Editing Horatius Cocles (section)

==Background==
[[File:Siège de Porsenna.GIF|thumb|Siege of Rome by the Etruscans under [[Lars Porsena]]. This animated depiction shows the phases of the battle, including the defense of the bridge by Horatius.]]

Horatius was a member of the ancient [[patrician (ancient Rome)|patrician]] house of the [[Horatia gens|Horatii]], celebrated in legend since the combat between the [[Horatii|Horatii and the Curiatii]] in the time of [[Tullus Hostilius]], the third [[Kings of Rome|Roman king]].<ref name="Dionysius">[[Dionysius of Halicarnassus]], ''Romaike Archaiologia'', v. 24, 25.</ref>  He was a nephew of the [[Roman consul|consul]], [[Marcus Horatius Pulvillus]], and is said to have obtained his [[agnomen]], ''Cocles'', meaning "one-eyed",{{efn-lr|Varro suggested that "Cocles" was derived from the [[Latin]] "oculus"; others have suggested a [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] loan-word, from the same root as "cyclops".}} because he lost an eye in the Battle of the Sublician Bridge.<ref name="Dionysius"/>  However, this may be a later elaboration, as the famous statue of Horatius, lame and one-eyed, which was still visible, though heavily weathered, in the time of [[Pliny the Elder]], was probably intended as a depiction of the god [[Vulcan (mythology)|Vulcan]], and only became identified with Horatius when its original subject was no longer recognizable.<ref>[[Pliny the Elder]], ''Historia Naturalis'', xxxiv. 5. s. 11.</ref><ref>Michael Grant, ''Roman Myths'', pp. 184–185.</ref>

In 509 BC, King [[Lars Porsena]] was at the head of an army that [[Roman-Etruscan Wars|marched on Rome]]. Concentrating his forces on the Etruscan (west) side of the [[Tiber]], [[Lars Porsena|Porsena]] assaulted [[Janiculum]] hill and seized it and all its materiel from the terrified Roman guard. Porsena left an Etruscan garrison to hold it, then proceeded towards the [[Pons Sublicius]], the only regional bridge across the Tiber. The Romans awaited in the Naevian Meadow between Porsena and the bridge. The Tarquins commanded the Etruscan left wing facing the Roman troops of [[Spurius Larcius]] and Titus Herminius. [[Octavius Mamilius]] commanded the Etruscan right wing consisting of rebel Latins; they faced Romans under [[Marcus Valerius Volusus]] and [[Titus Lucretius Tricipitinus]]. Porsena commanded the center, facing the two Roman consuls.<ref>Dionysius, v. 22.</ref> Porsena had the Romans outnumbered and intended to intimidate them into retreat.

Battle ensued. The Etruscan right wing was successful in wounding Valerius and Lucretius, the commanders of the Roman left wing. After both were carried off the field, the Romans began to panic and ran for the bridge. The enemy pursued.