The Horatii were Roman triplets and the Curiatii Alban triplets, although the Roman historian Livy wrote that some earlier accounts had reversed this order. During the war between Rome and Alba Longa in the reign of Tullus Hostilius (traditionally 672–642 BCE), it was agreed that the outcome of the war would be decided by a combat between the two groups of brothers.
In the contest the three Curiatii were wounded, but two of the Horatii were killed. The third, feigning flight, managed to separate and kill his wounded pursuers one by one. When the survivor Publius entered Rome in triumph, his sister recognized among his trophies a cloak she had made for a Curiatii to whom she was betrothed, and she cried her grief. Her brother killed her, and publicly declared, “So perish any Roman woman who mourns the enemy.” For her murder Publius was condemned to death. Upon the advice of a certain jurist named Tullus, Publius appealed to the assembly of the people. Publius’ father, also called Publius, spoke to the people of his son’s recent victory against their longtime enemies, and entreated them not to render him childless since he had one surviving son of what had once been four children. Publius was pardoned, but forced to walk under a beam which was laid across the street, as if he were a yoked oxen. The beam remained in the city and became known as Sororium Tigillum, the “sister’s gibbet.”
The tale might have been devised to provide an august origin for the legal practice that granted every condemned Roman the right to appeal to the populace. Alternatively, perhaps it was used to explain the ritual of the tigillum sororium.
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