Origo gentis Romanae

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The Origo gentis Romanae , literally the origin of the Roman tribe , is a short historical work that tells legends about Roman prehistory and early history up to the founding of Rome .

The Origo has been handed down as the first part of the three-part Corpus Aurelianum , which, with the two following parts De viris illustribus urbis Romae and Liber de Caesaribus, depicts the development up to the year 360/361. Since the last part comes from the historian Aurelius Victor (around 320-390), the entire compilation of the Historia tripertita - and thus also the Origo - was often ascribed to Aurelius Victor. Today, however, it is clear that the "history of the origin of Rome" is based on the Res memoria dignae ("things worth mentioning") of Marcus Verrius Flaccus (about 50 BC – 14/37 AD).

The Origo received its traditional form only in the 4th century. Numerous Roman specialist writers, including Marcus Terentius Varro and Veranius Flaccus , as well as an even older founding story (Epitome de origine gentis Romanae) , probably from the 2nd century, were used. The first nine chapters were probably revised in the late 4th century in the form of a Virgil commentary.

The Origo gentis Romanae deals with the following mythical events:

  • the appearance of the gods Ianus and Saturnus as bringing culture to Italy (worship of gods, agriculture, etc.) (Chapters 1–3, 8a)
  • the rule of Picus and the arrival of the Aborigines in Italy (Chapters 3.8b – 4.3)
  • the rule of Faunus (Silvanus) over Italy (Chapters 4,4-4,6)
  • the arrival of the Arcadian Euandros in Italy and his friendship with Faunus (Introduction of Scripture) (Chapter 5)
  • the episode of the theft of Hercules' herd of cattle by Cacus and the subsequent consecration of the Ara Maxima (Chapters 6-7)
  • the provisions for the cult of Father Inventor (nickname of Jupiter ) on the Ara Maxima and its later development (Chapter 8)
  • the flight of Aeneas and the Trojans from defeated Troy and their wandering up to their arrival in Latium (Chapters 9-10)
  • the decision made on the basis of several prodigies to settle in Lazio and the establishment of Lavinium (Chapters 11-12)
  • the friendship between the Trojans and the Latins under their king Latinus , the fight against Turnus for Latinus' daughter Lavinia and the elevation of Aeneas as the new king of Lazio (Chapter 13)
  • the rule of Aeneas, his rapture during a battle against the Rutulians and the army of Mezentius and the assumption of rule by his son Ascanius (Chapter 14)
  • the continuation of the war against Mezentius by Ascanius and the subsequent peace treaty (Chapter 15)
  • the birth of Silvius , the posthumous second son of Aeneas (Chapter 16)
  • the founding of Alba Longa by Ascanius and the reign of Silvius after his death (Chapters 17.1-17.4)
  • the reign of the other kings of Alba Longa (Chapters 17: 5-18)
  • the rule of Amulius , who financially compensates his older brother Numitor for letting him rule, but then has his nephew killed and forcing his niece Rhea Silvia to remain as a vestal virgin without descendants (Chapters 19.1-19.4)
  • the rape of Rhea Silvia by Amulius or by Mars , the birth of the twins Romulus and Remus , their abandonment and rearing by the Capitoline she-wolf and the shepherd Faustulus (Chapters 19.5-21.3)
  • the end of the rule of Amulius by Romulus and Remus and the return of kingship to Numitor, the grandfather of the twins (Chapters 21.4-22.4)
  • the dispute between Romulus and Remus about the founding of a city, which according to auspices ends with the founding of Rome by Remulus (Chapter 23)

Text editions and translations

  • Hans Jürgen Hillen : From Aeneas to Romulus. The legends of the founding of Rome. With a Latin-German edition of the Origo gentis Romanae. Artemis & Winkler, Düsseldorf 2003, ISBN 3-538-07156-X .
  • Origo gentis Romanae. The origins of the Roman people (= texts for research. Volume 82). Edited, translated, commented on and provided with essays by Markus Sehlmeyer . Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 2004, ISBN 3-534-16433-4 .

literature