Geese of Capitole
Towards 390 av. J. - C., the Gaulois invaded the north of the Italy and decimated the Roman Armée. The latter make a success of the first Sac of Rome. The episode is told in particular by Polybe, Diodore of Sicily and Tite-Live.
Between history and legend
For Nicholas Mr. Horsfall, this episode of the Roman history would be marked in an inextricable way by the legend, the apologies family and the transfers of the Greek history. The name of the chief of the Sénons Brennos (Brennus) problablement is problablement borrowed from that of the chief of the Celts who invaded Greece into 280/279. If, in the legend, Capitole is saved by the vigilance of geese, the head office of Rome will be raised in reality only after one attack of the Venètes has constrained Sénons to treat with the Romans. The whole of the account is centered around the payment of the ransom, not very glorious moment for the Romans, Gallic gold and the construction of the temple of Junon Moneta which clarifies the whole of the episode.
Context
The Gaulois Sénons present in front of the Etruscan city of Clusium (Chiusi), which is in the Roman sphere of influence. Rome sends an embassy, charged to offer its mediation. But the ambassadors violate neutrality while intervening the weapons with the hand against the Gallic ones, which require repair of Rome. In front of its refusal, the Gallic ones go on the city. The Roman army goes to their meeting and gives an opinion, in front of Véies, close to the brook of the Allia. There is no combat. Frightened by the cries of Gallic and disconcerted by their impetuosity, the Roman troops relax and seek precipitately a shelter in Rome or in the close cities.
The bag of Rome
According to the legend, the Oie S crowned of the Capitole would have given alarm in -390, saving the town of an invasion Gaulois E carried out by Brennos.These geese were devoted to the worship of Junon. After this episode, the temple of Junon was called temple of Junon Moneta “ Junon with the collar ”. Jean Haudry ( Juno Moneta, With the sources of the currency , 2002) following Jean Gagé challenges old interpretation by the name of agent of monere , Moneta “ which informs ”.
It is in this temple that the first Monnaie S Romans were struck, the term currency being a deformation of moneta .
The fire of Rome by the Gallic ones
Consequently, the remainder of the soldiers present at Rome was barricaded in the Capitole, leaving women, old men and children in the city at the thank you of the cruel which massacred them under their eyes. Barricaded also transfer the Gallic ones to set fire to their temples.During the night, the attackers tried to climb incognito the walls of the citadel, but the crowned geese of Junon prevented some while shouting with which better better. A honourable civilian, former consul of the city, then informs the Roman soldiers who pushed back the invaders by making them fall from the walls…
Brennos, Gallic chief, led the head office of Rome then. The Romans, famished, asked this last to return its troops out of the city. Brennos accepted, but asked them then exchanges of it a large sum of Or.
The transaction thus took place out of the walls of the city: some weights were posed on a balances and, other side, the Romans poured their gold, until which they discover that a thick lead plate ballasted one of the plates of the machine. One shouted with trickery and one asked Brennos to remove it immediately.
This one, out of him, threw its sword on the weights and howled the sentence become from now on famous: “ Vae Victis! ” (“ Misfortune with overcome! ”).
Suddenly, appeared in a crowd of Romans ruant with the Camille attack Intrepid the Furius Camilius , general Romain who had already helped Rome at the time of catches of enemy cities but which had been exiled by the Senate. It reversed the balances of Gallic and led the legions to the victory.
Commemoration
Geese devoted to Junon since at least this date are maintained by the State with the Capitole, under the responsibility of the Censeur S. to commemorate this event, the Romans organized an annual procession where a crowned goose was transferred onto litters luxurious. Dogs were crucifiés alive on posts of elder tree along the way. For the old ones, the dogs paid for their negligence, not to have barked when Capitole was threatened.
Interpretation of the ritual
The original significance of this surprising ritual was brought closer to the respective symbolism of the two implied animal species. In the Roman world and more generally in the Indo-European world, the dog symbolizes the bad luck, the failure, the negligence and death. Conversely, ĺ' wild goose represents the annual return of the sun. The ritual would be a réinterprétaion of a festival of end of harvest in order to obtain a good harvest where the symbolism of the life and vigilance takes the top on the torpor and death. The ritual would have been for a long time former to the facts which are supposed to justify it.
See too