Question

As the Horatii brothers pledge an oath to their father to fight to the death, their sister Camilla watches in grief. Why could she be considered the loser no matter which side won?

Answer 1

Answer: She will either lose her brothers or her betrothed/ fiancé

Explanation:

The question is in relation to a painting called Oath of the Horatii that depicts the Horatii brothers pledging to fight to the death for the glory of Rome. It is based on a legend that 3 Horatii brothers from Rome would fight 3 Curiatii brothers from Alba Longa to decide a winner between the two cities in an ongoing dispute. This way they would not have to send both their armies and therefore save life.

As the brothers salute their father, their sister weeps because she is betrothed to one of the Curiatii brothers. This means that she is a loser in this dispute because she will either lose her brothers if the Curiatii kill them or she will lose her betrothed if her brothers kill the Curiatii.

She ends up twice the loser however as her surviving brother returns home and kills her when he sees her mourning her betrothed and cursing Rome.