pinacothece

1812 - Jean Auguste Dominque Ingres
This painting depicts Romulus in a victory over a collection of Rome's neighbors who had attempted to unite against the early kingdom.

A sculpture of Brennus, a Gaulish chieftain, who in 387 BCE sacked Rome and destroyed nearly all written historical evidence of Rome's existence to that date. It is at this point in Rome's timeline that it's stories can increasingly rely more on written accounts and less on myth and conjecture. As the story goes, after the Romans agreed to pay the Gauls 1000 pounds of gold to avoid being completely destroyed, they discovered the scales had been tampered to favor of the Gauls. Brennus responded to the complaints of the Romans by throwing his sword onto the scales, thus adding even more gold to the Romans debt. "vae victus", he said to them. (Woe to the conquered)

Hagia Sophia - Istanbul, Turkey

This was constructed between 532 and 537 AD during the reign of the Emporer Justinian. It served as the center of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly 1000 years, before it was converted to a mosque following the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD. It was after this that the minarets were added. In 1935, the secular government of Turkey designated the site as a museum.

aneas ex urbe troia fugit

trioanorum pauci evadunt; urbem ardentem relinquunt et fugiunt in montes. inter eos est aeneas, princeps troinanus; ille patrem et uxorem et parvum filium e flammis eripit et ad montes ducit. mox alii ad montes conveniunt. omnes desperant, sed aeneas ‘troia incensa est,’ inquit, ‘sed nos troiani supersumus. venite mecum. novam troiam in alia terra condere debemus.’ illi aeneam laeti audiunt. montes relinquunt et ad oram descendunt; naves conscendunt et mox ab urbe troia in terras ignotas navigant. diu in undis errant et multos labores subeunt. tandem in italiam veniunt et urbem condunt.

The fall of Troy

For ten years the Greeks besiege the Trojans but they cannot take the city. Finally Agamemnon, King of the Greeks, gives up hope. He orders all of the princes to come together and says, ‘we have besieged Troy now for ten years. We defeat the Trojans often in battle but we cannot take the city. I despair. What ought we to do? Should we not return home? What do you advise?’

The other princes are silent, but Ulysses says, ‘I do not despair. I have a new plan. Listen to me.’

All of the princes listen to Ulysses plan; they accept the plan happily. They make large horse, of wood; they send into the horse many strong men. They climb up and hide themselves in the belly of the horse. The others board the ships and sail to a neighboring island.

At first light the Trojans see the Greek ships going away; they rejoice because the Greeks are not present, rejoice because at last the fighting is finished. They run from the city gates to the deserted shore; they see the huge horse standing on the shore. Some say ‘we ought to lead the horse into the city.’ Others say ‘do not trust the horse. Beware of gifts of the Greeks. Perhaps the Greeks are hidden in there.’ Finally they decide to lead it to the city. All of the men happily pull it through the gates and put it in the citadel. Then they make a feast and drink a lot of wine.

Night arrives. The Trojans sleep. The Greeks who are on the island board the ships and quickly return to the Trojan city. Those who are hidden in the horse, quietly exit and hurry to the gates.
The Trojan watchmen are sleeping; they are drunk. The Greeks kill them; they quickly open the gates and receive their comrades. All of the men run through the city streets. Only a few Trojans resist. Soon the Greeks take the entire city. Finally they attack Priam’s palace; they kill Priam and his sons. Few escape. Thus the Greeks at last take and desroy the city.

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The ransom of Hector

For a long time the mother mourns (her) son; for a long time Andromache, the wife of Hector mourns; for a long time Priam mourns. At last, when night comes, Priam goes out from the city and proceeds to the Greek ships alone. The god Mercury leads him past the Greek guards. He finally reaches Achilles tent; he enters and greets Achilles; he bows down to the ground and says, ‘o Achilles, I beg you, finally cease from anger and return (my) dead son to (his) poor mother.’ Achilles, when he see’s Priam, is dazed. He is moved by pity; he lifts Priam from the ground. He returns the dead son and the father returns to the Trojan city unharmed.

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The death of Hector

Achilles, when Patroclus is dead, mourns him a long time; he wishes to take vengeance on Hector. He returns to the battle and leads the soldiers to the Trojans. They, when they see Achilles are terrified; they flee into the city. Hector alone remains outside the walls.
His father, Priam, the King of Troy, and his mother Hecuba, see him outside the walls; they call their son; Priam shouts: ‘Hector, do not call Achilles into a fight; you cannot defeat him. Enter the city; hurry!’ His mother shouts: ‘Be careful my son! Do not remain outside the walls; do not go to meet death! Your mother beseeches you!.’
But Hector does not listen to them; he refuses to enter the city. He calls the Trojans and says, ‘ Close the gate, men of Troy. I alone remain outside the walls and I call Achilles to fight.’
The Trojans unwillingly close the gates. Hector alone waits for Achilles. He approaches nearer. Then Hector is suddenly afraid. He turns back and he flees.
Achilles runs quickly but he cannot catch him. Three times around the walls Hector flees, but at last he pauses; he turns around and calls Achilles to fight. He advances and hurls a spear at Hector, but Hector avoids the spear. Then Hector hurls a spear and strikes Achilles shield. But Achilles is safe; for the shield saves him.
Next, Achilles hurls a spear with all his mighr; the spear flies through the air and pierces Hector. He falls to the ground dead.
Up runs Achilles and he does a terrible deed. To his chariot he ties the dead Hector to his chariot and drags it around the walls. His father and mother watch from the walls. Hecuba shouts: ‘O Achilles, cease from your wrath at last!; return our son to us.’ But Achilles does not listen to her; he drags Hector to the ships and leaves him lying on the ground.

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Flavius’ story: The siege of Troy

Agamemnon, the King of Mycenaus, called together all of the Greek Princes; he ordered them to prepare to wage war on the Trojans. His brother, Menelaus, was present; Achilles, the bravest of the heroes comes to Thessalia; he is with his comrade from Ithaca, Ulysses, and many others.They prepare a large army and many ships. They sail to the city of Troy and attack the Trojans.
But the Trojans bravely defend the city. For ten years the Greeks besiege the city but they are not able to capture it. At last, Agamemnon and Achilles fall into a quarrel. Achilles is angry, and he no longer fights but remains idle near the ships. The Trojans now defeat the Greeks and drive them to their ships.
Agamemnon sends friends to Achilles who order him to return to the battle. They say, ' O Achilles, the Trojans are conquering us and driving us to our ships. We are in great peril. You must return to the battle and defend your comrades.' But he neither hears the friends nor ceases from anger.
Soon the Trojans attack and set fire to the ships. Patroclus, a dear friend, approaches Achilles and says, ' The Trojans are now burning our ships. You ought to cease from anger and help your friends. If you are not willing to fight, you need to send your soldiers to battle with me. And so, reluctantly Achilles sends Patroclus to battle. He puts on the amor of Achilles and leads the soldiers in battle. The Trojans, when they see the armor of Achilles, are terrified and flee to the city. Patroclus runs after them and he kills many. But Hector, the bravest of the Trojans, makes a stand and calls Patroclus to fight. He throws a spear and kills Patroclus.

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Flavius decides to tell a story.

The next day Quintus and Horatia and Gaius arrive to school early, but Decimus arrives late. Flavius says, ‘Why do you arrive late to school, Decimus?’ Decimus answers: ‘ you are wrong, teacher. I do not arrive late. The others arrive early.’ Flavius is very angry; ‘you are impudent, Decimus,’ he says; He orders him to sit and work hard.
Next the children write the letters. They work diligently. At last Horatia says, ‘teacher, we work hard and we write letters all day. We are tired. And so you must tell us a story.’ Flavius says, ‘it is true. You work hard. Because you are good children, I am willing to tell you a story.’ He orders them to listen carefully and hear him.

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