Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus suckling on Lupa
Rhea Silvia was the daughter of Numitor, King of the Alba Longa. Before Romulus and Remus are conceived, Numitor's brother, Amulius, seizes power, killing Numitor's heirs and ordering Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin, swearing her to chastity. She conceives the twin boys - Romulus and Remus - by the god Mars, but, Amulius discovers them and abandons them to die on the Tiber. They were discovered by a she-wolf, Lupa, who suckles them and a woodpecker feeds them.
They are then discovered by a shepherd and his wife who foster them to manhood as simple shepherds. They quickly show leadership skills and gain followers, and when they discover the truth of their birth, they kill Amulius and restore Numitor to the throne. They then decide to build a new city rather than wait to inherit Alba Longa.
Romulus wanted to build the city on the Palatine Hill whereas Remus wanted to build the city on the Aventine Hill; they quarrel over this and Romulus eventually ends up killing his brother, Remus. Romulus then founds the city where he wanted and names it Rome, after himself, and creates its first legions and Senate. The city grew rapidly as it was swelled by mostly-male landless refugees so Romulus organises the abduction of women from the neighbouring Sabines; the war between the two groups ends as the two join together to be Romans.
They are then discovered by a shepherd and his wife who foster them to manhood as simple shepherds. They quickly show leadership skills and gain followers, and when they discover the truth of their birth, they kill Amulius and restore Numitor to the throne. They then decide to build a new city rather than wait to inherit Alba Longa.
Romulus wanted to build the city on the Palatine Hill whereas Remus wanted to build the city on the Aventine Hill; they quarrel over this and Romulus eventually ends up killing his brother, Remus. Romulus then founds the city where he wanted and names it Rome, after himself, and creates its first legions and Senate. The city grew rapidly as it was swelled by mostly-male landless refugees so Romulus organises the abduction of women from the neighbouring Sabines; the war between the two groups ends as the two join together to be Romans.