Romulus and Remus The Founders of Rome

Sons of the god Mars and the priestess Rhea Silvia. Their grandfather Numitor was king of one of Italy’s oldest cities – Alba Longa - but was deposed by his younger brother Amulius. Who forced Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin. When the two sons were born, Amulius found out and had them put in a trough and set upon the Tiber River in fear that they would grow to maturity and overthrow him. They came to shore near the future site of Rome. The boys came ashore and were discovered by a she-wolf who nursed them. She was aided by a woodpecker who brought them food. Both the wolf and woodpecker are sacred to Mars. Romulus and Remus were discovered by a shepherd, Faustulus, who brought the boys to his home and raised them with his wife as their own. According to the historian Livy, Loba (wife of Faustulus) suckled them, not a wolf. Indeed, her name meant wolf which was Lupus in Latin.

Upon reaching adulthood, Romulus and Remus killed Amulius and reinstated their grandfather Numitor as king of Alba Longa.

The two brothers decided to found a town of their own and chose a place near to where they had been raised. Romulus began to build walls on the Palantine Hill, but Remus jeered at them because they were so low. He leaped over them to prove this and Romulus killed him out of anger. Romulus continued to build the new city, naming it Roma (Rome) after himself. Its first citizens were outlaws and fugitive, to whom Romulus gave the settlement on the Capitoline Hill.

There were not enough women for all the men so Romulus decided to steal women from the Sabines, an Italian tribe. He proclaimed a festival and invited many Sabines to it. While the Sabine men's attention was elsewhere, Romulus’ men rushed in and carried off the women in what became known as “The Rape of the Sabine Women”.

The Sabine men were furious and their king, Titus Tatius, declared war on Romulus. When the fighting had reached its peak, the Sabine women, who had grown quite fond of their Roman husbands, rushed between the ranks and begged the armies to make peace. The battle was stopped and Romulus and Titus ruled jointly until Titus died in battle, after which Romulus continued to rule alone. He proved himself to be a great leader in war and peace. Romulus did not die but disappeared one day in a violent storm. The Romans believed that he had been taken up into Heaven and worshipped him under the name of Quirinus. He was succeeded by Numa Pompilius.