M. Curtius 7

vol. VII p. 1864-1865

7) M. Curtius

The story behind the name of the Lacus Curtius (see above p.1892) in the forum, which was the most widely spread, and which was probably also the oldest, goes like this: once, a deep rift opened up in the earth there, and a prophecy declared that it would close up if Rome sacrificed whatever made up its greatest strength; recognising that arms and heroism made up this greatest strength, <50> a noble young man M. Curtius brought himself as a sacrifice, by charging into the chasm with his horse, fully equipped, after which the earth closed up again; this is dated to the year 392 = 362. In comparison with the other etymologies of the name (cf. nr. 9 and 15), this story has the impression of a genuine old legend; because of this, it kept the most tenacious hold on the public consciousness, <60> and - with a few differences in the details - it kept being retold by both historians and antiquarians, without the core story being changed by any additions (cf. Procil. frg. 1 Peter in Varro de l. l. V 148. Liv. VII 6, 1-6 with a characteristic closing statement. Val. Max. V 6, 2. Plin. n. h. XV 78. Stat. silv. I 1, 66ff. Fest. ep. 49. Oros. III 5, 1-3. Ampel. 20, 9. Minuc. Fel. 7, 3. Augustin. civ. dei V 18. Dionys. XIV 11. Plut. par. min. 5 from Aristid. FHG IV 322, 11. Dio frg. 28, 1. Zonar. VII 25. Suid. s. Λἰβερνος II 1, 572ff.). <page break 1864/1865> Since a gens Curtia only first appears in the time of the late republic (cf. nr. 15), the name of the Lacus Curtius has absolutely nothing to do with this Roman family name. According to Suidas, Curtius had a cult and an altar in the forum; the latter is also mentioned by Ovid. fast. VI 403. <10> In the year 1553, a relief (now in the Palazzo dei Conservatori) was found, which - according to the usual idea - belonged to the late middle ages or early renaissance, and portrays Mettius Curtius nr. 9 (cf. Helbig Führer durch die öffentl. Sammlungen² I 379 nr. 563). On the other hand, Furtwängler (Die antiken Gemmen III 284f., cf. 452. II 136) attributes it to the time of Augustus, and compares the portrayal with similar ones on Roman lamps from the early empire and with a gem from around the 3rd century BCE, <20> and seems to justifiably connect it to M. Curtius’ sacrifice, which the gem would then be the oldest evidence for. [from suppl. III p.266: On the relief in the Palazzo dei Conservatori, cf. Hülsen p.1892f. Curtius lacus, and for more detail Röm. Mitt. XVII 322-329, (Münzer.)]

[(Münzer.)]

This article is referenced by: Mettius Curtius (9), C. Curtius Chilo (15), Lacus Curtius