Civic Virtue And The Legend Of Horatius Cocles

According to the Roman legend, Horatius Cocles was an officer who taunted and single-handedly fought off the Etruscans led by Lars Porsena, while rest of the army demolished the Pons Sublicus (the only bridge crossing the Tiber). He then threw himself into the river and swam across in full armor, being treated as a hero who saved Rome.

It was the concept of civic virtue, moral excellence, community engagement and the values upheld by the ancient Romans that made Rome great. Unfortunately the idea of civic virtue and many of the higher moral values the ancient Romans held dear have since been lost in the modern western world.

The Roman history is full of legends celebrating heroism and superior moral values. But it is not as if the Romans were inherently superior to modern men. No. It was all because of a society that taught people the true masculine and feminine virtues, and to frown upon degenerate behaviour. To be strong and ambitious. These were the values that enabled Rome to expand and take control of most of the known world… until they too became decadent and degenerate by the time of the Late Republic and the Imperial era.

While Europe witnessed a rebirth during the renaissance, I would argue that we never truly surpassed the Ancient Greeks or Romans in terms of civic virtue, excellence, or simply righteous behavior.

The last 80 or so years have seen the worst change in the western society. In this brave new world, Horatius would be considered a sexist xenophobic right wing white supremacist extremist, with probable ties to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. Indeed, anyone possessing any courage and higher moral values, and a love for his or her people would be labeled as such.

It is time to revive the Roman Republic and SPQR!