The ancient Romans loved to hear the
story of Romulus and Remus. In their eyes, this story explained why Rome
had the right to rule.
According
to the legend, Romulus and Remus justified their right to rule because
their mother was a princess and their father was the war god Mars.
The legend of Romulus and Remus
.....
Rhea was married to Mars, the Roman
god of war. Rhea had twin sons. She loved her boys, but there were plots
afoot by other gods and goddesses to harm her father, herself, her
husband, and her children. To protect the boys, she set them adrift on the
river, hoping someone would find them. Who would not love such beautiful
boys?
Sure
enough, first they were found by a she-wolf who fed them. Then a shepherd
and his wife adopted the boys.
As
the twins grew older, they decided they did not want to take care of
sheep. They wanted to be kings. They decided to build a city on the shores
of the Tiber. They both wanted to be the only king. They quarreled. In a
fit of rage, Romulus picked up a rock, killed his brother, and made
himself king.
That’s
how Rome started.
The
Aeneid
The
great poet Virgil wrote about a famous warrior, Aeneas.
It is the story of what happened before Romulus and Remus were born.
Romulus &
Remus
Founding
of Rome
Romulus &
Remus
Romulus
& Remus