Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus are the main sources, and Plutarch’s Life of Coriolanus. The Coriolanus episode is almost certainly fictional; Cicero in Brutus 41–43 observes: “Coriolanus is obviously a second Themistocles.” Themistocles was the savior of Athens during the Persian invasion; he was exiled and then plotted against his native country.
1 climbed a sparsely populated hill Some ancient sources, e.g. Plut Cor 6 1, identify the hill as the Sacred Mount three miles from the city beside the river Anio. But the Aventine, a place closely associated with popular politics, seems a more likely candidate.
2 This was a mass protest The consensus of contemporary opinion is that this secession was a historical event, caused indeed by a debt crisis.
3 “Once upon a time” Livy 2 32 9 12.
4 a Temple of Mercury See Ogilvie, pp. 22–33.
5 “The People, freed from the domination” Cic Rep 2 33.
6 the story of a victim Livy 2 23 (and for the quotation that follows). This incident may or may not have occurred. It resembles the kind of rhetorical exercise that would-be orators used for training. But it was certainly typical.
7 Appius Claudius Appius was a first name, or praenomen, that was exclusive to the Claudians.
8 members of a gathering called the plebs I follow Cornell, pp. 256–58.
9 a state within a state A phrase from Mommsen 3 145, who himself followed Livy 2 44 9.
10 first tribunes to take office Dionysius gives these perhaps fictitious details about the first two tribunes—Dio of H 6 70. Brutus may have really been Lucius Albinius, according to Asc, p. 117.
11 “lynch law disguised as divine justice” Cornell, p. 260.
12 it was not for another two decades In 471 B.C.
13 the right to “intercede” Valerio–Horatian Laws in 449.
14 No reports of their proceedings Livy 3 55 13.
15 “so that nothing that was transacted” Zon 7 15.
16 “Unless you stop disturbing the Republic” Dio of H 7 25 4.
17 “Any such measure on our part” Plut Cor 16 4.
18 The stalemate was broken Volumnia’s meeting with Coriolanus can be found in Plut Cor 33–36.
19 “You were elected as Tribunes of the plebs” Livy 3 9 11.
20 A leading statesman, three times a consul This was Spurius Cassius, consul in 502, 493, and 486. Some modern scholars do not believe the story of his ambition and fall.
21 its text could still be seen Cic Balb 53.
22 once his father had given evidence Our sources may be confused. Spurius Cassius could have been condemned by a family court of his own relatives, with his father, the all-powerful paterfamilias, presiding.
23 a spirited resistance It is said that in 454 a delegation of three was sent to Athens to study the laws of Solon (638–558). This is most unlikely to have taken place; Pericles was in power and would hardly have shown the visitors such old-fashioned and outmoded legislation. However, it is credible that consideration was given to the laws and constitutions of Greek cities in Italy. An alternative tradition has a Greek philosopher in exile advise the decemvirs.
24 ingenious speculations For example, Ogilvie p. 452 says firmly that “the second college is fictitious from start to finish.” 103 “The Decemvirate, after a flourishing start” Livy 3 33 2.
25 “ten Tarquins” Ibid., 3 39 3.
26 As with the fall of the kings Modern scholars look on the approximate “rhyme” with the rape of Lucretia with suspicion. Perhaps rightly so, but Cornell p. 275 argues that the story of Appius Claudius and Verginia may be very old and that its main elements could have a basis in fact.
27 “I have incontrovertible evidence” Livy 3 48 1–3. This speech is drawn from Livy’s imaginative reconstruction.
28 encamped on the Aventine Livy 3 52 2 says that they moved on to the Sacred Mount, probably an unnecessary elaboration of the story.
29 “I know well enough what is coming to us” Ibid., 3 54 3–4.
30 “wisely favored popular measures” Cic Rep 2 31 54.
31 haughty manner of a Claudian It is odd that, for centuries, the Claudian gens produced generation after generation of impossible men. Some assert that this was all made up by hostile Roman historians. Maybe, but (for example) we have reliable evidence of bad behavior by Claudians in the late Republic (witness Cicero’s relations with Clodius Pulcher and Appius Claudius, as set out in his correspondence). Genetics are less likely to be responsible than the not entirely unwelcome obligation to live up to other people’s expectations.
32 killed himself Dio of H 9 54 3–6. Another imaginative reconstruction, no doubt.
33 The consuls had three important laws passed The ancient sources give differing accounts of the Valerio-Horatian legislation. The difficulty is that real constitutional changes did take place, but it is not at all clear exactly when. I follow mainstream modern opinion. Those wishing to delve more deeply into this dry earth may do so at CAH, pp. 227–35.
34 “still today the fountainhead” Livy 3 34 6.
35 “A man might gather up fruit” Table 7 10 (according to the traditional tabulation).
36 “Let them keep the road in order” Table 7 1.
37 “Where a party is delivered up” Table 3 10.
