one of the oldest Indo European myth, Roman writer Livy told us the singular fighting between the champions of Rome and those of Alba, its rival. During the reign of Tullus Hostillus, a war broke out between Rome and Alba Longa. Both kings agreed that a singular fight between the champions of Rome, three brothers Horatii and the Alban champions the Curatii would spare many lives. So, the champions of both cities met on a field between the lines of warriors of both opposite cities. Both sides fougth bravely. The brothers Horatii had wounded all three Curatii, but two of the Romans were killed in the action. That left their brother Publius alone and he was surrounded by three Albans. Though he was not injured, Publius understood his chance was little against three ennemies together. So he began to run across the field instead. The Albans pursued him, each as fast as their injuries allowed them to run. This was what he wanted, and after they had gone far enoughr, he saw that the Curatii has become staggered and spearated from each other. He had succeeded in his plan and turned in order to attack on the first, least injured and slew him.
The Romans who came to see the fight, feared for a while that the defeat was certain, started to cheer loudly as the Albans warned the Curatii to regroup to face the Roman champion. But before they could, the Horatius caught up the second Curiatius and killed him as his brother, helplessly, looked on. The final Curiatius was exhausted from his wounds and the chase. His hope had been crushed by watching both of his brothers die. He managed to unsteadily stand his ground and faced Horatius, who was heartened by his strategy and confident of his victory. Publius declared that he had killed the first two Curiatii for his fallen brothers. He would kill this last one for the Roman cause and their rule over the Albans. He thrust his sword down his ennemy's throat and took the armor of his slain enemies as the spoils of his victory. So, the Alban King had to accept the treaty and Alba Longa accepted Roman subjection.
Publius'homecoming
The city of Rome welcomed the victorious Horatio as a hero. Before the war has broken out, Camilla, Publius's sister had engaged to one of the Alban brothers. When she saw the blood stained cloak that she had woven and given to the Curatiius on het brother's shoulder, she understood that her future husband had been killed, and she cried with grief and shouted his name.
Proclaiming that no Roman woman should mourn Rome's fallen ennemies, Publius slew his sister on the spot.
For his crime, he was condemned to death. On the advice of King Tullus Hostilius, Publius appealed to one of the popular assemblies. In defense of his son, the father, also Publius, spoke of the recent victory and entreated them to spare his last surviving son (his fourth son, a brother of the Horatii, had also died). The assembly was persuaded and Publius' sentence was commuted. This may be the source of the Roman tradition of allowing the condemned to appeal their sentences to the plebs.
Publius the elder was required to offer a sacrifice of atonement for his son's crime and from that time on, the Horatia family made it a tradition to offer the same. The spoils of the victory were hung in a place that became known as Pila Horatia. A wooden beam was erected on the slope of the Oppian Hill, which was called the Sororium Tigillum (Sister's Beam). It lookd like a yoke, under which Publius the younger was made to pass. It remained standing for long.
