Romulus and Remus

The tale of Romulus and Remus has endured throughout history. Twin brothers, raised by a wolf, whose legacy is the most powerful and famous city in the ancient world.

The children of Princess Rhea Silvia (daughter of Numitor, King of Aba Longa) and the God, Mars, Romulus and Remus were forcibly abandoned by their Mother, after her Uncle Amulius made her a Vestal Virgin (and therefore made her children illegal) in order to prevent future heirs replacing him in the line of succession. 

Left to die on the banks of the Tiber River, the babies were discovered by a mother wolf,who chose to raise the boys as her own, protecting and even breast-feeding them. 

Many years later, Romulus and Remus were spotted by a poor shepherd, Faustulus, who took the feral children into his home and taught them the proper behaviors of a human. 

After uncovering their true heritage, when they were older, both Romulus and Remus returned to Alba Longa, to overthrow their evil Uncle Amulius, and retake their rightful throne, that of their grandfather, Numitor’s. 

As the years passed, the two men decided to start a new city. But there was disagreement   over the hill upon which to build Rome. Romulus prefered the Palantine Hill, whereas Remus wished for the city to be on the Aventine Hill. 

The brothers decided to allow the gods to choose for them. They set up on their respective hills and waited for an omen Soon, one came: six birds flew over Remus on the Aventine Hill.  However, soon after, twelve birds flew over Romulus on the Palantine Hill. The men quarreled over what the omens meant and who was the winner, a heated debate which lead to the death of Remus. 

And so,  on April 21, 753 BC (though not in a day), on the Palantine Hill, Romulus built Rome.