How the Plebeians Got Their Groove Back

In this episode we dig into the details (or lack thereof!) of 425 and 425 BCE. Good news for the plebeians is that when there's not much going on in Rome, they get a chance to just live life a little! Episode 136 - How the Plebeians Got Their Groove Back What's in a tribune? What’s the deal with military tribunes with consular power? We consider the etymology of tribune (the Latin tribunus) to better understand this facet of the political structure. This also means tackling the big question of: who were the magistrates in this period of history and how much can we take from our later writers like Livy and Dionsysius of Halicarnassus? Games, glorious games! The time is ripe for Rome to hold games in honour of the gods. There's no battle to be had and diplomacy in the local region seems to be taking a turn for peace. What better time to invite everyone over for some sport and festivities? Jean-Léon Gérôme 1876. Chariot Race. This is an imagined scene of a Roman chariot race at the Circus Maximus at the height of Rome's power (we're not up to that point in Rome's history in this episode!). The Circus itself is thought to be significantly old - dating back potentially as early as the kings. Things to listen out for * The horrifying lack of detail from the sources Dr G has to study * Livy writing a history of peace rather than war * Shocking revelations about Igor's (our resident eagle) paycheck * The return of the Claudii. Our Players 425 BCE Military Tribunes with Consular Power * Aulus Sempronius L. f. A. n. Atratinus (Pat) - Cos 428b * Lucius Quinctius L. f. L. n. Cincinnatus (Pat) (Broughton Cin. *3) - Cos 428b, military tribune with consular power 438 * Lucius Furius Sp. f. - n. Medullinus (Pat), Military tribune with consular power in 432 * Lucius Horatius M. f. M. n. Barbatus (Pat) Our Players 424 BCE Military Tribunes with Consular Power * Appius Claudius Ap. f. Ap. n. Crassus (Pat) * Spurius Nautius Sp. f. - n. Rutilus (Pat) * Lucius Sergius C. f. C. n. Fidenas (Pat) - previously cos. 437, 429; military tribune with consular power 433 * Sextus Julius - f. - n. Iullus (Pat) Our Sources * Dr G reads Diodorus Siculus 12.81.1, 12.82.1 * Dr Rad reads Livy ab Urbe Condita 4.35. * Broughton, T. R. S., Patterson, M. L. 1951. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic Volume 1: 509 B.C. – 100 B.C. (The American Philological Association) * Cornell, T. J. 1995. The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars (c. 1000-264 BC) (Taylor & Francis) * Drogula, F. K. 2017. 'Plebeian Tribune and the Government of Early Rome' Antichthon 51: 101-123 Sound Effects Thanks to the fabulous Bettina Joy de Guzman for our theme music. Additional sound effects from BBC Beta.