What’s a completely useless fact you love sharing?
Livy, in his History of Early Rome, describes the a great number of lives of early Roman leaders.
Romulus Silvius wasn’t one of them. He’s a byline, the briefest of notations, a bit of trivia for those who enjoy history.
From what I can tell, he didn’t do much worth noting for about twenty five years, and then, boom, lightning bolt from the heavens, dead.
It’s not a particularly noteworthy bit of history, as I’m sure most would agree. But it does highlight an important truth.
You see, Romulus Silvius supposedly reigned of the city of Alba Longa, a precursor to the city of Rome. And yet, a great number of these leaders aren’t remembered for much more than their presence, and occasionally a sudden and mildly embarrassing death.
Most likely, Silvius thought himself very important, and yet, looking back on it today, he is essentially meaningless to much of the world. He is all but forgotten by anyone but the nerdiest of history nerds.
This is a reminder to me, that, though I am afraid in my own right of embarrassment, or at times quite proud of myself, from an eternal standpoint, I’m a simple speck.
So why should I fear the opinions of my fellow man? Why should I be taken over by so deep a sense of dread?
Instead, I should live my life as best as I can, and know that my worst failings, unless they are wildly dramatic, are likely to be forgotten to time.
And that, dear reader, is quite a comforting thought.
