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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.
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