1. L. Verginius Rufus, A.D. 14-97 The story of a notable Roman senator who fractured his hip while attempting to subdue an out of control and extremely heavy papyrus scroll

2. Senatorial Career Early career quiet, except for a nasty spat with Nicetes, a famous Greek orator. Nero intervened, sent Nicetes to Germania Superior, where he and Rufus forgave each other, settled the affair, and became friends. Later on, Nero fiddled while Rome burned, afterwards killing those poor unfortunate souls unable to pay his exorbitant taxes to rebuild. Verginius earned high military recognition skillfully leading troops that subdued the uprisings of rioting, outraged citizenry.

3. Rufus’ Honorable Behavior Caving under political pressure, the unstable Nero committed suicide. When Verginius Rufus' troops tried to proclaim him the new emperor, he steadfastly refused the honor on the grounds that his lowly origins (he was the son of a Roman knight and a new man of an equestrian family) were insufficiently prestigious to seek the imperial purple.

4. The Zenith of his Fame Verginius was many times saluted emperor by his soldiers and pressed to take the title upon him, but he declared that he would neither assume that honor himself, nor see it given to any other than whom the Senate should elect. His image on a coin.

5. What Happened Was This By refusing the emperorship, Verginius left the soldiers who had loyally supported Nero, without leadership. The soldiers were angry, and killed the governor of Germania Inferior, Fonteius Capito, because he refused the purple too! Rome became occupied by soldiers who despised the men who had rejected their award. They then sided with the enemy.

6. Hiding in the Papyrus Stacks Verginius retreated to an estate at Alsium (a small coastal town northwest of Rome, modern Ladispoli), where he studied, composed poems, and hosted a literary salon.

7. What Did He Read? The historians of the age of Roman emperor Vespasian praised Verginius. Having three times been raised to the dignity of consul, it seemed as if Providence had purposely preserved him to these times so that he might read poems composed in his honor, histories of his achievements, and was himself witness to his fame for posterity. Most certainly his accolades (his favorite topic!) were read aloud to the eager and fortunate listeners in his salon.

8. The Demise of L.V. Rufus He reached his eighty-fourth year in full tranquility having enjoyed strong health during his lifetime, with the exception of a trembling in his hands, which, however, gave him no pain. His last illness was severe and tedious, but even that circumstance added to his reputation.

9. The Untamed Papyrus Roll Apparently, papyrus was rather heavy. He was practicing his voice for purpose of returning his public acknowledgements to the emperor, who had promoted him to the consulship. He took a large volume into his hand, and it happened to be too heavy for so old a man to hold standing up.

10. Oops! Mosaic Floor Mishap The untamed papyrus leaped from his grasp. In hastily endeavoring to recover it, his foot slipped on the smooth pavement, and he fell down and broke his thigh bone, which being clumsily set, his age as well being against him, did not properly unite again.

11. Funeral Honors The good fortune of Rufus’ life was crowned by the public applause of an eloquent orator and friend. He received a state funeral and the speech was delivered by the consul Cornelius Tacitus, a promising author who had recently published Life of Agricola, and may well have benefited from Verginius ' literary patronage.

12. Quote from his Protege Pliny the Younger, a student and distant relative who inherited one of Rufus’ homes said: He has departed from our midst, full of years, indeed, and of glory; as illustrious by the honors he refused as by those he accepted. Yet still we shall miss him and lament him, as the shining model of a past age.

13. The Epitaph Verginius Wrote (for himself) Here lies Rufus, who once defeated the enemy and set free the imperial power not for himself, but for his country. Temple of Vespasian

14. Interpersonal Relationship Skills Needed Some Improvement Not everyone held such a high opinion of Rufus as he did of himself. When Pliny paid a visit to Rufus’ mother-in-law nine years after the funeral, he discovered that the modest tomb of the great senator lay still unfinished.

15. Rest in Peace L. Verginius Rufus A Roman senator who survived the brutal dangers of war and became a hero, but was attacked by a wild and untamed papyrus roll, and suffered broken bones from which he could not recover.

16. References: http://www.umich.edu/~classics/latin/231/231rufus.html http://www.livius.org/va-vh/verginius/rufus.html http://www.umich.edu/~classics/latin/231/231rufus.html http://www.livius.org/va-vh/verginius/rufus.html http://www.roman-emperors.org/vespasia.htm http://www.bartleby.com/9/4/1017.htmlhttp://www.roman-emperors.org/vespasia.htm http://www.bartleby.com/9/4/1017.html Kilgour, F.G. 1998. The evolution of the book. New York: Oxford University Press. (Rufus is mentioned on p. 52.) We know about L. Verginius Rufus from the papyrus rolls written by the authors of his day. Amazing!