Rome, a Place Full of Mystery
The legend of Muzio Scevola
Muzio Scevola is another of those Roman heroes whose life is inextricably mixed up with the myth.
His legend brings us back to around 500 A.C. When there were the ongoing wars between the neighbours; the Etruscans and the Romans. Back then, Rome didn’t yet know the power that would make it famous in the world and the future Eternal city.
In order for this to happen, the last resort needed to be carried out and a young Roman, whose name was Muzio Cordo, was proposed in the Senate to kill the head of the Etruscans, Porsenna.
The Senate approved the plan and sent him on mission. He went to the camp of the Etruscans, dressed up like a real Truscan with a dagger under his clothes, but Muzio committed a mistake and killed an Official instead of the real Porsenna who was brought to safety.
At that point Muzio was arrested and was brought before the commander. Here he confessed his intentions to kill Porsenna, but having failed, he punished himself and put his right hand in fire until it was completely burned (and from that day on he was known as Muzio Scevola, the left-handed). He also had the foresight to invent a specific story to the master. He told the commander that he was one of only 300 soldiers that Rome would send to kill Porsenna. At this point Porsenna was so frightened by the gesture and the words of this man, that the etruvian high class decided to stop the battle threatened by Rome by saving his life and beginning the peace talks, impressed by the braveness and courage of the Romans. He managed however, to get some hostages back that were held by the Romans and certain territories, including the territory of Veio.
From this legend comes the very famous sentence “put your hand in the flames” when you want to reinforce your views, if you are very sure of it.
Where today there is a path called Bissolati in Rome, once there was the alley of the Flames, whose name seems to derive from a sculpture in the Villa Massimo, which depicts a hand in the flames. According to some scholars, the sculpture was reminiscent of the character of Muzio Scevola.
If you want to discover the other legends that are still prevalent in the city today, take a break and spend a weekend in the City of ancient legends, the best solution is to book an appartamento Roma in the centre or outskirts. An appartamento a Roma will give you easy access to the city and its attractions and ancient monuments still bear witness and tell the old legends intertwined with the real story.
