Livy Topics
Topic I - Livy as an historian and his work as a cultural document.
How does Livy conceive of his task as an historian? What contrasts or similarities do you see with programmatic statements made by Herodotos and Thucydides? How do these relate, if at all, to the different age in which and for which Livy writes? Does the Hum course approach Livy from the perspective that, regardless of the truth or falsity of his account of early Roman history, his text is still useful for getting a sense of Roman national self-definition and civic identity? If so, is that a legitimate approach, and what is that civic identity?
Topic II - The Rape of the Vestal Virgin/Story of Romulus and Remus, p. 37-40.
In what sense does the story show elements of myth? Of what stories which you have encountered in Greek literature or elsewhere is it reminiscent? What larger themes of Livy's history are brought out through this episode? Why is it important that the infants were suckled by a wolf?
Topic III - Foundation of Rome, p. 40-43, with p. 50.
How does Romulus compare to other founding fathers you met in the Greek world, such as Solon or Lycurgus? What is distinctively Roman about him? Why would the Romans prefer a tradition which has their city arising from such humble origins, an influx of slaves and other refugees?
Topic IV - Rape of the Sabine Women, p.43-48.
What could be the historical fact behind the lavishly embellished tale of the rape of the Sabine women? What is the symbolic significance of a mass rape as a key element in the growth of the power of Rome? What is the symbolic connection to actual Roman citizenship practices?
Topic V - The Rape of Lucretia and Expulsion of the Kings, p. 88-101, esp. 96-101.
How does Lucius Tarquinius Superbus compare to other bad kings or tyrants you have met in the Greek world? What are the narrative elements of the story of the rape of Lucretia, and do they lend themselves to analysis as acts of a tragedy? Why should this turning point in the history of Rome be marked by a story such as this one? Although it is not part of the assigned reading, you may wish to compare the thematically very similar account of the (attempted) rape of Verginia by Appius Claudius (pages 231-239).
Topic VI - Heroes
Compare the episodes of Horatius Cocles, Mucius Scaevola, and Cloelia. What different or similar models of outstanding behaviour do they illustrate? pp. 115-120.
Topic VII - The Body Politic
Focus on how the secession of the plebes is ended. When Menenius Agrippa successfully intervenes, how does he persuade the commoners to return to the state? What kind of social structure is being propagated here? pp 141-142.
Hum
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