A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

976 TARQUINIUS. TARQUINIUS.
ancestor of all the Scythians. (Herod. iv. as a stranger, from all power and influence in the
5.) [L. S.] state. Discontented with this inferior position,
TA'RIUS RUFUS. [RuFus.] and urged on by his wife, he resolved to leave
TARPA, SP. MAE'Cl US, was engaged by Tarquinii and remove to Rome, where a new citiPompeius to select the plays that were acted at his zen had more chance of obtaining distinction. He
games exhibited in B. C. 55 (Cic. ad Fain. vii. 1). accordingly set out for Rome, riding in a chariot
Tarpa was likewise employed by Augustus as a with his wife, and accompanied by a large train of
dramatic censor. (Hor. Ser-?s. i. 10. 38, Ass PoZt. followers. When they had reached the Janiculum
386; Weichert, Poit. Lat. p. 334.) and were already within sight of Rome, an eagle
TARPEIA, the daughter of Sp. Tarpeins, the seized his cap, and after carrying it away to a great
governor of the Roman citadel on the Saturnian height placed it again upon his head. Tanaquil,
hill, afterwards called the Capitoline, was tempted who was skilled in the Etruscan science of augury,
by the gold on the Sabine bracelets and collars to bade her husband hope for the highest honour from
open a gate of the fortress to T. Tatius and his this omen. Her predictions were soon verified.
Sabines. As they entered, they threw upon her The stranger was received with welcome, and he
their shields, and thus crushed her to death. She and his followers were admitted to the rights of
was buried on the hill, and her memory was pre- Roman citizens. He took the name of L. Tarserved by the name of the Tarpeian rock, which quinius, to which Livy adds Priscus. His wealth,
was given to a part of the Capitoline (Liv. i. 11; his courage, and his wisdom, gained him the love
comp. Dionys. ii. 38, 40). Niebuhr relates that a both of Ancus Marcius and of the people. The
legend still exists at Rome which relates that the former appointed him guardian of his children;
fair Tarpeia ever sits in the heart of the hill, and, when he died, the senate and the people unacovered with gold and jewels, and bound by a nimously elected Tarquinius to the vacant throne.
spell (Hist. of Rome, vol. i. p. 230). Varro (L. L. The reign of Tarquinius was distinguished by
v. 41, ed. Muiller) describes her as a Vestal Virgin; great exploits in war, and by great works in peace.
but Plutarch relates (Nusn. 1 0) that Tarpeia was The history of his wars is related very differently
the name of one of the four Vestals, who were first by Livy and Dionysius. According to the former
appointed by Numa. writer he waged war with the Latins and Sabines
TARPEIA GENS, occurs only in the kingly with great success. He first destroyed the wealthy
and the early republican period.- We read of a Sp. town of Apiolae, which belonged to the Sabines,
Tarpeius, who was the governor of the Roman and subsequently took the Latin towns of Cameria,
citadel under Romulus, and whose daughter be- Crustlmerium, Medullia, Ameriola, Ficulnea, Cortrayed it to the Sabines [TARPEIA], and of a Sp. niculum, and Nomentum. But his most memorable
Tarpeius Montanus Capitolinus, who was consul in exploit was the defeat of the Sabines, who had
B. c. 454 with A. Aternius Varus Fontinalis. [CA- advanced up to the very gates of Rome. They
PITOLINUS.] were at first driven back after a doubtful struggle,
TARQUINIA. [TARQUINIUS.] but were subsequently overthrown with great loss
TARQUI'NIUS, the name of a family in early upon the Anio, and compelled to sue for peace.
Roman history, to which the fifth and seventh They ceded to the Romans the town of Collatia,
kings of Rome belonged. The table on the following where Tarquinius placed a strong garrison, the
page represents the genealogy of the family ac- command of which he entrusted to Egerius, the son
cording to Livy. of his deceased brother Aruns, who, with' his
The legend of the Tarquins ran as follows. The family, took the surname of Collatinus. Several
Tarquins were of Greek extraction. Demaratus, traditions are connected with this war. The king's
their ancestor, belonged to the noble family of the son, a youth of fourteen, slew a foe with his own
Bacchiadae at Corinth, and fled from his native hand, and received as a reward a golden bulla and
city when the power of his order was overthrown a robe bordered with purple; and these remained
by Cypselus. He settled at Tarquinii in Etruria, in after times the ornaments and dress of youths of
where he had mercantile connections, for commerce noble rank. In this war, also, Tarquinius is said
had not been considered disreputable among the to have vowed the building of the Capitol.
Corinthian nobles. He brought great wealth with Livy says nothing more respecting the wars of
him, and is said to have been accompanied by the this king, but Dionysius relates at great length his
painter Cleophantus, and by Eucheir and Eugram- wars with the Etruscans. According to the latter
mus, masters of the plastic arts, and likewise to writer five of the great Etruscan cities sent assisthave introduced among the Etruscans the know- ance to the Latins, which proved ineffectual; and
ledge of alphabetical writing. (Plin. H. N. xxxv. subsequently all the twelve cities united their forces
5. s. 43; Tac. Ann. xi. 14.) He married an against Rome, but were overcome by Tarquinius,
Etruscan wife, by whom he had two sons, Lucumo and compelled to submit to his authority. They
and Aruns. The latter died in the lifetime of his are further stated to have done homage to him by
father, leaving his wife pregnant; but as Dema- presenting him with a golden crown, an ivory
ratus was ignorant of this circumstance, he be- throne and sceptre, a purple tunic and robe figured
queathed all his property to Lucumo, and died with gold, and other badges of kingly power, such
himself shortly afterwards.* But, although Lu- as the Etruscans used when their twelve cities
cumo was thus one of the most wealthy persons at chose a common chief in war. (Dionys. iii. 57, 59,
Tarquinii, and had married Tanaquil, who belonged 61.) Thus, according to this story, Tarquinius
to a family of the highest rank, he was excluded, ruled over the Latins, Sabines, and Etruscans, as
well as Romans; but no Latin writer mentions
* It is related by Strabo (viii. p. 378) that this war with the Etruscans, with the exception of
Demaratus became the ruler of Tarquinii, but this Florus (i. 5), and the compiler of the triumphal
stor is opposed to all other traditions, and should Fasti. Cicero (de Rep. ii. 20) and Strabo (v. p.
certaunly be rejected. 231) relate that Tarquinius also subdued the Aequi;