ABSTRACT
An Etruscan prince, generally said to have been the ruler of Clusium (now Chiusi). He is likely to be mythical rather than historical, since his name is a compilation of two aristocratic titles, larth (‘a champion’) and purthna (‘leading citizen’). In the legends of the early Roman Republic, he is the principal ally of Tarquinius Superbus, himself an Etruscan, who, after being expelled from the Roman kingship, asked his countrymen to lend him military support to restore him to the throne. According to these stories Porsenna, at the head of a massive confederation, besieged Rome, taking the Janiculum Hill which overlooks the city on the right bank of the Tiber. He was only prevented from capturing Rome by the heroism of Horatius Cocles, who defended the bridge over the Tiber. Subsequently, during a protracted siege, Mucius Scaevola made an attempt on Porsenna’s life but killed the wrong man instead, because he was ignorant of the king’s appearance. Porsenna, however, was so impressed by Scaevola’s courage and determination that he made a treaty with the Romans, agreeing to lift the siege and abandon the cause of Tarquinius Superbus in exchange for a party of Roman hostages, the children of the most eminent citizens. A Roman girl called Cloelia finally achieved Porsenna’s total reconciliation to the Romans by another act of signal courage, and he withdrew with his army to Clusium.
