civic duty
The Horatii and the Curiatii: Roman Legend and Myth
Orin Vale
The Horatii and the Curiatii are central figures in one of Rome’s best-known legendary episodes, a duel between two noble families said to have decided the fate of Rome and Alba Longa. Blending myth, politics, and moral exemplum, the story reveals how early Roman tradition framed courage, civic duty, and the cost of conflict.
Coriolanus’s Betrayal and Return: Historical Overview
Orin Vale
Coriolanuss Betrayal and Return recounts the Roman commander Gaius Marcius Coriolanus, exiled by his own city, who joins the Volscians and threatens Rome before yielding to the pleas of his mother, Volumnia. Blending political conflict, filial duty, and the dangers of pride, the episode has shaped classical moral thought and inspired enduring interpretations in literature and drama.
