After what has been said about the Tarquins and sixth century Rome generally it is scarcely necessary to discuss in detail the historicity of Servius Tullius. For representative modern views on him see Mueller-Deecke[1272] (Servius symbolizes the supremacy of Volsinii, the Tarquins that of Tarquinii); De Sanctis[1273] (Servius is the Etruscan invader who drove out the Tarquins); Gardthausen[1274] (Servius is the Roman counterpart of the Greek tyrant, the Tarquins the legitimate kings, leaders of the rich and noble). This whole chapter is a refutation of Gardthausen’s view about the Tarquins: the other suggestions are compatible with my own. Etruria may well have exercised as strong an influence on a sixth century tyranny at Rome as did Persia on those of sixth century Ionia. Pais[1275] fancifully explains Servius as the priest god, the seruus rex, of Aricia, who was imported to Rome in 338 B.C., well known to English readers as The priest who slew the slayer And shall himself be slain. Mastarna is differentiated from Servius[1276] and said to have a historical prototype in Mezentius, the enemy of Aeneas. My criticisms of Pais in reference to the Tarquins are equally applicable here. [Illustration: Fig. 37. Ionic terra cotta antefix found in Rome.] [Sidenote: Rome and Athens.] In the early period of the Roman republic the chief Greek influence to judge from the narratives was that of Athens and the Alcmaeonidae[1277]. Once more we find the written documents and the archaeological evidence in agreement. During the second half of the sixth century Attic imports had been gaining a great preponderance in Central Italy[1278]. [Illustration: Fig. 38. Similar antefix found in Samos.]