Legends and curiosities of history (part 1)

 

Group of sculptures at the Campidoglio, Rome.

One of the main tasks of the history scholars, is to reconstruct, as accurate as possible, the sequence of the events of the past. At the same time, is important to understand their subsequent implications. The great personages, with their acts (for better or worse), have decisively marked those happenings. But is often possible to note something, about the life of them: the profusion of anecdotal or curious stories. As a consequence, certain reasonable doubts may emerge, between the verifiable facts and what should be only taken as a legend. 

Medieval combat, by N.C. Wyeth, 1922. From: The Boy's King Arthur, 
by Thomas Malory. New York, 1922. Scanned by David Pape. {{PD-US}}

Through the years, there was a marked trend to take as true, some of those doubtful facts. It lead to a lack of credibility, of not a few historian and chroniclers. Despite the problem and limitation this situation means, for the study of many ancient sources, paradoxically, it adds a lot of interest to those themes... There is something undeniable, in that diffuse historic-legendary zone, has its origin and nourish, a very exciting literary genre, such as the Historical Novel.

Let's travel to the past, to the encounter of some events and characters, which might leave us full of questions... 

Ruins of the Greek Theatre, at Taormina, Sicily. At the back, the Etna volcano. Photo: Daniel Delgado

The dancing horses. 

By the 8th century bC., the Greeks had an unrestrained sprawling through all the Mediterranean Sea. That colonizing wave, had driven them to invade distant lands. From Asia Minor to Cyprus island, to the east... and as far as the Iberian Peninsula to the west, would rise a high number of new "Greek cities". Certainly, the main interest was to care and watch their trading routes. But, there was also another strong reason. Is very likely, that their own lands were not capable to support their increasing population. As a consequence, their culture finally spread, leaving an indelible mark, all over those territories.

The Greek expansion across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Through the 8th to 4th b.C. By Gepgepgep, 2012.
Greek settlements: red color. Lic. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

As they got to the Italian peninsula and the island of Sicily, the Greek settlers found a magnificent new home. The progress and wellness they achieved at those fertile lands, earned to all the region, the name of Magna Graecia (Great Greece). Unfortunately, the rivalry and pugnacity between the Greek cities is a very well known fact. So the new Italian-Greek polis kept on doing the same. It was like a never-learnt lesson, that always carried so many disgraces to them. 

The Magna Graecia and its cities. By: Future Perfect at Sunrise,
of Rowanwindwhistler. Lic. CC. Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

Around 721 bC., groups of Achaean colonists founded the city of Sybaris, at a productive region, near the gulf of Taranto. With the years, it would become one of the most populated cities of those early ages. It also reached a noticeable luxury and splendor. There are several legends, about the opulent way of living of its citizens. Such a huge wealthness, in part was the product of their privileged geographic situation. It produced notorious commercial advantages. The fact, is that the city fell into a steep moral decay, which earned them quite a  reputation. From then on, the word sybarite, became the synonym of person who loves a life full of opulence and pleasure.

Silver coin from Sybaris. Obverse and reverse, 550 b.C.
Source: www.cngcoins.com. Lic. CC. Attrib.-Share Alike 2.5

It came to happen, that another prominent city, Crotone, also of Achaean origin, would become a rival of Sybaris, for the control of those territories. Despite they were allies in the past, they finished as angered foes. In that way, the fifty miles between both cities, began to result scanty. After years of intense combats, unavoidably came the day to go for all, in a decisive battle. Sybaris counted on its powerful army, but Crotone had a hiding ace...

Excavation of the theatre at Sybaris, Italy. Photo: Mboesch, 2009.
Lic. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0

The pompous lifestyle of Sybaris, had also influenced their military practices. Their horses had been trained to dance to the beat of music, on their amazing parades. Knowing this, the forces of Crotone started the battle surrounded by the marching music. As expected, the war horses began to dance, which produced chaos and disaster among their own lines. They suffered such a loss, that Sybaris could never recover again. Finally, towards the year 510 before our era, Crotona ended the destruction labor. Their rage went to the point of deviating a river (Cratis) from its course, to wipe the rival city from the face of the earth. So, the emplacement of Sybaris remained hidden for almost twenty five centuries. From their oppulence, only the legends survived... 

Temple of Hatshepsut. Deir el-Bahari, Egypt. Photo: ljanderson977, 2008.

A dominant woman.

The ancient Egypt, witnessed the pass of remarkable monarches, beings who exerted an absolute power. They were persons who lived as incarnated gods. Their mere presence, inspired a reverential respect and a deep fear. Among those elevated characters, there is one who should be considered the greatest of them all. Taken by his hand, the Egiptian nation, soared to the zenith of its grandeur and it was not only for their military power. By then, Egypt enjoyed times of wellness, those were years of fat cows! A clever strategist, not a few historians compare him, with the greatest generals in history. According to them, he is at the same level as Napoleon, Caesar or Alexander. Along with them, is the name of the pharaoh Tutmose III, the Great.   

Egyptian empire, 15th century b.C. Source: Egypt NK edit.svg. By Andrei Nacu. 
Edition: Jeff Dahl. Translation: Rowanwindwhistler, 2013.
Lic. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

Is suffice to say, that under his reign, the Aegiptian Empire would expand to its maximum. His consolidated domains, spread from the north of the river Euphrates, in Asia, to the fourth cataract of the Nile, to the south of Egypt. The "always victorious" king Tutmose III, led his armies in great battles, such as Megiddo. Also in countless military campaings, during his reign... But the things were not always that way. When he fully assumed his mandate, at the age of twenty five, many considered him as a weak man, even as a true puppet. But, how could them be so wrong about this personage?

Tutmose III. Museum of Luxor, Egypt. Photo: Chipdawes, 2010.

Tutmose III had inherited both crowns of Egypt, when he was only a child, after a true game of powers. However, his aunt and stepmother, Hatshepsut, to say it plainly, had all the rights to inherit the throne. But her condition as a woman, set a limit to her aspirations. In that manner, while the new monarch reached the proper age, she managed to be designated as the regent. Then, she moved her pieces so cleverly, that after all, she got the whole power, in 1490 b.C. During her reign, the country went through times of calm and wellness. But also showed some weakness, in external politics. For sure, her life and works deserve another voyage, to that magnificent past. 

Hatshepsut, 1490 b.C. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.
Photo: Keith Schengili-Roberts, 2007. Lic. Attribution-Share Alike 2.5

The young Tutmose grew up and began to show his attributes as a soldier. But he stayed for twenty years, in silence, under the shadow of Hatshepsut, the queen-pharaoh. For many time, existed the suspicion about her assassination. But with the discovery of her mummy, it was all cleared: a disease was the cause of her death. Taking into account the way the things were in those days, this might indicate a mutual respect relation between them. One thing is certain, only a very special woman, could have kept under her control someone like Tutmose III, for so many years.

Tutmose III beating his enemies, 15th century b.C. Karnak, Egypt. Photo: Markh. Source: English Wikipedia.

As the news about her death spread, the leaders of the rival nations considered it was the right time to rise against Egypt. They all took the young pharaoh as a faint hearted man! But Tutmose III, acting firmly, would smash and submit all them to tribute. This situation would remain through all his reign. By then, is very likely that his amazed enemies, had come to ask themselves the same that we do: which could have been the secret of Hapshepsut to subdue that great man? Now, it seems a question without answer... 

Those who are going to die salute you...

Around the second century of the common era, Rome already glimpsed the troubles which finally would cause its doom. The cost of the huge extension of the empire, was a permanent state of war. When they were suffocating a rebellion at one place, new uprisings started in another part. As a consequence of those expensive wars, along the years, Rome had been dangerously debilitating its economy. Indeed, the long border marked by the Danube river, was very hard to defend, due to the steady pressure from the German tribes. So, the moment came, when Rome could not aspire to extend its domains, anymore. They hardly had to settle with keeping their possesions. 

Those remote wars, came to infiltrate an enemy, into the imperial city. And against him, did not exist the slightest deffense. It was the pest, possibly smallpox, which finally decimated the empire population, including Rome. By then, on the other hand, at the throne was a man, who came to be more than a good emperor. In addition of being a vigorous soldier, he was a wise man, a philosopher. His writings still keep the interest, at the present. That man was Marcus Aurelius.

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. Campidoglio at the Capitoline Hill, Rome.
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, 2011. Lic. Creative Commons Attribution- Share Alike 3.0

From his nineteen years at the throne, he spent around fifteen, fighting against the tough german coalitions. Those brave warriors, always managed to recover after their losses, to come back stronger, after a little while. It might be said that Rome resulted the winner of the war... But its consequences were disastrous, and soon would become evident. Exhausted by diseases and the harshness of the campaing lifestyle, Marcus Aurelius died in the year 180. It was near the place, where the city of Viena is in, at the present. Unfortunately for Rome, he did not take a wise decision, solving the succession issues. After his dead, the empire was left in the hands of his nineteen years old son, Commodus. 

Emperor Commodus. Photo: Masim. English Wikipedia
Lic. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

Obviously, the young boy, who had raised in the middle of leisure and luxury, was not the most suitable to wear the imperial crown. As the emperor, he kept on with his life of pleasure and eccentricity. And then happened, what had to happen: his goverment would end as a complete disaster for Rome. During his mandate, he established terror, as a way of making politics. He almost finished the senate institution, and he created the conditions for a terrible civil war. Besides, the uncontrolled expenses for festivities and public spectacles, proved to be fatal to the already sick imperial finances. 

 

One of his fancies, was to believe that he was a powerful warrior, a gladiator. So, it all seems to indicate, that he got to participate in combats, or in animal slaughters. Of course, sure everything was controlled, to keep him safe and unharmed, never in real danger. But in the year 192, burst a conspiracy against Commodus. During a combat, a gladiator strangled and killed him, when he was thirty one years old. Somehow, his absurd vanity brought him to find his finish.

Thumbs down, by Jean-Léon Gerome, 1872. Phoenix Art Museum. Source: phxart.org

Those events, inspired the making of a succesful movie. The story of the emperor-gladiator was true and it was the only time that something like this, would ocurr in the annals of the eternal city...