Utility Of Myth In Ancient Rome

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'Myths were primarily vehicles for communicating moral and/or political messages' Do you agree with this statement? (2000 words) Myths are not merely stories, and images, whether they appear on the walls of private homes, on buildings, coins or pottery are not merely pictures. They transmit meaning, they embody qualities and morals, some become iconic, symbolising times, places, cultural movements, doctrines, whole ways of life. The Christian cross, the Nazi Swastika and the screen print of Che Guevara have become emblematic of whole periods of History. In a 2008 article David Hockney relates the story of Giambattista Della Porta, a C16th Italian scientist who developed a form of optical projection. He began to give public displays and, for his troubles was 'hauled before the inquisition by the church' (Hockney). In the days before mass media the church was the 'sole purveyor of pictures. It knew the(ir) power' (Hockney). In ancient Rome the republican elite and later the emperors controlled much more than images, they exerted influence on literature, theatre, poetry and staged the games. Through the choice of myth and by accentuating and ignoring certain aspects, very specific messages could be conveyed. The Basillica Aemilia, in the Roman Forum, built in the C2nd BC, was an enormous public building, providing space for shops and law courts. In the Augustan era (Blk, p126) a frieze was added decorated with images of Rome's founding myths. The rape of the Sabines and the punishment of Tarpeia are two of those featured and include the most explicitly instructive content. In the first, the development of the young city is halted by a lack of marriageable women, they send out to bordering tribes with requests of marriage which are refused, the Romans invite the tribes to games at which the young women of the Sabine tribe are abducted. The Sabines retaliate but

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