The "Demonic Energy" of Rome: How Brutus Created a Monster

Описание: In this 18-minute segment, Prof. Jiang Xueqin dissects what he calls the Roman mentality through Rome’s founding myths and early political legends. Using a Livy-style narrative lens, he argues these stories are not neutral history but a cultural blueprint that normalizes violence, hierarchy, and the ruthless logic of state power.

He begins with the Trojan origin frame and moves to Romulus and Remus, a founding moment where kingship is decided through omens, rivalry, and bloodshed. From there, the story escalates into the Rape of the Sabine Women, which he presents as an example of Rome breaking sacred hospitality norms, then rationalizing the crime as necessary for nation-building.

The talk continues to Lucretia and the fall of the monarchy, where personal violation becomes the spark for political revolution and the birth of the republic. Prof. Jiang then spotlights the most disturbing symbol of Roman virtue in this narrative: Brutus overseeing the execution of his own sons for treason, as a demonstration that the state comes before family. He argues this kind of trauma is not just tragedy but an engine, converting pain into a cold, weaponized drive directed outward at enemies.

Viewer discretion. This segment includes discussion of sexual violence, coercion, and graphic brutality in historical myths.

Chapters 18:00

00:00 Roman lens on history, myth as political programming
02:15 Rome’s Trojan origin and the primacy of the father
04:30 Romulus and Remus, kingship through omens and murder
06:45 The Sabine Women episode, conquest through betrayal of hospitality
09:00 From outrage to assimilation, war becomes a “unifying” myth
11:15 Lucretia, regime collapse, and the birth of the republic
13:30 Brutus and the execution of his sons, state above family
15:45 Trauma as fuel, violence redirected into military purpose
18:00 End

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