The Stories We Tell (About) Ourselves: Roman Foundation Myths

This video is an adaptation of the first few lectures I used to give when I taught Roman history. I've chosen a few of my favorite examples to illustrate what I think is important about ancient Rome, things that the Romans themselves chose to highlight. It's not an exhaustive list, but I'm hoping it lays the ✨foundation✨ for anyone who wants to dig further.

I'd love to know what you think about these stories, and if you have any personal or cultural legends that you tell! Let me know in the comments!

Please refer to the time stamps for sensitive topic warnings.

Resources (in order of reference):
Weems' biography of George Washington: https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbc0001.... (see p. 13-14, PDF p.17-18)

Hamilton Musical: the full soundtrack is available on Spotify, and an original-cast performance of it is available on Disney+.
(clips from my video are from YouTube)

Lombardo's Aeneid: https://www.amazon.com/Aeneid-Hackett...

Livy's Ab Urbe Condita (History of Rome from the Foundation of the City): http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/t...
Romulus and Remus: 1.3 (early), 6-7 (fratricide), 1.8.4-7 (sanctuary), 9-13 (Sabine women)
Lucretia: 1.57-59

Theme music: "Descent from the Olympos Pentatonic." (original)

Website: www.hearthofhaemonia.com 
IG: @hearthofhaemonia
Contact: [email protected] 

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:54 Foundation Myths
05:12 George Washington and the Cherry Tree
08:30 Hamilton
10:22 Augustan Age
13:23 Aeneas
25:25 Romulus and Remus
33:39 Sabine Women (CW)
37:21 Rapture of Romulus
39:37 Lucretia (CW)
45:10 Thanks for watching!

Stock footage and music from Envato Elements.
Clips of Hamilton (musical) from YouTube.

List of Images on my website (YT told me my description was too long)