The Mythical Founding of Rome

Summary

The myth of Rome's founding begins with the Trojan Prince Aeneas fleeing Troy and eventually settling in Italy, where his descendants ruled for generations. The twins Romulus and Remus were born from the god Mars and Rhea Silvia, who were abandoned but saved by a she-wolf. They later founded their own city, but Romulus killed Remus in a dispute over its location. Romulus became Rome's first king, growing the city with outcasts and eventually uniting with the Sabines. His reign ended mysteriously, with Romulus ascending to the heavens as a god of Rome.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The founding myth of Rome starts with the fall of Troy, where the Trojan Prince Aeneas fled to Italy and founded Lavinium.
• 👑 Aeneas's son Ascanius established the city of Alba Longa, where generations of kings ruled until King Numitor was overthrown by his brother Amulius.
• 👩‍🦳 Amulius forced Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a Vestal Virgin to prevent her from bearing potential heirs, but she was impregnated by the god Mars, giving birth to Romulus and Remus.
• 👶 Amulius ordered the twins to be thrown into the Tiber River, but they were saved by a she-wolf who nursed them until a herdsman, Faustulus, found and raised them.
• ⚔️ Romulus and Remus grew up as strong leaders, fighting bandits and gaining a loyal following. Eventually, they learned of their royal lineage and overthrew Amulius, restoring Numitor to the throne.
• 🏗️ Romulus and Remus decided to found their own city but quarreled over its location. Romulus wanted the Palatine Hill, while Remus preferred the Aventine Hill.
• 🦅 They sought divine signs to resolve the dispute. Six vultures appeared to Remus first, but twelve appeared to Romulus. Romulus killed Remus in a fit of anger after a disagreement over the signs.
• 🏙️ Romulus became the sole ruler and named the city Rome. To grow the population, Rome welcomed criminals, slaves, and the dispossessed, but it lacked women.
• 👰 Romulus abducted women from neighboring cities, notably the Sabines, leading to conflict. However, the Sabine women intervened to stop the war, leading to a union of Romans and Sabines.
• ⚡ Romulus's reign was long and prosperous, but one day he mysteriously disappeared during a thunderstorm. A trusted Roman claimed that Romulus was taken by the gods and ascended as a deity, leaving behind a message for Rome's future dominance.

Q & A

What event marks the beginning of the mythical founding of Rome?

The mythical founding of Rome begins with the fall of Troy, when the Trojan prince Aeneas fled the destruction with a group of survivors and eventually reached Italy.

Who were the twins involved in the founding of Rome, and how were they born?

The twins involved in the founding of Rome were Romulus and Remus. They were born after the god Mars forced himself on their mother, Rhea Silvia, a vestal virgin priestess.

What did King Amulius do to prevent potential rivals from challenging his rule?

King Amulius forced his niece Rhea Silvia to become a vestal virgin priestess, ensuring she would bear no sons to challenge his rule. However, she became pregnant with Romulus and Remus after being assaulted by Mars.

How were Romulus and Remus saved after being ordered to be drowned in the Tiber River?

Romulus and Remus were saved when the Tiber River was in flood, which prevented them from being washed away by the stronger currents. They washed ashore and were found by a she-wolf who nourished them until a herdsman named Faustulus took them in.

How did Romulus and Remus grow in reputation among their people?

Romulus and Remus became known for defending their people by chasing down and attacking bandits, sharing the spoils with their fellow herdsmen. This gained them a loyal following.

What event led to the capture of Remus and how did it impact the twins' fate?

Remus was captured during a festival by bandits seeking revenge. He was imprisoned by King Amulius, but the king later realized that Romulus and Remus were his long-lost grandsons. Romulus rescued Remus and killed Amulius, restoring their grandfather Numitor to the throne of Alba Longa.

What caused the conflict between Romulus and Remus when founding their city?

Romulus and Remus quarreled over which hill to build their city on. Romulus chose the Palatine Hill while Remus preferred the Aventine. They sought a sign from the gods to settle the dispute, but a disagreement over interpreting the omens led to a violent confrontation in which Romulus killed Remus.

How did Romulus ensure the rapid growth of the population of Rome?

Romulus ensured the rapid growth of Rome by opening the city to runaway slaves, criminals, and dispossessed people. However, there was a shortage of women, so Romulus resorted to abducting young women from neighboring cities during a festival.

What role did the Sabine women play in ending the war between the Romans and the Sabines?

The Sabine women intervened in the war by positioning themselves between the Roman and Sabine battle lines. They appealed to both sides, saying they would rather die than live as widows or orphans. Their plea led to peace, and the Romans and Sabines united.

What was Romulus' fate according to the myth, and how did the Romans interpret his disappearance?

According to the myth, Romulus disappeared during a thunderstorm while inspecting his troops. A respected Roman named Proculus Julius later claimed that Romulus had ascended to the heavens and became an immortal god, commanding the Romans to continue building their power and supremacy.