Gaius Mucius Scaevola at The Louvre, Paris

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Gaius Mucius Scaevola was a Roman youth renowned for his fearlessness. In 508 BC, during the war between Rome and Clusium, Clusian King Lars Porsena laid siege to Rome. With the approval of the Roman Senate, Mucius snuck into the Etruscan camp with the intention of murdering Porsena. Since it was pay day for soldiers, two similarly dressed people stood on a raised platform, speaking to troops, and one was the king. This mistake led Mucius to kill Porsena's scribe instead. Captured, he declared to Porsena: "I am Gaius Mucius, a Roman citizen. I came here as an enemy to kill my enemy, and I'm ready to die as much as I am to kill. We Romans act bravely, and when adversity strikes, we suffer bravely." He claimed to be the first of three hundred Roman youths who volunteered for the task of assassinating Porsena at great personal risk. "Watch," he declared, "so you know how cheap a body is to men with their sights set on great glory." Mucius thrust his right hand into a fire lit for sacrifice and held it there without showing any pain, earning himself and his descendants the cognomen Scaevola, meaning 'left-handed'. Porsena was shocked by the youth's bravery, dismissed him from the Etruscan camp, free to return to Rome, saying "Go back, since you harm yourself more than me." At the same time, the king sent ambassadors to Rome to offer peace. Mucius received farming land on the right-hand bank of the Tiber, which later became known as the Mucia Prata (Mucian Meadows). It remains unclear whether the story of Mucius is historical or mythical. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan).