These explanations should not surprise experienced editors but will hopefully help the rest of the world to shape an informed opinion of our work.
Horatius Cocles was an officer in the army of the early
Roman Republic who famously defended the
Pons Sublicius from the invading army of
Etruscan king
Lars PorsenaofClusium in the late 6th century BC, during the
war between Rome and Clusium. By defending the narrow end of the bridge, he and his companions were able to hold off the attacking army long enough to allow other Romans to destroy the bridge behind him, blocking the Etruscans' advance and saving the city. This fanciful engraving of Cocles was produced in 1586 by the German-born Dutch printmaker
Hendrick Goltzius. The full-length portrait shows him holding a raised sword in his right hand and a shield in his left. In the lower right of the background, Cocles takes on an army by himself.
Engraving credit: Hendrick Goltzius
