Numa Pompilius

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, if Romulus is considered to be the founder of Rome, Numa Pompilius is seen as the founder of the most important laws and regulations, which guided the Roman way of life and religion and symbolized the dawn of Roman civilization. The author points out that the greatest part of Numa Pompilius' character and influence is believed to be fictitious. The paper relates that some important ancient authors, such as Plutarch, Titus Livius and Ovid, describe the upright character of Numa Pompilius and how he almost miraculous transformed the culture of the Romans, based on the teachings of the Greek philosopher Pythagoras. The paper includes many quotations.

From the Paper:

"This is the doctrine that Ovid himself had adhered to and his inspiration for the "Metamorphoses", which shows precisely how entities turn into other entities time after time. This system, which is based upon purity, both bodily and spiritual, is what Ovid attributes to Numa as well. The poet advocates that Numa was a witness of the Pythagorean gatherings, and therefore his domestic policy sprung from the principles of Pythagoras' thought. Thus, there seem to be indeed similarities between the two. For instance, Pythagoras believed in the transmigration of souls."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Gargola, Daniel J. 1995. Lands, Laws & gods: magistrates & ceremony in the regulation of public lands in Republican Rome. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
• Livy. 1919. A history of Rome. New York: Loeb Classical Library.
• Ovid. Metamorphoses. 1898. London: George Bell and Sons.
• Plutarch, John Dryden and Arthur Hugh Clark.1932. Plutarch: The lives of noble Grecians and Romans. New York: Modern Library.
• Scullard, Howard. 1961. A History of the Roman World from 753 to 146 B. C. London: Methuen.

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