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Semi-legendary woman from the early history of ancient Rome

Cloelia (Ancient Greek: Κλοιλία)^[1] was a legendary woman from the early history of ancient Rome.

Biography

She was one of the women taken hostage by Lars Porsena as a part of the peace treaty which ended the war between Rome and Clusium in 508 BC. Ancient historians present two different stories explaining her escape.

The first version of Cloelia's escape recognizes that the female hostages went to the river to bathe. Having persuaded their guards to leave them alone at the river, in order to remain modest, they swam across the river into Roman territory.

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The second version claims that Cloelia escaped from the Etruscan camp, leading away a group of Roman virgins. According to Valerius Maximus, she fled upon a horse, and swam across the river Tiber through a barrage of hostile darts, thus bringing her band of girls to safety.

When Porsena learnt of their escape, he quickly sent emissaries