Philip Matyszak skilfully navigates the myths and legends of early Rome, exploring the enigmatic origins of the Romans and how the first seeds of a great empire were sown.

‘I sing of arms and the man’ wrote Virgil at the start of the Aeneid, one of Rome’s most iconic origin stories exploring the tumultuous journey of Aeneas from Trojan prince to a hero of Rome. But did Aeneas actually flee from Troy? How did this story affect the Roman’s perspective of themselves? And did they believe it? In Rome Before Rome, Philip Matyszak explores the myths and legends, heroes and villains that shaped the Roman sense of self.

There are few books which explain how these different legends fit into Rome’s overall narrative and none which explore the range of myths Matyszak describes. Some of the legends are well known, from Romulus and Remus to the Rape of the Sabines, whilst others are more obscure such as the story of the praetor Cipus, who grew horns and became a King of Rome. Whether renowned or unfamiliar, all are significant in their own way and have had a profound impact on the Romans. Even today these myths continue to reverberate throughout western culture as films, TV shows and plays.

Matyszak dissects these myths, investigating hard-to-find texts, such as the historical texts of Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Plutarch’s Roman Questions sources, as well as classic texts like Livy’s From the Founding of the City and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, revealing that Rome’s illustrious mythological past is not quite as it might seem.

'Lively…enjoyable retellings of the stories Romans took as their ancient history… Aside from their sheer entertainment value, Matyszak reminds readers, these legends are important because they shaped Rome’s self-image… Well-informed and well-rendered snapshots of the ancient world' - Kirkus Reviews
'Absorbing and accessible, Rome Before Rome captures the variety, excitement, discomfort and weirdness of the stories the Romans told about themselves, and shows the weight that these stories have carried across centuries' - Dr Olivia Elder, Times Literary Supplement
'In terms of an overview of the story of legendary Rome, Rome Before Rome excels, offering readers an immensely readable, entertaining narrative from the mythic origins of a settlement on the banks of the Tiber to the foundation of the Roman Republic' - Ancient History

Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John’s College, Oxford. He also teaches and prepares courses for the eLearning programme at Cambridge University. He is the author of numerous books on the ancient world, including Lost Cities of the Ancient World (2023), The Greek and Roman Myths (2010) and Ancient Magic (2019), all published by Thames & Hudson.