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Publius Horatius Cocles defending the Tiber bridge
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Publius Horatius Cocles defending the Tiber bridge
Publius Horatius Cocles, an army officer of the Roman Republic, together with two companions, Spurius Larcius and Titus Herminius, defends the Tiber bridge (the Pons Sublicius) against the Etruscan enemy. He finally fights singlehandedly and swims to safety when (following his orders) the bridge is destroyed. The story was later famously retold in a narrative poem by Lord Macaulay
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Media ID 572712
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10006557
Brave Companions Courage Defend Defending Defends Destroyed Enemy Etruscan Etruscans Handed Hero Heroic Horatius Macaulay Narrative Poem Pons Publius Safety Swims Swords Tiber Titus Cocles Single Handed Spurius
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the heroic actions of Publius Horatius Cocles, a Roman army officer, during the Battle of the Horatii and Curiatii in 506 or 505 BC. Here, Horatius is depicted standing defiantly on the Pons Sublicius, the ancient Tiber bridge, with his companions Spurius Larcius and Titus Herminius, as they bravely defend Rome against the advancing Etruscan enemy. According to the ancient Roman historian Livy, when the bridge began to give way under the weight of the fighting soldiers, Horatius was ordered to save himself and leave his companions behind. Instead, he chose to hand his sword to a soldier on the Roman shore and, with unwavering courage, swam the Tiber to safety. The bridge was then destroyed, leaving the Etruscan army stranded on the opposite bank. This heroic tale of sacrifice and bravery was later immortalized in a narrative poem by Lord Macaulay, which retold the events leading up to Horatius's legendary single-handed swim. The image of Horatius standing alone on the bridge, with his companions fighting fiercely by his side, has become a symbol of the courage and determination of the Roman Republic's early soldiers. The bridge, now known as the Ponte Sisto, remains an important historical landmark in Rome, a testament to the heroic actions of Publius Horatius Cocles and his companions Spurius Larcius and Titus Herminius.
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