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Romulus

Page history last edited by Adam Short 10 years, 6 months ago

The Capitoline wolf with Romulus and Remus

 

     The picture above is one of the most famous statues of early Rome. It depicts the raising of Romulus and Remus from a wolf. The myth is that Romulus and Remus were cast aside as babies by their mother, Rhea Silvia, because the father was Mars. Rhea Silvia was supposedly a vestal virgin, and vestal virgins aren't supposed to get pregnant.   After being born, Amulius casts the babies in the Tiber in hopes to be rid of them. This, however, fails as the babies are picked up by a wolf and raised until a shepard, Faustulus, and his wife, Acca Larentia, raised the two boys.

 

 

Rhea Silvia - by Jacopo della Quercia

 

Romulus and Remus - by Charles de le Fosse

 

     When they reached adulthood, Romulus and Remus killed Amulius and reinstated Numitor, their grandfather, as King of Alba Longa. After that, Romulus and Remus decided to found a new city. They disputed, however, on which hill the town should be founded on. Romulus favored the Palatine, but Remus favored the Aventine. Remus saw six birds on the hill he had chosen, and Romulus saw twelve birds on the Palatine. It was decided that Romulus was right, and it was settled that the city would be on the Palatine Hill. Romulus created a border, which Remus preceded to hop right over. Remus was then killed by Romulus. Rome was then founded in 753 BC.

 

Hill Romulus wanted to settle on | Hill Remus wanted to settle on

 

 

Controversy: There is much controversy as to whether or not a wolf actually nursed these two boys. According to Livy's The Early History of Rome, some said that Faustulus's wife had nourished them. It is believed that she may have been a prostitute, and the word for prostitute happens to be "lupa" which means wolf.

 

 

Family Tree - My awesome paint skills

 

     Romulus began his reign, and gave his people laws. Rome continued to grow, and Romulus made Rome an asylum for fugitives. Rome was eventually great enough to hold its own. Romulus created hundreds of senators who were called "Fathers" (patres) Romulus became very war hungry, and began winning battles over other towns. Rome continued to expand exponentially, and soon met with the town of Sabines. During the midst of a party, however, Roman men kidnapped the daughters and women of Sabines. This soon led to the war with the Sabines.

     Even though the Sabines demanded their women back, Romulus refused. A war broke out, and ended with Rome being a power house in Italy. 

     There is much comparison between Tullus Hostilius and Romulus. Some historians believe that they may have been the same person. Both were war hungry individuals who fought to expand Rome.

 

 

Questions:

When was Rome founded?

 

What were the twins' names? What was the mom's name?

 

Why might one compare Tullus to Romulus?

 

Who was the father of the twins?

 

What river were they cast in? How does this connect later on?

 

Why was Rome called Rome?

 

What hill was Rome founded on? Why?

 

Why controversy is sparked about the upbringing of Romulus and Remus?

 

 

 

Works Cited:

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