(written on the occasion of the international day of left-handed people)
"I am a Roman citizen, my name is Gaius Mucius. As an enemy I wanted to kill the enemy; and I have no less courage to die than I had to kill. To act bravely, but also to suffer bravely, that is the Roman way. And I am not the only one who has these intentions towards you: behind me is a long line of men who seek the same honor. So if you feel like it, get ready to fight for your life hour after hour and have an enemy with a dagger in the entrance to your royal tent. This is the war that we, the youth of Rome, declare upon you. You need not fear a marching army, no battle, it is for you alone, and you will only ever have to deal with one person" (Titus Livius, ab urbe condita, 2, 12)
The man's words cut through the tense silence of the tent like blades. A flash in his eyes, a petrified expression - no fear. Bitterly, the king stared down at the man who had spoken. The blazing flame of the sacrificial pool, which lit up the room next to the two men, painted anger on his face.
"How dare you threaten me, Roman? How many of your youths seek my life? Tell me! Or you will die a miserable death in fiery flames!"
The man's gaze turned to the flame to which the king pointed threateningly. The red-gold light filled his eyes. Then he raised his chin, took a step closer and spoke in a firm voice:
"Look here, that you may realize how unimportant the body is to those who have great glory before their eyes!" (Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita, 2, 12)
A moment later, his right hand was engulfed in lightless flames.
This is probably how the Roman historian Titus Livius imagined the events when he wrote his work "Ab urbe condita" 500 years later, in which he compiled Roman history from the founding of Rome to the year 167. The legend of the Roman national hero Gaius Mucius Scaevola was also included. His bravery and loyalty were so fascinating to the Romans that even Roman stoics such as Seneca took him as an example. But let's start at the very beginning:
In 508 BC, during the early Republic, Rome found itself under siege by the Etruscans. Supplies were running low and the Etruscan king Porsenna was sure he could conquer the city if he just waited. In this situation, a young nobleman, Gaius Mucius, made an important decision - for himself and for the entire city. He went before the Senate and asked to be allowed to sneak into the Etruscan camp on his own. He wanted to kill the Etruscan king in order to end the siege of Rome. The Senate granted him permission.
As agreed, the young nobleman set off for the Etruscan camp. Disguised, he mingled with the soldiers. When they were due to receive their pay, he also stood in line - with a sword hidden under his clothing, ready for the assassination. Two men sat at the head of the line, one was the Etruscan king Porsenna, the other his scribe. So Mucius was faced with a problem. He did not know which of the two men was the king. Both wore splendid robes, both could have been the king. When it was Mucius' turn, he stabbed one of them with his dagger - but the wrong one.
After his deed, Mucius was quickly overpowered by guards and led before the king. He knew that he was facing death, and yet he showed no fear. Full of pride, he praised Roman bravery and stamina, which would allow him to die without fear. At the same time, he resorted to a ruse. He claimed that other Roman youths would come to kill the Etruscan king, just as he had planned. The king, furious, threatened to burn Mucius to death if he did not immediately reveal the plans of these young assassins. But Mucius decided instead to perform an act that would forever shape the way the Romans saw themselves. He held his right hand in an open flame and let it burn without showing any sign of pain. In this way, he showed his enemy the level of bravery he was up against. Prosenna was so impressed that he not only let Mucius go, but also broke off the siege for fear of more such assassins and was prepared to negotiate peace with the Romans. Mucius thus saved Rome from being conquered by the Etruscans.
The events surrounding Gaius Mucius are not historically confirmed and therefore belong more in the realm of Roman legend. However, his legend was not only firmly anchored in the Roman collective memory, but is also found in European literature, art and music from the Renaissance onwards. To this day, it remains a symbol of bravery and virtue - but not only that! As Mucius lost his right hand in the fire, the Romans gave him the nickname "Scaevola" (meaning "left-handed"). And so the legend fits in perfectly with the annual International Left-Handed People's Day, 13 August, because Gaius Mucius Scaevola, the great Roman hero, was probably also the most famous Roman left-hander of all time.
Theresa Heeren
Image: AI-generated
1. the introduction at the beginning of the article, combined with two direct quotations from Livy "Ab urbe condita", is expressly to be regarded as an exciting literary introduction and not part of the factual article.
2. all explanations of the legend of Gaius Mucius Scaevola, including the literary introduction, are based on the 12th and 13th books of Titus Livius "Ab urbe condita".
