Painting legendary self-sacrifice: Did the Horatii save Rome?

Publius Horatius was the victor, as was Rome, forcing Alba Longa to submit to Roman rule. Fulchran-Jean Harriet’s Combat of the Horatii and the Curiatii was the winner of the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1798. Publius Horatius’ sister is shown at the left, by the bodies of the two dead Curiatii. As was traditional, Publius Horatius then stripped the three corpses of their armour and weapons, and returned to Rome. Even in times of war, Camilla’s murder was of course a crime, and Publius Horatius was condemned to die as a consequence.