Mucius Scaevola

(Caius Mucius Scaevola)

535–509 BC

MUCIUS SCAEVOLA DEFYING PORSENNA

Mucius Scaevola was a young Roman who formed a plan of saving Rome by assassinating Lars Porsenna in his camp shortly after the foundation of the Republic (approx 508 B.C.). When he was caught he was brought before Porsenna but defied him by burning his right hand in a fire and swearing eternal vengeance on all enemies of Rome. Porsenna was so impressed with his bravery that he agreed to make a treaty with Rome.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Lars Porsenna  in	Stories From Livy  by  Alfred J. Church
Life and Death Struggle  in	Stories from Ancient Rome  by  Alfred J. Church
Why the Romans Bore Pain  in	Tales of the Romans: The Children's Plutarch  by  F. J. Gould
Burnt Hand  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
Mucius the Left-Handed  in	Famous Men of Rome  by  John H. Haaren & A. B. Poland
Gaius Mucius Burns His Right Hand  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor

Image Links
Mucius scaevola before Lars Porsenna  in Stories From Livy	Mucius Defying Porsena  in Greatest Nations - Rome

Contemporary	Short Biography
Lars Porsena	Etruscan king, and supporter of the Tarquins who raised an army to march against Rome.
Horatius	Hero who held the Sublican Bridge against Porsena's entire army.