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There are many myths and legends surrounding the founding of Rome which Plutarch examined thoroughly in his 75 ACE writing, "Romulus". Some people believed that after wandering about the livable areas of the planet, the Pelasgians, who were skilled warriors, settled there calling their city Rome. Other people believed that winds drove the ships of the Troy refugees upon the coasts of Tuscany where they set anchor at the mouth of the Tiber River. Roma, the wife of Aneneas, persuaded the weary women to burn the ships. Angry at first, the men soon rejoiced in finding such a fine country and considerate people. In their gratitude, they honored Roma by naming the city after her. The most popular legend of all, however, was that of "Romulus and Remus". There were many stories written about the twin brothers that differed about the details of their birth and family. The most believable story about them was that Numitor and Amulius, who were the last of the Alba kings descended from the lineage of Aeneas, decided to divide the kingdom into two equivalent shares.
Amulius chose the treasure
brought from Troy, while Numitor chose the kingdom. Amulius soon used the gold
to take the kingdom away from Numitor.
After usurping the throne, he murdered Numitor's sons and forced his daughter Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin so she would not have children. The god Mars who was enthralled with her charms took advantage of her while she slept. Shortly thereafter she discovered that she was with child. Amulius' daughter Antho intervened to have her confined rather than entombed alive which was the normal punishment for such a serious transgression by one of the Vestal Virgins. Rhea Silvia gave birth to twin boys who were then set adrift on the swollen river in a reed basket which floated downstream until it lodged in the branches of a fig tree. A shepherd whose wife had just had a stillborn child found them and he brought them to her to suckle, naming them Romulus and Remus. They were raised in secret and with the help of Numitor went to a good school at Gabii. When they had grown into manhood, they were told of their true origins. Afterwards Amulius was killed in battle and Numitor regained his throne.
Romulus and Remus then
decided to found a new city close to where their reed basket had landed. The
brothers disagreed about the exact placement of the city, both wanting to built
it on different pieces of land...Continue on
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