Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, fifth
legendary king of Rome, is represented
as the son of a Greek refugee who
removed from Tarquinii in Etruria to
Rome, by the advice of his wife, the
prophetess Tanaquil. Appointed guardian
to teh sons of Ancus Marcius, he
suceeded in supplanting them on the
throne on their father's death. It was
he who established the Circus Maximus,
built the great cloacae, and founded the
triple temple on the Capitol - the
expense of these vast works being
defrayed by plunder seized from the
Latins and Sabines. Many of the ensigns
both of war and of civil office are
assigned to his reign, and he was the
first to celebrate a Roman Triumph,
after the Etruscan fashion, in a robe of
purple and gold, and borne on a chariot
drawn by four horses. After a reign of
thirty-eight years he was assassinated
by the contrivance of the sons of Ancus
Marcius, but Tanaquil had influence
enough to secure the succesion to
Servius Tullius, his son-in-law.
Original text from a paper copy of the 9th edition EB
see Roman Republic
![[Home]](wikipedia.png)