Mucius
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Gaius Mucius Scaevola was a noble and probably mythical Roman youth, famous for his bravery.
When the Etruscan king Lars Porsenna held Rome under siege, Gaius Mucius famously sneaked into the Etruscan camp and attempted to murder Porsenna. His plot failed because he misindentified Porsenna and killed the wrong man. Mucius was captured. He famously declared to Porsenna: "I am Gaius Mucius, a citizen of Rome. I came here as an enemy to kill my enemy, and I am as ready to die as I am to kill. We Romans act bravely and, when adversity strikes, we suffer bravely." Also declaring that he was one of three hundred other Romans willing to give their own life to kill Porsenna.(Ab Urbe Condita, II.12)
Porsenna, fearful and angry, ordered Mucius to be cast into the flames. Mucius stoically accepted this punishment, preempting Porsenna by thrusting his hand into that same fire and giving no sign of pain. For his courage, Porsenna freed Mucius.
Because of his maimed right hand, Mucius was forever after known as Scaevola ("lefty" or "left-handed"). (Ab Urbe Condita, II.13)
See Livy, Ab Urbe Condita (II.12-13) for the full story of Scaevola..
Gordon Scott portrayed Mucius in the 1964 peplum Hero of Rome, a film loosely based on this story.
