The Founding of Rome

The Story of Rome’s founding is rich with drama, conflict, and family rivalry. Most history classes cover the basics, but the finer details elevate the story from a stale recounting of what transpired, to an energized saga.

This detailed retelling will draw heavily upon the writings of the great Roman historian, Livy. Specifically, book one of his Ab Urbe Condita. 

The story begins a few years before the birth of Romulus and Remus. Their great-grandfather, Proca, ruler of Alba Longa, had two sons, Numitor (their grandfather) and Amulius (their great uncle). Livy tells us:

“…Proca, who had two sons, Numitor and Amulius. To Numitor, the elder, he bequeathed the ancient throne of the Silvian house. Violence, however, proved stronger than either the father's will or the respect due to the brother's seniority; for Amulius expelled his brother and seized the crown. Adding crime to crime, he murdered his brother's sons and made the daughter, Rea Silvia, a Vestal virgin; thus, under the pretence of honouring her, depriving her of all hopes of issue.” (Livy 1.3)

Amulius made the daughter of Numitor a Vestal Virgin. The Vestal Virgins were an important part of the religious beliefs at the time, and continued to heavily influence Roman Religion and politics. The Vestal Virgins had specific responsibilities which will be covered in a later post. The important aspect in this story is that they were selected as young girls and had to remain virgins. If they lost their virginity, they were punished harshly, as it was seen as an offense to the goddess Vesta. Making Rea Silvia a Vestal Virgin was a strategic act by Amulius. It was a way to prevent her from ever bearing children who would threaten Amulius’ rule. However, things didn’t go according to plan. Livy continues:

“But the Fates had, I believe, already decreed the origin of this great city and the foundation of the mightiest empire under heaven. The Vestal was forcibly violated and gave birth to twins. She named Mars as their father, either because she really believed it, or because the fault might appear less heinous if a deity were the cause of it. But neither gods nor men sheltered her or her babes from the king's cruelty; the priestess was thrown into prison, the boys were ordered to be thrown into the river. By a heaven-sent chance it happened that the Tiber was then overflowing its banks, and stretches of standing water prevented any approach to the main channel. Those who were carrying the children expected that this stagnant water would be sufficient to drown them, so under the impression that they were carrying out the king's orders they exposed the boys at the nearest point of the overflow…” (Livy 1.4)

These events set the stage for Romulus and Remus to one day found a great city. As Livy describes, the Fates were involved in ensuring the founding of Rome, and for the founding to occur, the founders had to be born. Rea Silvia became an innocent victim, and her children were ripped away from her and sentenced to death. Her part in the story ends here. The typical punishment for a Vestal Virgin who lost their virginity was to be buried alive. Here in Livy’s account, she was thrown into prison. Either way, it is safe to assume that she died a tragic death resulting from events outside of her control. 

At this point, the twin boys were abandoned on the banks of the Tiber river, assumed dead by everyone involved. However, they survived their abandonment. Livy says:

“The tradition goes on to say that after the floating cradle in which the boys had been exposed had been left by the retreating water on dry land, a thirsty she-wolf from the surrounding hills, attracted by the crying of the children, came to them, gave them her teats to suck and was so gentle towards them that the king's flock-master found her licking the boys with her tongue. According to the story his name was Faustulus. He took the children to his hut and gave them to his wife Larentia to bring up. Some writers think that Larentia, from her unchaste life, had got the nickname of ‘She-wolf’ amongst the shepherds, and that this was the origin of the marvellous story.” (Livy 1.4)

The symbol of the wolf was closely associated with the story of Romulus and Remus for centuries. Though it is not unheard of for wild animals to care for human infants who are left in the wild (for more information, click here), it seems more likely that the term “she-wolf” was associated with a human. On the one hand, it wouldn’t be impossible for a wild wolf to begin caring for the boys before Faustulus found them and took them home. Either way, the boys were now in a safe home and were able to grow up as normal boys.

After a series of events (see Livy 1.5), Romulus and Remus learned their identity and helped their grandfather, Numitor, engage in battle against Amulius. Amulius was subsequently killed. Now that the kingdom of Alba Longa was restored to Numitor, Romulus and Remus were “seized with the desire of building a city in the locality where they had been exposed” (Livy 1.6). So, they got to work. Things were going well until it came time to decide who would rule over the city. Livy relates:

“These pleasant anticipations were disturbed by the ancestral curse —ambition —which led to a deplorable quarrel over what was at first a trivial matter. As they were twins and no claim to precedence could be based on seniority, they decided to consult the tutelary deities of the place by means of augury as to who was to give his name to the new city, and who was to rule it after it had been founded. Romulus accordingly selected the Palatine as his station for observation, Remus the Aventine.” (Livy 1.6)

Consulting the auguries was an aspect of religion at the time, and one which endured in Rome for centuries. The basic idea of an augury is to observe birds to discover the will of the gods. The hills upon which they set up for the auguries, the Palatine and the Aventine, were significant locations throughout Roman history. 

The brothers observed the skies. Livy tells us what happened:

“Remus is said to have been the first to receive an omen: six vultures appeared to him. The augury had just been announced to Romulus when double the number appeared to him. Each was saluted as king by his own party. The one side based their claim on the priority of the appearance, the other on the number of the birds. Then followed an angry altercation; heated passions led to bloodshed; in the tumult Remus was killed. The more common report is that Remus contemptuously jumped over the newly raised walls and was forthwith killed by the enraged Romulus, who exclaimed, ‘So shall it be henceforth with every one who leaps over my walls.’ Romulus thus became sole ruler, and the city was called after him, its founder.” (Livy 1.7)

Auguries didn’t have many rules. In Rome herself, the interpretation was left up to the magistrates. At this point in time, the disagreement was established on the fact that they each felt that the gods had chosen them as ruler, and clearly gave them a sign of this truth. Since they each felt strongly that they were chosen by the gods, and neither felt they could relent on this, fighting ensued. What Livy calls “the more common report” is referring to what the common people in Rome believed about the founding. They claimed that Remus crossed the border of Rome and was killed as punishment for invading the city. In any case, Romulus was victorious and ruled over Rome. 

Though Rome’s founding was filled with tragedy, it remained a very powerful city, eventually growing into a great empire. The precedent of killing anyone who attempted to invade the city remained in force throughout Rome’s history. From the ashes of tragedy, a great city grew and thrived. 

The English translation of Livy’s work is pulled from perseus.tufts.edu, a free online resource. 

I hope you learned something new. For fun facts throughout the week, follow @relevantrome on Instagram. Coming soon, relevantrome will have accompanying videos posted to YouTube. Comment about what you learned, or if there are topics you want to learn more about. Thank you! 

To learn more about what happens next, check this out: Who Were the Sabine Women?