The Founding of Rome: The Story of Romulus and Remus in Roman Mythology

- Did you know that the founding of Rome

is dated based on the
myth of Romulus and Remus?

Stick around to learn more.

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Hello and welcome to World
History Encyclopedia.

My name is Kelly, and today,

we are honoring the
legendary founding of Rome

on April 21, 753 BCE.

Let's have a look at the
story of Romulus and Remus

and the very beginning of one

of the most influential
empires of the Western world.

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The founding of Rome is a
legendary tale about the twins

and demigods, Romulus and Remus.

In Roman mythology, Romulus
and Remus were the sons

of Rhea Sylvia and Eva, the God, Mars,

or the demigod Hercules.

Also, in order to synthesize
the myth of Aeneas,

a Trojan prince who had
fought in the Trojan War

before setting off to Italy

to establish the Roman
bloodline, Romulus and Remus

were believed to be direct
descendants of Aeneas.

When Romulus and Remus were
born in the city of Alba Longa,

they were given prophecy,
like many other heroes were.

This prophecy said that they
would overthrow Amulius,

their great uncle, who
had usurped the throne

of Alba Longa from Rhea's father, Numitor.

Prior to their birth, their
mother had been forced

to become a Vestal Virgin,

an important religious position
that demanded celibacy.

There are many contradictory
myths about the father

of Romulus and Remus,

but either way, Rhea
attributed her pregnancy

to divine conception.

The law regarding Vestal
Virgins breaking their oath

of celibacy though, was
that the children had

to either be buried alive,
exposed to the elements

and left to die, or
thrown in the Tiber River.

The servant who was sent to
kill the babies in every version

of the myth, took pity on them

and spared their lives,

so they were left in a
basket on the River Tiber.

The boys were carried by
the river God, Tiberinus,

who caused their basket
to be caught by a fig tree

at the base of the Palatine Hill.

It was then, that a she-wolf
or Lupa, found the boys

and suckled them, and they
were also fed by a woodpecker.

Eventually, they were discovered
by a shepherd, Forculus,

and his wife, Acca
Larentia, who took them in

and raised them as their
own to become shepherds.

One day as they were out in
the fields, the twins were met

by shepherds of King
Amulius, who picked a fight

with Romulus and Remus,
and Remus was captured

and brought back to the king.

Amulius thought the twins were dead

and didn't recognize them as the boys

who were prophesied to kill him.

In the process of freeing
Remus, Romulus killed Amulius,

but they rejected the crown

and reinstated the previous king, Numitor.

Romulus and Remus decided
that it was about time

they founded their own city,

and so they set off to find
the perfect spot for it.

Of course, they chose different locales

and couldn't seem to agree on one.

Romulus wanted to start on Palatine Hill,

and Remus wanted to start on Aventine Hill

and to settle this, they
agreed to consult Augury.

Augury is a type of
prophecy which uses birds

to determine which choices

or actions are favored by the Gods.

Naturally, they both
thought that they had won,

since Romulus had seen 12 birds,
a good omen for his claim.

But Remus said he had seen six birds

before Romulus had seen
six yet, advancing his.

So, they were still nowhere
near choosing a spot

for their city.

Romulus started to dig trenches

and build a wall around Palatine Hill,

and Remus thought this was hilarious.

Remus made fun of the wall

and even made a joke of jumping over it.

Some myths say that he died suddenly

after jumping over it
as a sign from the Gods

that Romulus was right.

Others say that he was killed
either by Romulus himself

or by one of his supporters.

Either way, Remus died and
was given full burial rights

before Romulus declared his city of Roma,

named after himself, of course,

which was established
on the Palatine Hill.

The date of the death of
Remus, April 21, 753 BCE

is also known as the legendary date

for the founding of Rome.

Are there any popular foundation

or creation myths in your culture?

Feel free to share in the comments below.

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for more information on Romulus, Remus,

and the beginning of Rome.

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