On this day in history: Rome was founded

The Romulus and Remus myth originated in the fourth century BC, but the date of Rome’s founding was set by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the first century B.C.

According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa. Alba Longa was a mythical city located in the Alban Hills southeast of what would become Rome. Before the birth of the twins, Numitor was deposed by his younger brother Amulius, who forced Rhea to become a vestal virgin so that she would not give birth to rival claimants to his title.

However, Rhea was impregnated by the war god Mars and gave birth to Romulus and Remus. Amulius ordered the infants to be drowned in the Tiber. His plan was thwarted when they survived and washed ashore at the foot of the Palatine hill. They were suckled by a she-wolf until they were found by the shepherd Faustulus.

The twins later became leaders of a band of young shepherd warriors nurtured by Faustulus. After learning of their true identity, they attacked Alba Longa and killed the wicked Amulius. They restored their grandfather to the throne and Rome was founded on the site where they had been saved as infants. But as most ancient myths go, the two had a petty quarrel and Remus was killed by his brother. Romulus then became ruler of the settlement, which was named “Rome” after him.

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