Ancient Pathways

In early Roman legend, Tarpeia was a young girl who betrayed her city for gold.

She was the daughter of the guardian of Rome’s Capitoline fortress during the war between the Romans and the Sabines. When the Sabine king promised her “what his soldiers wore on their left arms” in exchange for opening the gates of the fortress, Tarpeia believed she would receive their golden bracelets and jewelry.

Driven by greed, she secretly opened the gates and allowed the enemy into Rome.

But the Sabines kept their promise in the cruelest way possible.

What they carried on their left arms were not only golden ornaments — but heavy shields. The soldiers threw their shields onto Tarpeia, crushing her beneath their weight.

According to Roman tradition, her body was later thrown from the cliff that became known as the Tarpeian Rock, a place where traitors were punished for centuries afterward.

For the Romans, Tarpeia became a symbol of betrayal, greed, and the deadly price of treason.