In 390 BC, Gallic chieftain Brennus, came up against Rome, and much to his own astonishment penetrated as far as the Forum itself. There his men found the leading men of Rome sitting so like graven statues that a Gaulish warrior tested one man’s beard. At this, the Roman ‘statue’ suddenly towered up, and struck the Gaul down.

The bearded Roman’s blow sparked a riot of slaughter and looting by the Gauls, until news came that Furius Camillus, the exiled general, was approaching with a relief force. Brennus promised to leave for a heavy ransom, but Camillus would not hear of it. He dealt not in gold but iron, he said, and soon afterwards drove the Gauls out.

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