The Gauls on the Capitol

In this chapter, the author considers the story of the Gallic sack in 390 BCE as a typical example of a Roman narrative of crisis and survival. This story was repeatedly evoked by spectators of the civil conflict of 69 CE and was exploited by the Flavian entourage to frame Vitellius’ descent into Italy. In particular, Domitian seems to have relied on this episode to mythologize his own participation in the battle of the Capitoline against Vitellius in 69 CE. The author shows that many elements attached to this narrative (especially the topic of self-sacrifice) surface in Statius’ narrative of the siege of Thebes in book 10 and that Statius interacts with Domitian’s attempts at styling himself as the savior of Rome.

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Battle · Literature · Narrative · Sacrifice · Siege · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical and Religious Studies of Rome · History · Organic Chemistry Synthesis Methods