Italy: The Founding of Rome

Today, we continue our adventure in Italy with a story from legend. Now Italy is a country with a long, storied history. One that you’ve undoubtedly learned about at some point in your years at school. The land modern Italy currently rests on was once controlled by arguably the most famous empire in history, one whose impact is felt even in your modern life. That’s right, I’m talking about Rome. And what better way to tell you about Rome than to go back and tell the story of its founders? So sit back and enjoy as I tell you the story of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.

The Legend of Romulus and Remus

Legend has it that Ascanio, son of the Trojan hero Aeneas (son of Venus and Anchises), founded the city of Alba Longa on the right bank of the river Tiber. Many of Aeneas's decedents reigned this settlement peacefully. When Nimitor was king, his brother Amulius seized the power and dethroned Nimitor, killing his male heirs and forcing his daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a Vestal Virgin so that she would not provide a male heir to the throne.

Nevertheless, Rhe Silvia however, gave birth to twins, Romulus and Remus who were believed to be children of Mars (the Roman God of War). Amulius imprisoned the daughter and condemned the babies to death by drowning in the river Tiber. However, the servant in charge of the task took pity on them and instead placed the twins into a basket and pushed them down the River Tiber. They were safely carried to the area of the seven hills.

There, Lupa, the she-wolf found the boys and nursed them back to health until they were found by a shepherd and his wife, who raised them as shepherds. As adults, Romulus and Remus were two natural-born leaders and in a fight killed King Amulius and reinstated Nimitor as king of Alba Longa. Seeking to establish their own settlement, Romulus finally built a wall around Palatine Hill, the location he had chosen for the founding of Rome.

When seeking the perfect location for their new city, the twins wandered across the seven hills (Aventine, Celio, Capitol, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal). Remus wished to start the city on the Aventine Hill, while Romulus preferred the Palatine Hill. In order to decide which brother was right they agreed to consult augury, where birds are examined to see what the gods favored. Remus claimed to have seen six birds, whereas his brother had seen twelve. Even though Romulus had seen more birds, Remus argued that he had seen them first and therefore the city should be built on the Aventine Hill. Meanwhile, Romulus began to build a wall on his hill, which Remus decided to jump over. Angered by his brother’s actions Romulus then went on to murder his brother.

In Conclusion.

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Credit for today’s story: https://www.rome.net/romulus-and-remus