After
the death of Romulus
Six
more kings came
Numa,
who spoke to the gods.
Tullus,
who saw the destruction of Alba Longa.
Ancus,
who wrote down religion and ceremonies.
New
gods were created.
Zeus
became Jupiter.
Hera
became Juno.
Athena
became Minerva.
Ares
became Mars.
Poseidon
became Neptune.
Hades
became Pluto.
So
many others changed their names
New
ones were added
From
old Latium’s religion.
Lucius,
who increased the senate.
Servius,
who expanded the vote.
Tarquinius,
who terrorized the people
Becoming
a tyrant.
The
rape and death of Lucretia
Was
the last straw.
The
tyrant was deposed
The
government overthrown
By
the faithful women of Rome.
Slowly
they settled into a republic
As
the social elite saw fit.
Orders
struggled for two centuries and five decades
To
get their government right.
Patricians
were the elite.
Plebeians
were on the bottom
But
wanted their say.
For
years both groups brought turmoil to their beloved city
Until
an agreement was made.
The
plebeians were granted assembly.
Then
Twelve Tables were made
As
people climbed the ladder of offices to the consulship.
The
senate was reinstated
As
judges decided on matters of the state.
Each
piece of the republic fell into place
Balancing
out government and freedom
Like
intricate working cogs of a machine
If
one failed
The
rest went with it.
