Abstract
Emily K. Varto
Department of Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies
University of British Columbia
Horatia and her Sabine sisters: state, family, and concordia in civil conflict
In scholarly discussions of women in Livy, the story of Horatia (1.26) is often left unconsidered. Yet Horatia has much in common with her more famous Sabine sisters. She shares with them, as a virgo about to enter into marriage, the important role of cementing or forming bonds between families and between communities. The Sabine women and Horatia both represent the ideal of concordia both within the family and between citizens, peoples, and states. In Horatia's story, however, we see a failing of the bond she represents. It is despised, and Horatia, where she could have been a unifying force, is viewed as a traitor by those who would bring unity to divided peoples by force of arms. In this aspect of the story, we can see the sensitivity the Romans had for the complex interplay between "typically" feminine concerns, family loyalty, and patriotism, especially when we view the story in light of their long experience with civil conflict.
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