I.

Intro on rome Empires rise and fall, however much of their influence still thrives in the hearts of many nations that live today. Among these empires, the Roman Empire is continually influencing certain aspects of different countries and nations throughout the world. The founding of Rome is intertwined with a mix of mythology and history. Much of the facts that is transcribed in many of the history books have certain connections to the acts and doings of their Roman deities. Existing gaps in historical narratives are almost always filled by mythological accounts. A. Mythology History describes the humble beginnings of Rome as a community due south of the river Tiber. The region, originally called Latium, extends from the shoreline of the river Tiber, to the area located on the coast of the Apennine mountain edge. Latins, or Latini, were the people situated in this area. (Boak, 1995) From that description, history now intertwines with narratives from mythology to explain the founding of their sacred city, the latin Roma. Many of the Romans give due importance to the epics and poems that narrate the founding of their land. Roman poets venerate Romulus and Remus as the original founders of the Roman Empire. Narratives say that these twins are the offspring of a latin princess and vestal virgin, Rhea Silvia, and the war god Mars. Rhea Silvia, in certain accounts, was to be punished for having an affair with a man. The offspring, twin brothers, was ordered by their uncle King Amulius to be thrown into the river Tiber to be killed. A she wolf, said to be sent by the roman god himself, saved the boys and nursed them with her own milk. Husband and wife Faustalus and Acca Laurentia found the boys, took them home and raised them until they were full grown. (Daly, 2004, p. 114) Since then, Romulus and Remus quarreled over who was to be held the founder of their empire. Romulus slain his own brother, and thus had the empire of Rome named after himself. To populate his city, Romulus made it a heaven for various people, included escaped slaves, prisoners, and poor families. Having noticed that the city was lacking women, Romulus urged the Sabines, a group of women in the neighboring kingdom, to a religious festival, but did not allow them to return. The king of the Sabines, Titus Tatius, aimed to wage war on the Romans and rescue the women. At the time they arrived in Rome, however, the women had already made spouses of the Roman villagers. After much coercing at the women's part, King Titus made peace and governed Rome along with Romulus until his death. (Wichershan, 2000, p. 15) II. Roman Mythological Influence

D. Art and Litt 1. Greek Inspiration Rome has found inspiration from the ancients of Greece. They took their ideas from the creations of the Greeks. The Romans took the Greek deities and reformulated them in the most Roman way possible. They made Roman versions of Greek Adventures and Heroes. From there, Roman Mythology became the inspiration of many artisans and writers of the

age. Creations of art and literature were created for the purpose of sharing to the people certain episodes and important people in mythology. Through the Greek Mythology, which inspired Roman Mythology, it indirectly influenced Roman Art and Literature. (Basil, 26) (APA: Basil D. (ed) The Portable Roman Reader. Viking Library, Michigan, 1951 ) 2. Art and Litt. a. Art Most artworks said to be taken from ancient Rome depict Roman gods, or some of the adventures of their offspring. Roman art is colorful and creative, thus much of it is placed in bathhouses or in public places for it to be seen. They depict many of their people with differentiating features such as balding hair and crooked noses. In portraying their gods and goddesses, however, they depict with outmost beauty and grace. Roman artisans developed many kinds of art namely frescoes, mosaics, and sculptures. (http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753873) Roman sculptures are most often made to provide some embellishments to the structures that they made. They provide some of the three dimension effect and realistic atmosphere that most of the Roman nobles wanted to achieve in their architecture. Most of the sculptures would be cast out of bronze. Roman Heroes with their noble steeds are ones mostly depicted in bronze. Another material commonly used is by Roman sculptors would be marble. The statues depicting the Three Graces are one of the most known marble sculptures currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Roman frescoes and mosaics are usually done on walls of public edifices because of their decorative appearance. Along with the sculptures, they depict, mostly, scenes from their myths and legends. With glory and honor, their deities and their adventures are painted in various colors to interest the people. Also painted on their architectures columns are some other scenes for some of the establishments are mostly utilized by the public. Still, the subject would be mostly about Roman Mythology. (http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/130016911) (http://www.memo.fr/en/article.aspx?ID=ANT_ROM_010) (http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ancient-roman-art.html) Literature, on the other hand, had its beginnings from Oscan speaking Sabellians and from the Etruscans. Most of the literary style here would be derived from their influence. Roman literature is not dedicated to narratives alone; in fact, the first parts of literature would be of the formalities there. It does not focus on literary alone. Common subjects that are found in Roman literature are public documents, commentaries on the consul, Roman law, treaties, and most of the others are religious, consisting of hymns, songs, and praises on their deities. (Boak, 1995) From formal roots, poets now verge to create a new style of literature. One of the most known poets that describe accounts in Roman mythology is Virgil. Virgil, a Hellenistic

poet, created three major works, Aenid being the most prominent of the three. Eclogues, the first, bear the style of Theocritus. The set of poems bears a mix of the bizarre and grotesque, albeit having been modulated. He followed Goergics as his second work, which is described as aesthetic with varying tones that bear an importance to the totality of the poem. Lastly, Aenid was written. (Hutchinson, 1988) Aenid ()