The Founding of Rome

The legend of the founding of Rome by the twin brothers, Romulus and Remus has different variations. One of them is that their grandfather was the heir to the kingdom of Alba but had been deposed by his brother. Their mother was supposed to be a Vestal Virgin priestess, but she was impregnated by Mars, the god of war. Their uncle that Romulus and Remus were obviously other than mortals more attempted to have them killed. The servant who was to slay them instead left them by the river Tiber. They were found by a female wolf who nursed them, and a woodpecker, who fed them. Later they were found by a herdsman who brought raised them.

Romulus and Remus grew up to be born leaders of the shepherds and surrounding countryside. Romulus and Remus did not want to be servants to anybody else as king, so they left Alba to found their own city.

They chose different sites, and sought omens for which would be better. Remus looked round and saw six vultures, a good omen, whereupon Romulus claimed to have seen twelve. While they were arguing, Remus destroyed the walls Romulus had built. Romulus was angry about this act, and in rage, killed his brother.

Romulus buried Remus, and continued to build his city. All the inhabitants were men. Romulus held games in honor of the god Consus, and invited people from the Sabine communities. During the games, Romulus the Romans kidnapped the young Sabine women who were attending the games. The Sabines later tried to get the women back, they had married their abductors and some of them had become mothers.  Peace was restored and Romulus and Tatius, the king of the Sabines, were made joint kings. Tatius was killed after only five years and Romulus then reigned alone.

After reigning for 38 years, Romulus disappeared in a violent storm, and it was announced that he had been taken up to heaven, from where he would continue control Rome's destiny as the god Quirinus.

 For the Romans, the supernatural details did not detract from the history of the myth phenomenon of nature with accounts of other figures in Roman history persist in other myths including the emperors of the Roman Empire.