Romulus and Remus

Romulus and Remus
The story of Romulus and Remus and the foundation of Rome is one of the most famous legends in the world. The legend of the twins being rescued and suckled by the she-wolf is partly invented but the recent archaeological excavations in Rome suggest that a part of the Romulus and Remus story is perhaps true, while most historians agree that Rome was named after Romulus who is traditionally credited with the foundation of Rome.

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Quick Facts

The legendary twins Romulus and Remus are mythological or real historical figures who played the key role in the foundation of Rome.

The parents of the twins were Rhea Silvia, a Vestal virgin and the Roman god of war Mars.

Their great-uncle and usurper King of Alba Longa, Amulius felt threatened by the twins and ordered their death by exposure.

Immediately after birth, Romulus and Remus were put in a basket and thrown in the River Tiber.

The twins were found by the she-wolf that suckled them until they were found by a shepherd named Faustulus who took them home and raised them as his sons.

When the twin brothers grew up and found out who they really are, they killed their great-uncle and restored their deposed grandfather Numitor to the throne.

The brothers came into conflict when choosing the location for a city they have decided to build on the site where they were found by the she-wolf.

Remus is killed by Romulus when leaping over his wall.

Romulus completed his city and named it Rome.

Romulus laid the foundation of the future Roman military and political organization by establishing the Roman Legions and the Senate, and became the first King of Rome.

The legendary founder of Rome continued to expand the Roman influence and territory until he was according to the legend, carried up to heaven by his father Mars.

The story of Romulus and Remus is believed to be a myth but the recent archaeological excavations in Rome imply that the story may be partly true.

Role of Romulus and Remus in the Roman Foundation Myth

Romulus and Remus were the key figures in the Roman foundation myth, however, it remains uncertain whether the legendary twins really existed or if they are mythological figures. Most historians believe that the legend of Romulus and Remus may be based on actual historical figures but a part of the story about the twins is undoubtedly invented. Despite that the image of the she-wolf suckling the legendary twins remains the symbol of the city of Rome and its foundation.

Parents of Romulus and Remus

There are several variants of the Romulus and Remus story. In most versions, the twins are born to Rhea Silvia, niece of the usurper king Amulius who deposed her father Numitor, king of Alba Longa. He forces his niece to become a Vestal virgin in order to prevent her from giving birth to potential heirs to the throne and secure his position. However, Rhea Silvia conceives Romulus and Remus with the Roman god of war Mars (or in some versions with the Greek demigod Hercules). Some variations of the story present Numitor and Amulius as descendants of the Trojan hero Aeneas who escaped the fall of Troy and according to the legend, settled in the Italian west central region of Latium.

Story of Romulus and Remus after Their Birth

When Rhea Silvia gives birth to Romulus and Remus, Amulius orders their death by exposure. The twins are put in a basket and thrown into the River Tiber. However, they are protected by a series of miraculous events and carried downstream to a fig tree where they are found by the she-wolf that suckles them. Eventually, Romulus and Remus are found by a shepherd named Faustulus who takes them home and raises them with his wife Acca Larentia as their own children.

Conflict between Romulus and Remus

Romulus and Remus are raised as shepherds but when they find out about their true identity, they kill Amulius, restore their grandfather Numitor as King of Alba Longa and decide to build a new city at the site where they were found by the she-wolf. However, they cannot agree about the best site for the city. Romulus favors the Palatine Hill, while Remus wants to build the city at the Aventine Hill. The brothers decide to choose the site of the city by the auspice – watching the signs of the birds but they cannot agree who has “won” the auspice. Romulus claims victory because he saw twelve vultures, while Remus argues that he saw his six birds first.

Death of Remus

There are several versions about what happened after the auspice. The “generally” accepted version goes that Romulus built a wall around the Palatine Hill to set the boundaries of his city. He killed his brother Remus after the latter leaped over the newly built wall saying “So perish every one that shall hereafter leap over my wall”.

Foundation of Rome and Abduction of Sabine Women

After Remus’ death, Romulus completes his city. He names it Rome after himself and becomes the first King of Rome. He populates the city with fugitives and exiles, establishes the Roman Legions and the Senate, and lays the foundation of the future Roman military and political organization. However, he soon faces a problem – lack of women for mostly male population. He decides to organize a festival and invite the neighboring Sabines to abduct their women. The event that came to be known as the “Rape of the Sabine women” outrages the Sabines who declare a war. However, the abducted Sabine women intervene the military conflict and ask the Sabines to allow them to stay in Rome. Romulus makes a peace agreement with the Sabines and becomes a co-ruler with the Sabine King Titus Tatius until the latter was killed in a battle leaving Romulus as sole King of Rome.

Romulus During the Last Years of His Rule as a King of Rome

Romulus continues to expand the Roman influence and territory to the neighboring regions but most legends describe him as an autocratic and dangerous man during his last years of rule. The story of Romulus ends with his mysterious disappearance during a storm. According to the legend, Romulus did not die but was carried up to heaven by his father Mars and came to be worshipped as god Quirinus by the end of the 1st century BC.

Archaeological Evidence of the Legend of Romulus and Remus

The legend of Romulus and Remus is thought to be created in the 4th century BC. Since the foundation of Rome is traditionally dated to 753 BC, most scholars doubt about the authenticity of the story of the legendary twins. However, the recent archaeological excavations around the Palatine Hill suggest that the story of Romulus and Remus may be partly true. In 2007, the Italian archaeologists discovered a cave under the Palatine Hill that was considered as the site where Romulus and Remus were found by the she-wolf by the ancient Romans. The archaeologists also believe that the remains of a wall they discovered could be the Wall of Romulus. Both the cave and the wall are dated to the second half to mid-8th century BC corresponding to the traditional date of the foundation of Rome.

The She-Wolf Statue

The Capitoline Wolf, a statue of the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus is another possible evidence of the authenticity of the story of the legendary twins. The statue of the she-wolf that is housed in the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the Campidoglio in Rome is said to date from the late 6th or early 5th century BC. However, both the age and origin of the she-wolf statue remain controversial. It was long believed that the she-wolf was created by the Etruscans during the early Roman Republic and that the suckling twins representing Romulus and Remus were added in the 15th century. However, the recent radiocarbon and thermoluminescence dating imply that the she-wolf was sculptured during the Middle Ages as well.