Founding of Rome 814 Carthage---similar to Rome Other traditions: (Dionysius of Halicarnasus) Aeneas and Creusa (daughter of Priam). After Trojan War (1194-84 B.C.) Aeneas fled to Latium taking father Anchises and son Ascanius. According to Livy: Ascanius may have been the son of Aeneas and Lavinia and thus born in Latium, not Troy. Ascanius founds Alba Longa and lets mom rule Lavinium.

Aeneas

Dionysius/Livy Direct line of kings from Alba Longa to Romulus—descendant of Aeneas—thus Rome both Trojan and Italian. Problem: no archaeological corroboration—in fact Rome older than Alba Longa. Rome indication of habitation on Palatine c. 1,600 though perhaps not continual.

Romulus Romulus and Remus are Rome’s twin founders although the former is sometimes said to be the sole founder. Maternal grandfather was Numitor, king of Alba Longa and descendant of Aeneas. Father to Rhea Silvia. Numitor's brother Amulius deposed his brother, killed the sons, and forced Rhea to become a Vestal Virgin. But Rhea conceived Romulus and Remus by either the god Mars or the demi-god Hercules. When the twins were born, Amulius left them to –basket in a river--but they were saved by a series of miraculous interventions.

Miracles 1. A she-wolf found them and suckled them. 2. A shepherd and his wife then fostered them and raised them to manhood as shepherds. (genre of legends of abandoned children of noble birth—Oedipus—Cyrus—raised by shepherd). Then the twins proved to be natural leaders and acquired many followers. When told their true identities, they killed Amulius, restored Numitor to the throne of Alba Longa and decided to found a new city for themselves.

Etruscan She-wolf

Discovery of Romulus and Remus

Problems Basket in a river common topos—Sargon, Moses She wolf; abandoned aristocratic children. Roman history not written until later—so R&R story does not appear until after 300 B.C. 296 B.C. she-wolf statue put on display in Rome. 250 B.C. R&R and wolf on coins; Wolf statue on slide is Etruscan 5th c. B.C. Etruscan motif/Greek motif?

Romulus and Remus coin

Other Problems Roman history written to parallel Greek, specifically Athenian history. 509 Hippias expelled—Tarquin the Proud—last Roman king expelled. In 479 Fabii at Cremera (306 died)= 300 Spartans killed at Thermopylae Myth: Celtic sack of 386 destroyed all written records—but were there any? Lists of consuls, magistrates, family history Not until 3rd c. that Romans began to write their history.

Veracity? Difficult to assess Many oral traditions contain some truth. 1. Many legends circulate about children raised by wolves Enquirer—Batboy. Maybe an Etruscan legend that the Romans appropriated for themselves. By 300 B.C.—Rome becoming a larger city—280 Pyrrhus of Epirus; 260s—First Punic War—Rome on larger radar screen.

Why Rome? Series of hills—fortified, easily defendable—Palatine—casa Romuli. Basket drifted to Palatine—15 miles to sea; close enough for trading but far away from pirates; river ceases to be navigable. Access to interior—salt pans around river mouth. 8th c. BC. Population growth---Palatine hill—cremation on one side; burials with weapons on another. So hill culture and perhaps italics mixing with non-italics.

Cinerary urn in the shape of a hut—probably similar to Romulus’ house

Hills of Rome

Areas of habitation Palatine, Esquiline, Caelian, Quirinal. But valley area a marsh. 650 B.C. Esquiline hill—tomb with a warrior’s chariot and armor. 625 B.C. Etruscan metalwork; Greek pottery Throughout 7th c.—richness in material wealth of sites in area.

Livy’s account Romulus and Remus argued over the best site for the new city. Romulus favored the Palatine Hill; Remus the Aventine. They agreed to select the site by divine augury on their respective hills; Remus saw six vultures; Romulus saw twelve, and claimed numerical superiority as the basis of his right to decide. Remus’ counterclaim: He saw his six vultures first. Romulus with supporters started digging a trench (or building a wall, according to Dionysius) around the Palatine to define his city boundary.

Remus Remus criticized some parts of the work and obstructed others; he then leapt over the boundary--- as an insult to the city's defenses and their creator. For this, he was killed. The Roman ab urbe condita (from the founding of the city) begins from the founding of the city, and places that date as 21 April 753 BC

Organization of the city Romulus completes his city and names it Roma. He divides his fighting men into regiments of 3000 infantry and 300 cavalry, which he calls "legions". From the rest of the populace he selects 100 of the most noble and wealthy fathers to serve as his council. He calls these men patres or Patricians-- they are fathers of Rome. They are also its elders, and are therefore known as Senators. Romulus thereby inaugurates a system of government and social hierarchy based on the patron-client relationship.

Asylum story Romulus declares Roma as a place of asylum Romulus draws exiles, refugees, the dispossessed, criminals and runaway slaves. The city expands its boundaries to accommodate them; five of the 7 hills are settled: the Capitoline, Aventine, Caelian, Quirinal, and Palatine. As most of these immigrants are men, Rome finds itself with a shortage of marriageable women. No neighboring women interested in marriage.

Rape of the Sabines At the suggestion of Numitor, Romulus holds a solemn festival in honor of Neptune (according to another tradition the festival was held in honor of the God Consus) and invites the neighboring Sabines and Latins to attend. They arrive en masse, along with their daughters. The Sabine and Latin women who happen to be virgins – 683 according to Livy – are kidnapped and brought back to Rome where they are forced to marry Roman men. Romulus’ speech “Give you hearts to those to whom fate has given your bodies.”

Rape of the Sabines

Wars with the Sabines For a few years, wars between Romans and Sabines The Sabine women intervene in one battle beg for unity between Sabines and Romans—their fathers and husbands. A truce is made, then peace. The Romans base themselves on the Palatine and the Sabines on the Quirinal, with Romulus and Sabine king Titus Tatius as joint kings and the Comitium as the common center of government and culture. 100 Sabine elders and clan leaders join the Patrician Senate. One example is Attius Claudius. The Sabines adopt the Roman calendar, and the Romans adopt the armor and oblong shield of the Sabines. The legions are doubled in size.

Sabine Women

More organization As king, Romulus holds authority over Rome's armies and judiciary; He organizes Rome's administration according to tribe; one of Latins (Ramnes), one of Sabines (Titites), and one of Luceres. Each tribe elects a tribune to represented their civil, religious, and military interests. The tribunes are magistrates of their tribes, perform sacrifices on their behalf, and command their tribal levies in times of war.

More Organization II Romulus divides each tribe into ten curiae (wards) to form the Comitia curiata. The thirty curiae derive their individual names from thirty of the kidnapped Sabine women. The individual curiae are further divided into ten gentes. Proposals made by Romulus or the Senate are offered to the Curiate assembly for ratification; the ten gentes within each curia cast a vote. Votes are carried by whichever gens has a majority.

End of Romulus --did he have a personal guard?—later justification for praetorian guard. Expansion—Romulus becomes more tyrannical in nature Dies in a whirlwind—or killed by Senators? Livy offers the two explanations. No apparent son, thus Interreges (between-kings) then the election of Numa.