Includes bibliographical references and index.

Interpretatio Romana -- 'Translating' the Greek and the Beginnings of Roman History -- The Gods of War -- Wall-to-Wall War & the Fetiales -- The Aeneas Foundation Myth: From Troy to Italy -- The Aeneas Foundation Myth: The Italian Wars -- The Romulus and Remus Foundation Myth -- Abduction, Rape and Murdering Your Daughter -- All in the Name of History -- Warlike Women in Roman Epic -- Trojan Heroes -- Horace and Propertius -- Ovid -- The Theban Legion Massacre 286 CE: Myth or History -- The View from the Bridge: The Vision of Constantine

This book redresses the relative lack of work published on the role of war in classical myth and legend. At the same time it debunks the popular view that the Romans had little mythology of their own and idly borrowed and adapted Greek myth to suit their own ends. While this true to some extent, War in Roman Myth & Legend clearly demonstrates a rich and meaningful independent mythology at work in Roman culture. The book opens by addressing how the Romans did adopt and adapt Greek myths to fashion the beginnings of Roman history; it goes on to discuss the Roman gods of war and the ubiquity of war in Roman society and politics and how this was reflected in the Aeneas Foundation Myth, the Romulus and Remus Foundation Myth and the legends associated with the founding of Rome. Warlike Women in Roman Epic and Trojan heroes are discussed next and the use of mythology by Roman poets other than Virgil. The Theban Legion and the vision of Constantine myths conclude the book.