The MYTH
The myth of the foundation of Rome is common knowledge, however, I believe it is worth including to give some context.
According to legend (and Livy [2]), In the hills of Alba Longa, King Proca named his elder son, Numitor as the future king of Alba Longer. However, his younger brother, Amulius, violently expelled his brother, taking the crown for himself. In the process Amulius murdered his nephews and made his niece, Rhea Silvia, a Vestal virgin, depriving her of any status or supporters.
After she was forcibly violated by Amulius, Rhea Silvia gave birth to twin boys. But she named Mars as their father, possibly because she thought the fault would appear less heinous if a deity were responsible. Disgraced, the Vestal no longer sheltered her and Amulius had her thrown in prison and ordered her sons to be drowned in the River Tiber. However, as the water was flooding, the soldiers responsible for drowning the boys simply floated the cradle down river, believing that the river would do the job for them. However, the cradle washed ashore and a thirsty She-Wolf was drawn by the sound of their cries. She fed them as if they were her own children. Not long after, a flock-master, Faustulus found them and raised them as his own with his wife Larentia.
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| Etruscan statue of She-wolf made around the fifth century BC The twins were added in the 15th century, thought to be by Antonio Pollaiolo |
Years later, during the celebrations of Lupercalia, a brigade captured Remus, the brother of Romulus, and brought him before the king. The principle charge that he was accused of was invading Numitor's lands (the grandfather of Romulus and Remus) and was therefore given to Numitor to punish. However, Numitor remembered what had happened to his two grandsons, and, in comparing their age and where they had grown up, as well as Remus' tale of a twin brother, he reached the conclusion that it was his grandson before him, and this was the chance he had waited for to overthrow Amulius.
Faustulus finally decided to tell Romulus what he believed about their origins.
Both brothers individually put together a band of men and encircled the king. Together, the two brothers won the battle that ensued and killed the king.
The government was transferred back to Numitor by the people and the two brothers left to form their own city at the place where they were found. Given that they were twins, neither had a higher claim of seniority and sole rulership of their city and so they left it to be decided by Fate.
Remus wanted to settle on the Aventine and Romulus, the Palatine. Six vultures alighted on the Aventine and Remus believed he was therefore the sole ruler and namesake of their city, but just as the news reached Romulus, twelve vultures landed on the Palatine. Therefore, Romulus was given sole rulership of Rome. The two brothers fought and, unsurprisingly, Remus was killed.
During his reign, Romulus is said to have increased the population by allowing all outlaws and refugees from other cities to live in the asylum or sanctuary on the Capitol, as well as staging the famous rape of the Sabine women,[1] (although at the time rape didn't have the same sexual connotations as it does today, it simply meant to forcibly take). And, according to legend, the King of the Sabines, Titus Tatius captured the Capitol through the treachery of a Roman watchman's daughter, Tarpeia/Tarpeya. However, the Sabine women prevented bloodshed between their families and their new husbands. Together they became one people, Romulus ruling on the Palatine Hill and Titus Tatius on the Capitoline. However this is questioned by both modern & ancient historians and so, as H. H. Scullard says 'no great confidence can be felt in this historicity'.
Romulus is also acredited with the formation of the Senate, however it was rather a body of advisors selected by the king. Originally, Romulus chose 100 hundred men, all of which were leading members of partrician 'clans', but this was increased with the arrival of Tatius and became 200 men. Once appointed the men became Senators for life and vacancies were only filled by the king.[1]
During his reign, Romulus is said to have increased the population by allowing all outlaws and refugees from other cities to live in the asylum or sanctuary on the Capitol, as well as staging the famous rape of the Sabine women,[1] (although at the time rape didn't have the same sexual connotations as it does today, it simply meant to forcibly take). And, according to legend, the King of the Sabines, Titus Tatius captured the Capitol through the treachery of a Roman watchman's daughter, Tarpeia/Tarpeya. However, the Sabine women prevented bloodshed between their families and their new husbands. Together they became one people, Romulus ruling on the Palatine Hill and Titus Tatius on the Capitoline. However this is questioned by both modern & ancient historians and so, as H. H. Scullard says 'no great confidence can be felt in this historicity'.
Romulus is also acredited with the formation of the Senate, however it was rather a body of advisors selected by the king. Originally, Romulus chose 100 hundred men, all of which were leading members of partrician 'clans', but this was increased with the arrival of Tatius and became 200 men. Once appointed the men became Senators for life and vacancies were only filled by the king.[1]
