Gnaeus Marcius Coriolanus

Coriolanus was a legendary Roman general of the 5th century BC who earned his name after demonstrating exceptional valor during Rome's siege of the Volscian city of Corioli. His story takes a dramatic turn when he was exiled from Rome and, in a twist of fate, returned to lead the enemy Volscian army against his former homeland.

Ancient historians like Livy, Plutarch, and Dionysius of Halicarnassus treated Coriolanus as a historical figure, crafting a detailed narrative of his life that included claims of his descent from distinguished patrician families and even royalty. However, modern scholars have questioned whether Coriolanus actually existed, suggesting he may be purely legendary or that the traditional account of his life has been significantly embellished.

The dramatic potential of Coriolanus's story has inspired numerous artistic works, most famously Shakespeare's tragedy "Coriolanus" and Beethoven's "Coriolan Overture" (though the latter was based on Heinrich Joseph von Collin's play rather than Shakespeare's version).