A major new interpretation of the impact of ancient Rome on our culture, this study charts the effects of two diametrically opposed views of Roman antiquity: the virtuous republic of self-less citizen soldiers and the corrupt empire of power-hungry tyrants. The power of these images is second only to those derived from Christianity in constructing our modern culture. Few modern readers are aware of how indebted we are to the Roman model of our political philosophy, art, music, cinema, opera, and drama. Originally published in 1987. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.