The founding of Rome is shrouded in myth and legend, a fascinating story deeply rooted in ancient Latin traditions. The most famous tale associated with the city’s birth is that of Romulus and Remus, twin brothers destined to change the course of history.
The Fate of Romulus and Remus
According to tradition, the twins were the sons of the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia and the god Mars, the god of war. However, their uncle, King Amulius of Alba Longa, feared that they might one day overthrow him. To eliminate the threat, he ordered the infants to be abandoned on the waters of the Tiber River, leaving them to perish.
Fate, however, had different plans. The basket carrying the twins drifted to the marshes of Velabrum, at the foot of the Palatine Hill, where they were discovered by a she-wolf. Instead of attacking them, she miraculously nursed and protected them in her den, the legendary Lupercal Cave.
The Intervention of the Shepherd Faustulus
Some time later, a shepherd named Faustulus found the two boys and, together with his wife Acca Larentia, raised them as his own children. As they grew, Romulus and Remus became strong and courageous young men. Eventually, they discovered their true origins and decided to return to Alba Longa, where they overthrew the cruel King Amulius and restored their grandfather Numitor to the throne.
The Founding of Rome and the Fratricide
Having restored order to their birthplace, the twins decided to found a new city on the site where they had been saved by the she-wolf. However, a dispute arose between them over who would name and rule the city. According to legend, they sought the guidance of augurs, observing the flight of birds: Romulus saw more vultures than Remus, thus winning the divine favor.
The rivalry between the brothers escalated. In an act of defiance, Remus mocked Romulus and jumped over the sacred trench marking the city’s boundaries. Furious at this provocation, Romulus killed his brother, becoming the first king of Rome on April 21, 753 BC, a date still celebrated today as the Birth of Rome (Natale di Roma).
The Symbol of the Capitoline She-Wolf
The legend of the she-wolf nursing Romulus and Remus has become one of Rome’s most iconic symbols. The famous Capitoline She-Wolf statue, housed in the Capitoline Museums, depicts this legendary scene and is considered an emblem of the Eternal City, symbolizing strength, protection, and its ancient origins.
Today, the myth of Romulus and Remus continues to captivate and preserve the legend of one of the greatest cities in history.
