Why did the capture of Rome by the barbarians shook the inhabitants of the empire?

For the inhabitants of the Roman Empire, Rome was something unshakable. It was a symbol of the empire itself, the “heart” of the state. In the understanding of the citizens of the empire, Rome could not fall, since in that case the whole universe would be shaken.

By capturing Rome, the barbarians dealt a powerful blow to the morale of the Romans. The Romans realized that with the capture of Rome, the era of the inviolability of the empire ended.

The barbarians have shown that they are strong, and the empire cannot cope with them, as it was in the past. The final collapse of the empire was only a matter of time.