrative, for example, regarding the approximate date of the first coming together of the Roman community. ^[1]

[2]

Putting the matter of historical accuracy aside, by sharing in the narrative we can listen to the Romans talking about themselves. The challenge, of course, is to come to understand the ways in which the stories were understood and contributed to the composition of the Roman psyche.

These narratives have had a long life, and many of them have continued to inspire art and thought, if not action, long after the Roman world passed out of all recognition. They can be said to embody "Roman virtues", and by contextualizing the virtues in these stories, by framing them in scenarios, we are offered a way to understand them as the Romans did. It is as possible for us to find inspiration and guidance in these stories as it was for our Roman ancestors.

The "Rape of Lucretia" tells about the expulsion of the kings and proposes an understanding of "honor".

"Hercules' arrival in Italy" is part of a cycles of tales that explain the relationship that Greek culture had with Rome, and is discusses the notion of "hero".

References

1. ↑ UNRV History: "Founding of Rome"
2. ↑ LiveScience: "Ruins Support Myth of Rome's Founding"