Horatius at the bridge over

the Tiber River

Horatius at the Bridge

O ne of the great heroes of early Rome was Horatius,
whose bravery in battle made him a legend. As the
story goes, Roman farmers, threatened by attack from the
neighboring Etruscans, abandoned their fields and moved
Why It Matters
Courage, duty, determination—
these were common words to many
into the city of Rome, protected by the city’s walls. One weak Romans, who believed that it was
their mission to rule nations and
point in the Roman defense was a wooden bridge over the
peoples. Whereas the Greeks had
Tiber River. On the day of the Etruscan attack, Horatius was
excelled in philosophy and the arts,
on guard at the bridge. the Romans were practical people.
A surprise attack by the Etruscans caused many Roman They knew how to govern, make
troops to throw down their weapons and run. Horatius acted laws, and build roads that took
promptly, urging them to make a stand at the bridge in order them to the ends of the known
to protect Rome. As a last resort, he challenged the Roman world. Even after the Roman Empire
troops to destroy the bridge while he made a stand at the disappeared, those same gifts con-
outer end to give them more time. tinued to play an important role in
At first, the Etruscans held back, astonished at the sight of the civilizations that came after.
a single defender. Soon, however, they threw their spears at History and You Horatius is
the lone figure who barred their way. Horatius blocked the only one of the famous Romans you
spears with his shield and held his ground as the Etruscans will meet in this chapter. To keep
advanced on foot, ready to overwhelm him. track of the key people in Roman
Meanwhile, the Roman soldiers used the extra time to history, create and maintain a com-
bring down the bridge. When Horatius heard the sound of puterized database that shows the
the bridge crashing into the river behind him, he dove, fully name, time lived, and notable
armed, into the water and swam. Despite the arrows that fell accomplishments of each person
around him, he safely reached the other side. Rome had been you study in this chapter.
saved by the courageous act of Horatius, a Roman who knew
his duty and was determined to carry it out.

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