The Fall of the Roman Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Fall of the Roman Republic - Essay Example According to Polybius, a Greek aristocrat born in Achaea but banished to Rome, and source of the historical account in that city in the second century especially where the elites are concerned, the nobility of Rome put the greatest premium on courage. Although courage was as important is all other states as well, this was the most true in the Roman aristocracy value system. The emphasis on courage was illustrated most especially during the funeral rites of the deceased in which their acts of bravery would be eulogized. According to Polybius, a kin of the deceased would wear his mask, and some other men would wear masks of all the dead ancestors of the deceased. The relative wearing the mask of the deceased, dressed in robes preceded each by the symbol of the particular ancestor, would then deliver a speech glorifying his achievements, after which eulogies for each of the deceased ancestors would follow. These after-death honors given to deceased and his ancestors served to inspire th e young men in doing their best in their endeavors so as to earn the same honor in their deaths.