Spurius Tarpeius is a mythological/historical character. He was the commander of the Roman citadel under King

Romulus Romulus (, ) was the legendary founder and first king of Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus and his contemporaries. Although many of th ...

. His daughter, Tarpeia, betrayed the city to the fathers of the kidnapped

Sabine The Sabines (, , , ; ) were an Italic people who lived in the central Apennine Mountains (see Sabina) of the ancient Italian Peninsula, also inhabiting Latium north of the Anio before the founding of Rome. The Sabines divided int ...

women and asked for everything the Sabine warriors had on their left arms: it is thought Sabine warriors had gold bracelets and rings on their left arms. However, they crushed her with the shields they had on their left arms instead.

Sources

* * Sanders HA. ''The Myth about Tarpeia'' in ''Roman Historical Sources and Institutions'' Volume 1 of Studies: Humanistic series, University of Michigan. Macmillan, 1903. pages 1-47

8th-century BC Romans {{AncientRome-myth-stub

See also

Sources