LA STORIA DI ROMA -- Fasolo e Zelotti -- VILLA DA PORTO COLLEONI -- fidelity and betrayal in four scenes: FIDELITY: Mucius, Scipio -- BETRAYAL: Sofonisba, Cleopatra.

Speranza

The frescoes represent four scenes taken from Roman history.

I. MUCIUS SCAEVOLA before PORSENA

II. SOFONISBA asking MASSINISSA for mercy

III. SCIPIONE returning Lucius's betrothed

IV. The banquet of MARCANTONIO e CLEOPATRA.

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What's the unity?

Well, the whole thing centres on the opposition between FIDELITY and BETRAYAL.

Two of the scenes allude to fidelity -- the sacrifice of the Roman soldier in MUCIUS SCAEVOLA BEFORE PORSENA and Scipione's generous gesture in returning to LUCIUS the leader of the tribe loyal to Carthago, his betrothed, who had been taken prisoner.

The other two scenes, in contrast, SOFONISBA and CLEOPATRA, tend to push Massinissa and ANTONIO, respectively, to betray their duty to their soldiers.