Related:
"1-The Founding Of Rome"

Rome Tourist Guide History  

1-The Founding of Rome

When it comes to the origins of Rome, the line between historical fact and mythical tale blurs, leaving a trail of legends that inextricably link the two. Archaeological findings indicate that Etruscan and Latin settlements were amongst the earliest on the Palatine Hill, which would later become the chosen site for the new city of Rome. Because the beginnings of Rome are shrouded in layers of legends, it is difficult to ascertain the true historical events. Nonetheless, historians have come to accept that the city was founded around the year 753 B.C.

One legend about the founding of Rome seems to prevail and has garnered immense popularity over the course of history. This is the tale of Romulus and Remus, first featured in Titus Livius' (also known as Livy) monumental History of Rome. Written during the 1^st century B.C., Livius' historical account numbers 142 volumes and includes the tale of the twins Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of the eternal city. The twin boys were the sons of Princess Rhea Silvia and Mars, the god of war. Rhea Silvia was a vestal virgin and thus sworn to chastity. Her uncle Amulius, keen that she should not bear any offspring that might overthrow him, had Rhea Silvia executed for breaking her vestal vows. The children were also sentenced to death, but the servant given the gruesome task couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he placed the children in a basket alongside the Tiber River. The river carried them away and washed them ashore on the Palatine Hill, where a she-wolf came across them. She nursed the boys until a shepherd named Faustulo took them into his home and reared them in secret. Years later, after defeating Remus in a struggle, Romulus founded Rome on the Palatine Hill and was crowned king of the newborn city.

The historical authenticity of this tale cannot be verified, but Romans have come to embrace this legend as their own. If asked how Rome began, they will tell you the story of Romulus and Remus. Romulus supposedly built the first semblance of a city, including the earliest walls, and invited neighbouring villages to join Rome, thus hoping to increase the city's nascent population. Some stories claim that he even welcomed criminals into the city's fold with the unintended and unfortunate side-effect of creating a disproportionately high male population. In order to restore the gender balance and guarantee the survival and continuation of the young city, Romulus went in search of women. This led to the famous episode known as The Rape of the Sabine Women. The Romans organised a series of games and celebrations to which they invited the neighbouring Sabine village. However, the event was nothing more than a smokescreen to veil their true intentions - during the festivities the Romans abducted the Sabine women.

The Sabine men were outraged by the Roman treachery and declared war on their neighbour. The women, however, had already forgiven their new husbands and put an end to the conflict, thus renewing the peace between the Roman and the Sabine people. The period following the war was of vital importance to the development of Rome as a city and began to set the stage for what was to become one of the world's largest and longest lasting empires.