The Legend of Romulus and Remus - The Founding of the City of Rome

The story of Romulus and Remus is a foundational myth of Ancient Rome, blending legend and history. It begins in Alba Longa, where King Numitor is overthrown by his brother Amulius, who forces Numitor’s daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a Vestal Virgin to prevent her from bearing heirs. However, Mars, the god of war, intervenes, and Rhea gives birth to twin sons, Romulus and Remus.

Amulius, fearing the twins’ potential threat to his throne, orders them to be abandoned in the Tiber River. Miraculously, the river carries them safely to the shore, where they are discovered by a she-wolf (Lupa) who nurses them. A shepherd named Faustulus and his wife, Acca Larentia, eventually find and raise the boys as their own. Romulus and Remus grow up to be strong leaders among the local shepherds, unaware of their royal heritage.

As young men, Romulus and Remus become known for their bravery, but Remus is eventually captured and brought before Amulius. Romulus rescues his brother, and during the battle, their true identity is revealed. With the help of their grandfather Numitor, they overthrow Amulius, restoring Numitor to the throne of Alba Longa.

Determined to establish their own city, the twins choose the site of the seven hills along the Tiber River, near where they had been rescued. However, they disagree on which hill to build their city: Romulus prefers the Palatine Hill, while Remus favors the Aventine Hill. To resolve this, they seek the gods' guidance through augury, observing the flight of birds. Romulus claims victory, having seen twelve vultures, while Remus had seen six. The dispute escalates into violence, and Romulus kills Remus, either in a fit of rage or to defend his city’s boundaries. This tragic event leads Romulus to found the city of Rome, named after himself, on April 21, 753 BCE.

Romulus then establishes the city’s initial defenses and structures, including the Senate. To ensure Rome’s growth, he invites exiles and fugitives as new citizens. However, the lack of women poses a challenge for Rome’s future. Romulus responds by staging the Rape of the Sabine Women, inviting the Sabines to a festival and seizing their women. This act results in war with the Sabines, but the women eventually intervene, pleading for peace. The Romans and Sabines unite, strengthening the city.

Romulus rules for many years, expanding Rome’s territory through wars and alliances. His rule ends mysteriously; according to legend, he vanishes during a storm and is later worshipped as the god Quirinus.

The story of Romulus and Remus symbolizes Rome’s origins in struggle, divine favor, and unity born from conflict. Romulus’s legacy is that of a founder who establishes order, leading to the rise of one of the greatest empires in history.

Transcript

The story of Romulus and Remus is a captivating blend of mythology and history, illustrating the legendary origins of Ancient Rome. Their tale unfolds as a saga of divine intervention, rivalry, and destiny, shaping one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known. Below is a narrative account of their story:

The Birth of Romulus and Remus

In ancient times, the kingdom of Alba Longa, located in the central Italian region of Latium, was ruled by King Numitor. However, Numitor’s reign was threatened by his own brother, Amulius, who coveted the throne. Amulius forcefully usurped power, banishing Numitor and seizing control. To secure his rule and prevent any legitimate heirs from challenging his authority, Amulius condemned Numitor's only daughter, Rhea Silvia, to a life of celibacy as a Vestal Virgin, thereby ensuring she could not bear children.

Fate, however, had other plans. Mars, the god of war, took notice of Rhea Silvia, and from their divine union, she bore twin sons, Romulus and Remus. The birth of these twins posed a direct threat to Amulius’s rule. Upon hearing the news, Amulius was filled with fear and rage. Determined to eliminate any future rivals, he ordered the infants to be abandoned in the waters of the Tiber River, hoping nature would take their lives.

The Survival of the Twins

Though condemned to perish, the twins were not forsaken by the gods. The river, unusually calm that day, carried their cradle safely to the riverbank. There, the infants were discovered by a she-wolf, known as Lupa, who nourished and protected them. Some accounts suggest that a woodpecker, another sacred animal of Mars, also aided in their survival by bringing food. Eventually, they were found by a shepherd named Faustulus and his wife, Acca Larentia, who raised Romulus and Remus as their own sons. The boys grew strong and brave, unaware of their noble heritage.

The Discovery of Their Royal Bloodline

Romulus and Remus became natural leaders among the shepherds and villagers of the region, known for their strength and courage. They often led their companions in raids and protected their territory from bandits. During one such raid, Remus was captured and brought before King Amulius. Romulus, determined to rescue his brother, led an attack on the city of Alba Longa. In the ensuing battle, their true identity was revealed. With the help of Numitor, who recognized them as his grandsons, the twins deposed Amulius, reclaiming their birthright and restoring Numitor to the throne.

The Founding of Rome

With their grandfather restored as king, Romulus and Remus set out to establish a city of their own. They chose the site of the seven hills, near where they had been rescued by the she-wolf along the Tiber River. The twins, however, could not agree on which hill would be the location for their new city. Romulus preferred the Palatine Hill, while Remus favored the Aventine Hill. To resolve their dispute, they decided to seek the gods’ guidance through augury, an ancient practice of interpreting the will of the gods by observing the flight of birds.

Remus claimed to have seen six vultures first, while Romulus saw twelve later. Romulus argued that his sign, though later, was superior because of the greater number of birds. The disagreement quickly escalated into violence. In some versions of the tale, Remus mocked Romulus by leaping over the boundaries of his walls, and in a fit of rage or to defend his city’s sanctity, Romulus killed his own brother. Remus’s death marked a tragic beginning, yet Romulus proceeded with his plan to establish the city, naming it Rome, after himself, on April 21, 753 BCE.

The Early Days of Rome

Romulus, now the sole ruler, set about building and organizing the city. He fortified its defenses, established a council of elders known as the Senate, and invited people from nearby regions, including fugitives, exiles, and slaves, to become citizens. To ensure the growth of the city, Romulus faced another challenge: the lack of women. Without wives, Rome’s future population and stability were threatened.

In response, Romulus devised a cunning plan known as the Rape of the Sabine Women. He invited the neighboring Sabine tribe to a grand festival, luring them to the city under the pretense of friendship. At his signal, the Romans seized the Sabine women, intending to make them their wives. This act led to war with the Sabines, who sought to reclaim their women. However, as the conflict raged, the Sabine women intervened, pleading for peace between their fathers and their new husbands. Their mediation led to a truce, and the Sabines united with the Romans, strengthening the young city.

The Reign of Romulus and His Legacy

Romulus continued to rule for many years, expanding the city’s territory through warfare and alliances. Rome grew into a powerful city-state, and Romulus became not just a king, but a legend. According to some accounts, Romulus mysteriously vanished during a storm, and it was said that he had been taken up by the gods, later worshipped as the god Quirinus.

The legacy of Romulus and Remus became a foundational myth for the Romans, embodying themes of destiny, divine favor, and the unity that arises from conflict. The story also symbolized the importance of law and order, as Romulus, despite his violent actions, was seen as a leader who established the structures that would guide Rome’s rise to greatness.

Thus, the tale of Romulus and Remus is not merely a story of two brothers; it is the epic of a city born from struggle, ambition, and the favor of the gods—a city that would one day rule an empire.