This drawing, by the Italian artist Felice Giani (c. 1758–1823), was inspired by ancient Roman myths and legends about Numa Pompilius. According to Rome’s origin tales and tradition, the city’s founder, Romulus (reign traditionally dated to 753-717 BCE), obscurely disappeared, died, or transcended to the heavens following his founding of Rome. After about a year of coming to terms with Romulus’ sudden departure, the Romans reportedly decided to hold an election to select a new king. During the election, as the origin myth goes, the Romans searched for the wisest, noblest, and best educated man in the region. With that criterion in mind, the Roman inquiry for the best candidates interestingly led them not to the city of Rome, but to the nearby Sabine town of Cures. There, the Romans found Numa Pompilius, who had the ideal qualities they wanted in a king. Back in Rome, despite some disgruntlement over him being a Sabine, Numa’s name was officially introduced into the election and a vote was held. Livy (59 BCE-17 CE), a Roman historian, recorded the tale:
“[T]hey passed a resolution that the election should be decided by a decree of the senate. Numa Pompilius had a great reputation at this time for justice and piety. He lived in the Sabine town of Cures, and was, by the standards of antiquity, deeply learned in all the laws of God and man….Numa’s noble qualities were all his own; it was not foreign learning that made him what he was, but the harsh, austere discipline of the ancient Sabines, most incorruptible of men. Numa’s name was put forward as successor to the throne…nobody ventured to put forward as a rival candidate either himself or another of his faction, or, indeed, any man at all, either senator or citizen, with the result that there was a unanimous decision to offer Numa the crown” (Livy, The History of Rome, 1.17-18).
Felice Giani’s illustration re-creates this tale from ancient Roman folklore and legend. His drawing depicts Rome’s decision to elect Numa Pompilius as king and the monarch-elect’s subsequent assent to the decision. Following the election, Numa traveled to Rome and immediately called for Rome’s augures to survey auspices and omens to check if the gods would be happy with him as king. When the divination produced positive signs in response, King Numa (traditionally dated r. 716-674 BCE) formally accepted his position as the second ruler of Rome.
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- The History of Rome by Livy, translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. New York: Penguin Classics, 2002.
- The Beginnings of Rome by T. J. Cornell. New York: Routledge, 1995.
- https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Liv.%201.18&lang=original
- https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18123647/
- https://www.si.edu/object/ceiling-design-roman-ambassador-ask-sabine-numa-pompilius-reign-over-rome-sala-di-numa-pompilio:chndm_1901-39-3460
