Mucius Scaevola: Difference between revisions
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{{Inset Story | {{Inset Story | ||
|Has Critical Literature=Nishimura (2001); Rajna (1880) | |Has Critical Literature=Nishimura (2001); Rajna (1880) | ||
|Has Motif=Military conflict; Violence; (Threat of) bodily mutilation; City | |Has Motif=Military conflict; Violence; (Threat of) bodily mutilation; City besieged | ||
|Has Summary='''Mucius Scaevola''' | |Has Summary='''Mucius Scaevola''' | ||
Rome is | Rome is besieged by the Etruscan king Lars Porsena, ruler of the city Clusium. A young Roman man, Gaius Mucius Cordus, volunteers to sneak into the enemy camp and assassinate the king. However, once he has infiltrated the camp, he mistakes a well-dressed scribe for the king, and kills the wrong man. He is caught, and brought before Lars Porsena. He proudly tells Porsena that he is a Roman, and like all Romans, faces suffering and death with bravery - and that there are fifty or more men like him on their way to assassinate the king. Then, he plunges his right hand into the fire, and holds it there without betraying the slightest hint of discomfort. Impressed with his courage, Porsena freed him and allowed him to return to Rome, where he was given the name 'Scaevola' - left-handed. Porsena then sent messengers to Rome to lift the siege and begin peace negotiations. | ||
|Has Note=This story comes from Livy's histories. | |Has Note=This story comes from Livy's histories. | ||
Latest revision as of 09:56, 20 November 2025
Mucius Scaevola
Rome is besieged by the Etruscan king Lars Porsena, ruler of the city Clusium. A young Roman man, Gaius Mucius Cordus, volunteers to sneak into the enemy camp and assassinate the king. However, once he has infiltrated the camp, he mistakes a well-dressed scribe for the king, and kills the wrong man. He is caught, and brought before Lars Porsena. He proudly tells Porsena that he is a Roman, and like all Romans, faces suffering and death with bravery - and that there are fifty or more men like him on their way to assassinate the king. Then, he plunges his right hand into the fire, and holds it there without betraying the slightest hint of discomfort. Impressed with his courage, Porsena freed him and allowed him to return to Rome, where he was given the name 'Scaevola' - left-handed. Porsena then sent messengers to Rome to lift the siege and begin peace negotiations.
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This story comes from Livy's histories. Nishimura notes the following analogue and references: Analogues: Livy, History of Rome since its Founding, 2.12-13. Plutarchos, Vitae Paralleae, ‘Publicola’ 17. Lucanus, Pharsalia, III97 and following. Valerius Maximus, Factorum et dictorum memorabilium, 3.3.1. Augustine, De civitate Dei, 5.18. Sercambi, Il Novelliere, 44 (as the story of Hannibal). Reference stories: Konponsetsu Issai Ubu Binaya Zoji, 8 (Taishozo 24, 240a~c.). Attar, ‘Hasan Basri’ in The Biography of the Muslim Mystic Saints, pp. 39-40. The Book of Tales by A.B.C., 422 (376) ‘Count it virture…’ (from Boethius). |
| Critical Literature |
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| Nishimura (2001), Rajna (1880) |
| Mucius Scaevola appears in the following versions and secondary versions |
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| Mucius Scaevola is narrated in the following occurrences | ||||
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| Mucius Scaevola appears in the following manuscripts |
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| This inset story appears in no manuscripts of the database |