Horatii and Curiatii

The Horatii were three warrior brothers from ancient Rome who lived during the reign of King Tullus Hostilius. Their legendary battle against the Curiatii triplets of Alba Longa, as recounted by the historian Livy in his work Ab urbe condita, became one of Rome's most dramatic and consequential foundational stories.

During Tullus Hostilius' war with neighboring Alba Longa, both sides sought to avoid a full-scale conflict that might leave them vulnerable to Etruscan invasion. The Alban dictator Mettius Fufetius proposed settling the dispute through combat between champions—the Roman Horatii triplets against their Alban counterparts, the Curiatii. The fate of both cities would rest on this single confrontation.

The battle began with all six warriors fighting bravely. Though the Horatii managed to wound all three Curiatii, two Roman brothers fell in the process, leaving Publius Horatius alone against three injured but still-dangerous opponents. Recognizing his disadvantage, Publius employed a clever strategy—he fled across the battlefield, causing the Curiatii to pursue him at different speeds according to their varying injuries. Once they were separated, Publius turned and engaged them one by one, killing each in succession. His victory secured Roman dominance over Alba Longa.

Returning to Rome triumphant, Publius encountered his sister Camilla, who had been engaged to one of the slain Curiatii. When she recognized her betrothed's bloodstained cloak that she herself had woven—now worn by her brother as a trophy—she broke down in grief and called out her lover's name. Enraged that a Roman woman would mourn an enemy of Rome, Publius killed his sister on the spot.

For this murder, Publius was condemned to death. However, on the advice of a jurist (also named Tullus Hostilius, like the king), he appealed his sentence to a popular assembly. His father, also named Publius, pleaded for mercy, asking the assembly not to deprive him of his last surviving son after his recent service to Rome. The assembly was moved and commuted the sentence—possibly establishing the Roman tradition of allowing condemned citizens to appeal to the populace.

As atonement, the elder Publius performed sacrificial rites that became a tradition for the Horatia family. The spoils of victory were displayed at a place known as Pila Horatia, and a wooden beam called the Sororium Tigillum (Sister's Beam) was erected on the Oppian Hill. Symbolizing a yoke, Publius was made to pass under it as part of his punishment. This memorial remained standing long after his death, a testament to both his heroism and his crime.