It can be quite insulting to be told to 'talk to the hand' and, for the Romans, it would seem that being told to 'talk to the tree' is just as problematic. In this episode, we explore the tail end of 459 BCE and enter 458 BCE. It's fair to say that some mud is being flung between Rome and her neighbours...
Episode 101 - Talk to the Tree
The Trouble with
Murder...
Livy and Dr Rad have some excellent details to offer about the ongoing and troubling ambiguity surrounding the plebeian push for the 'the law about the laws'. This ongoing issues between patrician interests and the tribunes fighting for greater transparency is soon waylaid, however, by concerns pertaining to the recent accusation of murder! Dr Rad delves into the murky narrative and Livy's account of the affair.
New Year, Same
Tribunes
Intrigues and law cases regarding potentially spurious accusations of murder give way to new elections and we find ourselves in c. 458 BCE. Both Verginius and Volscius make it back it into the tribuneship!
Listen out for Dr G forgetting Volscius (awkward for everyone) and temporarily being unable to read a map (to clarify, the Sabines and the Aequians are both East of Rome, North and South respectively).
Trouble in the South
It isn't long before Rome learns of Aequian incursions into Tusculum, which is a huge surprise given the peace treaty concluded between Rome and the Aequians just the year before. Listen in to find out how:
* Rome reacts to threats from the south * the fetiales get involved * and oak trees take on an important cameo role
While Dionysius of
Halicarnassus gets swept up in the military narrative, Livy seeks to
balance the challenges the Rome faces externally and internally...
Our Players
459 BCE
Consuls
*
Q. Fabius M.
f. K. Vibulanus
*
L. Cornelius
Ser. f. P. n. Maluginensis Uritinus
Prefect of the City
*
Lucius
Lucretius (Tricipitinus)
Tribunes
* Aulus Verginius * Marcus Volscius Fictor (maybe a tribune)
Quaestors
*
Aulus
Cornelius
*
Quintus
Servilius (Structus Priscus?)
Patrician
*
Kaeso
Quinctius
458 BCE
Consuls
*
C. Nautius
Sp. f. Sp. n. Rutilus - cos II
*
L. Minucius
P. f. M. n Esquilinus Augurinus
Prefect of the City
*
Q. Fabius
Vibulanus
Tribunes
* Aulus Verginius * Marcus Volscius Fictor
Quaestor
*
M. Valerius
M'. f. Volusi Maximus
*
T. Quintius
Capitolinus Barbatus
Roman Embassy
*
Q. Fabius
Vibulanus (also Prefect of the City)
*
P. Volumnius
Amintinus Gallus
*
A. Postumius
Albus Regillensis
Aequian Leader
*
Cloelius
Gracchus
Claude Lorrain 1682 Ascanius Shooting the Stag of Sylvia,
It can be quite insulting to be told to ‘talk to the hand’ and, for the Romans, it would seem that being told to ‘talk to the tree’ is just as problematic. In this episode, we explore the tail end of 459 BCE and enter 458 BCE. It’s fair to say that some mud is being flung between Rome and her neighbours…
Episode 101 – Talk to the Tree
The Trouble with
Murder…
Livy and Dr Rad have some excellent details to offer about the ongoing and troubling ambiguity surrounding the plebeian push for the ‘the law about the laws’. This ongoing issues between patrician interests and the tribunes fighting for greater transparency is soon waylaid, however, by concerns pertaining to the recent accusation of murder! Dr Rad delves into the murky narrative and Livy’s account of the affair.
New Year, Same
Tribunes
Intrigues and law cases regarding potentially spurious accusations of murder give way to new elections and we find ourselves in c. 458 BCE. Both Verginius and Volscius make it back it into the tribuneship!
Listen out for Dr G forgetting Volscius (awkward for everyone) and temporarily being unable to read a map (to clarify, the Sabines and the Aequians are both East of Rome, North and South respectively).
Trouble in the South
It isn’t long before Rome learns of Aequian incursions into Tusculum, which is a huge surprise given the peace treaty concluded between Rome and the Aequians just the year before. Listen in to find out how:
- Rome reacts to threats from the south
- the fetiales get involved
- and oak trees take on an important cameo role
While Dionysius of
Halicarnassus gets swept up in the military narrative, Livy seeks to
balance the challenges the Rome faces externally and internally…
Our Players
459 BCE
Consuls
-
Q. Fabius M.
f. K. Vibulanus
-
L. Cornelius
Ser. f. P. n. Maluginensis Uritinus
Prefect of the City
-
Lucius
Lucretius (Tricipitinus)
Tribunes
- Aulus Verginius
- Marcus Volscius Fictor (maybe a tribune)
Quaestors
-
Aulus
Cornelius
-
Quintus
Servilius (Structus Priscus?)
Patrician
458 BCE
Consuls
-
C. Nautius
Sp. f. Sp. n. Rutilus – cos II
-
L. Minucius
P. f. M. n Esquilinus Augurinus
Prefect of the City
Tribunes
- Aulus Verginius
- Marcus Volscius Fictor
Quaestor
-
M. Valerius
M’. f. Volusi Maximus
-
T. Quintius
Capitolinus Barbatus
Roman Embassy
-
Q. Fabius
Vibulanus (also Prefect of the City)
-
P. Volumnius
Amintinus Gallus
-
A. Postumius
Albus Regillensis
Aequian Leader
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Claude Lorrain 1682 Ascanius Shooting the Stag of Sylvia, chosen for its artful arrangement of trees, which are quite pertinent to this episode. The story of Ascanius we’ll save for another time.
Additional sounds in this episode: BBC and WolframTones