|
|
|
The myth of Romulus and Remus started before they were actually born. It started with Amulius, Romulus and Remus’ grandfather. He received the throne of Alba Longa when his father died. Amulius had a brother Numitor’s. Since Amulius held the treasury he was more powerful. Therefore Amulius got the throne. He’s last obstacle was Rhea Siliva, Numitor’s daughter. If she has children, they will one day over thrown him. So he had Rhea Siliva swear that she will not have children, but instead she had twins named Romulus and Remus.
When Amulius found out that Rhea Siliva had children he had her buried alive. Then he ordered a slave to kill the twins but the slave could not because the twins were too beautiful and innocent to be killed. Instead of killing the twins the slave but them in a basket down the Tiber River. They were later found in the Tiber River by a she-wolf and woodpecker. The she-wolf nursed them. Both of these animals were sacred to Mars, their father.
Later Romulus and Remus were found by a shepherd named Faustulus. They grew up and were admired by their equals and the poor, and became very famous among Latium. One day, while Romulus was out sacrificing, Remus and his friends got into a battle with some of Numitor’s shepherds. Both sides got hurt but in the end Numitor’s shepherds took Remus as their prisoner. When the shepherds gave Remus to Numitor, Numitor took Remus to Amulius for his punishment.
Amulius saw no purpose of Remus, therefore he gave him to Numitor hoping that he could punish Remus for him. When Numitor took Remus home for the punishment, he was amazed at Remus’ strength. Then Numitor asked Remus who he was and where he came from. Remus talked about his deeds and adventures with his brother. When Numitor asked Remus about his birth and his origins, he then talked about the she-wolf and how she found him and his brother on the banks of the Tiber River. Numitor thought of something that struck him, could this boy be one of Rhea’s sons?
While Remus was with Numitor, Romulus just came back his sacrifices, Faustulus told him about Remus and how he was captured. He got an army and marched to Alba Longa. When Romulus went out Faustulus quickly got the cradle in which he had found Romulus and Remus and quickly ran to Alba Longa too. When Faustulus reached the gates of the city the servant who had put the boys into the river was there and at once recognized the cradle. The servant hurriedly went to Amulius and brought Faustulus.
Amulius was then scare and feared that Numitor already knew about this. He sent a friend of Numitor to see if he had indeed heard of the report of the twins. When the friend entered the house he found Numitor hugging Remus. Numitor was overjoyed that his grandson is alive. The friend told them that Romulus was marching toward the city with his army. Remus acted very quickly and gathered the citizens within the city to revolt too. Amulius was taken by the citizens and put to death.
After Amulius death, the city offered Romulus and Remus the crown, since they have just killed their king. However, the twins refused the crown, but instead they gave it to their grandfather, Numitor. Later, the two left to go build their own city near the slopes of the Palatine Hill. Along the way they collected fugitives, runaway slaves, and all other types of people who wanted another chance at their life.
When they arrived at the Palatine Hill, it was time to decide where the new city would be built. Romulus wanted the city to build on top of Palatine, but Remus wanted to build it on Aventine Hill for more tactical reasons. They settled their argument by having a competition. They tested their skills by seeing who could spot the most amounts of vultures. Remus saw six, while Romulus saw twelve. Remus was very mad that Romulus got to pick where the new city’s location.
When they started to build the city, Romulus began to build a wall. Remus was mad that he lost so he criticized Romulus’ work. He said that the wall was too low and that enemies would easily invade the new city. Remus proved his theory by jumping over the wall. Jumping over the wall was a bad omen so Remus was killed.
After Remus’ death, Romulus then buried him and continues with building his city. Since Remus died, Romulus could then call the new city Rome, after himself and became the first king. He then divided the people who were able to fight into tow groups, the infantry and the cavalry. The rest of the people became the population of Rome. Romulus then chose 100 noble men to serve the city council.
The council would be could the Roman Senate and the men serving it would be could Patricians. Romulus expected these Patricians to be nice to weak and poor as if he or she were their own child. Since Rome was a place where people could start over their lives, it had attracted many people. This growth of population made Rome to expand to five of the Seven Hills of Rome. After 38 years, Romulus disappeared into thin air. The Romans believed that he died and became a god himself and joined his father.
Summary
Once in a far away place, two little baby boys were born. The king was afraid that the boys will one day out throne him so he sent a servant to kill them. The servant could not kill the two; instead he put them in the Tiber River. Then they are found by a she-wolf and after they were raised by a shepherd. When the two grew up they found one of the greatest
cities, Rome.
 Baby Snow Leopard · Mon Mar 17, 2008 @ 11:18pm · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
