Nephele Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 I've recently come across a charming children's picture book titled Brave Cloelia that I thought I'd bring to the attention of any Romanophile parents here looking for a great "read-aloud" for their children -- especially daughters. Written by Jane Louise Curry and illustrated by Jeff Crosby, the events of this story are taken from Livy's history of Rome and retold in a way which also introduces children to interesting little details of ancient Roman life -- such as the football game of harpastum played by young boys, and the contrast between Roman and Etruscan aesthetics. The message of Roman honor comes through loud and clear in this story, for after Cloelia has escaped as a hostage of the Etruscans, resourcefully leading forty other young girls, the Romans do the honorable thing and agree to return her. However... Cloelia's father nodded, but anger made his eyes bright. "Still, we won't send her back like a runaway slave; we'll take her back, and proudly!" So they did, Cloelia's grandfather and father and all the great men of the family Cloelius. They crossed the Tiber in the only boat Rome could command. As Cloelia stepped onto the quay and walked to meet King Larth's royal guard, the Cloelii watched with their heads held high. See, their proud looks seemed to say. Even the smallest of Romans is the equal of an Etruscan king! The story ends happily for Cloelia, who so thoroughly amuses the Etruscan king and his queen with her sassiness, that the king decides not only to reward Cloelia with her freedom, but also allows her to choose from among the remaining captives those to return home with her. The inside covers of the book consist of a map of Italy circa 506 BCE, with the Etruscan cities to the north of Rome depicted and named. Opposite this map is another, close-up map of Rome showing where the Etruscan camps lay in relation to the Tiber River and hills of Rome. I highly recommend this book for your own smallest of Romans, who is, no doubt, equal to if not greater than kings. -- Nephele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Porcius Cato Posted December 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 (edited) Thank you Nephele! That book is simply perfect for what I'm looking for. If you have any other recommendations (especially books that would capture a smart girl's interest), then don't hold back. "Even the smallest of Romans is the equal of an Etruscan king!" I love it! Edited December 11, 2007 by M. Porcius Cato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nephele Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 "Even the smallest of Romans is the equal of an Etruscan king!" I love it! You're welcome, and I especially had you in mind when I quoted that bit from the book, as I remember you had given somewhere on the board a similar quote about a Roman citizen being greater than a king. What was that quote, exactly? I thought it brilliantly captured the Roman spirit. -- Nephele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Porcius Cato Posted December 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 "Even the smallest of Romans is the equal of an Etruscan king!" I love it! You're welcome, and I especially had you in mind when I quoted that bit from the book, as I remember you had given somewhere on the board a similar quote about a Roman citizen being greater than a king. What was that quote, exactly? I thought it brilliantly captured the Roman spirit. Still trying to track down that famous phrase. Here's another allusion to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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