A note on the 5th King of Rome
Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, known as Tarquin the Elder, was Ancus Marcius’ natural successor after gaining his liking. Of Etruscan origin, he ruled Rome with vision and a sharp engineering attitude. He built the likes of the cloaca maxima (that was likely inspired by sewers in Etruria), the circus Maximus, and the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. In this painting by Sebastiano Ricci, we can see Tarquin consulting Attus Nevius the Augur. Tarquin sought to make political changes that honoured himself. Attus Nevius opposed Tarquins desires, citing that in order to do this, the omens must first be right. To prove this and that he had the will of the divine, he cut through a whetstone with a razor.
In this painting we can see a few key details. First, is the auger pleading on his knees to Tarquin to listen to his divine request. On the very left we can see a man raising his hand to get the auger to “chill out” and to compose himself in from of the King. On the right, we see a mother holding her child as she watches the proceeding, she is uninvolved with the interactions since caring for her child is the most important priority, but she is still curious and perhaps slightly entertained by the auger’s desperate plead.
Despite the people behind the auger downplaying him, Tarquin the Elder still stands interested, and takes the auger’s plead seriously. This is a reflection of his Engineering mindset. He places his hand on his chin, squints down at the auger and sincerely listens to what he has to say.
“Please!!! You must listen!!! I have blessings of the divine!!!! See as I cut through this stone with my blade!!!!
- Cries Attus Nevius
“Hmmm, go on….”
- Says Tarquin the Elder
Tarquin the Elder is a role model because even despite being King of Rome, who is basked in power and riches, still spends the time to listen to an individual considered inferior to the King. We can find this trait in many examples such as the Citicorp Center engineering crisis, which ended up saving lives.
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