In Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus were considered as the twin brothers who founded the city of Rome.
It was believed that Remus and Romulus were sons of the Roman god of War, Mars and a princess named Rhea Silvia.
According to ancient myths, the King of the place where the boys lived was afraid that either Remus or Romulus would dethrone him someday so he ordered his troops to leave the boys in the Tiber River.
Popular Roman writers such as Virgil recorded the lives of both Remus and Romulus whom he claimed as their birth and adventures were designed in order Rome to be established.
It was widely accepted that the twin brothers were raised by a she-wolf who cared and safeguarded them from other wild animals.
In addition, an amicable woodpecker assists them in finding food before eventually some shepherds run across the twins.
Consequently, one of the shepherds brought the boys home and raised them as his kids. As they grew older, both Remus and Romulus became natural leaders.
Historians said that Remus discovered his true identity after he was captured and brought to King Amulius.
Adjacently, Romulus formed some shepherds to help save his brother and went on to kill the king thereafter.
Following the death of the King, the boys were offered to become the joint kings of the city but turned it down in the hopes of finding their own city.
Remus and Romulus left the area and eventually came to the place where Rome is situated today. The twin brothers liked the area in general but both wanted to place the city on a different hill.
Romulus wanted Rome to be founded on the top of the Palatine Hill while Remus chose the Aventine Hill.
Both settled to call for an augury to determine which hill to be used. Roman historians said that Romulus saw 12 vultures while his brother witnessed six, but neither of them refused to lose.
Romulus started constructing a wall around the Palatine Hill but Remus became jealous and went on to make fun of the wall that was built by his brother.
At one point, Remus leaped over the wall to show how effortless was it to cross. This gesture angered Romulus and resulted in him killing his own brother.
Facts about Romulus and Remus
- Romulus founded the city of Rome on April 21, 753 B.C. He named Rome after himself and became the first King of the City.
- Romulus also established the Roman Legions which is made up of more than 3,000 men.
- The Roman Legions are likewise comprised of at least 100 noble men that included the elders of the Senate and the Patricians.
- The city of Rome is made up of seven surrounding hills specifically the Esquiline Hill, the Capitoline Hill, the Viminal Hill, the Quirinal Hill, the Caelian Hill, the Palatine Hill, and the Aventine Hill.
- Romulus disappeared in 717 B.C.E at the age of 53 according to Plutarch. It is, however, important to note that other historians such as Dionysius of Halicarnassus reported that Romulus passed away at the age of 55.
- Roman poet Ovid said that Romulus became a God and went on to spend the rest of his life on Mount Olympus to join his father, Mars.
- It is said that the River god, Tibernus assured the safety of Romulus and Remus by calming the river and helping the roots catch their basket in the nearby fig tree.
- According to Ovid, both Remus and Romulus were considered as the descendants of a Trojan prince named Aeneas.
- Who was Rhea Silvia?
Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus. She was the daughter of Numitor who was the King of Alba Longa which is an old city of Latium. - What happened to Romulus after his death?
Ancient Romans believed that Romulus turned into a God named Quirinus after he mysteriously disappeared in a storm. - How old is the famous she-wolf statue in the Capitoline Museums?
Historians believe that the famous bronze statue of a she-wolf that can be found on the Capitoline Museums was created at around 6th to 5th century B.C. - What is the name of the she-wolf?
The she-wolf who cared for both Remus and Romulus was called as Lupa.
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