Gaius mucius scaevola biography books

6th-century BC Roman youth famous for his bravery

For other people named Mucius Scaevola, see Mucius Scaevola (disambiguation).

Gaius Mucius Cordus, better known with his later cognomenScaevola (SE(E)V-ə-lə, Latin:[ˈskae̯wɔla]), was an ancient Roman youth, possibly mythical, famous for his bravery.

In 508 BC, during the war between Rome and Clusium, the Clusian king Lars Porsena laid siege to Rome. Gaius Mucius Cordus, with the approval of the Roman Senate, sneaked into the Etruscan camp with the intent of assassinating Porsena.

Gaius mucius scaevola biography books

Since it was the soldiers' pay day, there were two similarly dressed people, one of whom was the king, on a raised platform speaking to the troops. This caused Mucius to misidentify his target, and he killed Porsena's scribe by mistake.

After being captured, he famously declared to Porsena: "I am a Roman citizen, men call me Gaius Mucius. I came here as an enemy to kill my enemy, and I am as ready to die as I am t