Background: Go to the Story of Romulus and Remus

The king of Alba Longa (which would later become part of Rome) had a daughter name Rhea Silvia. She was still a young girl when her uncle, Amulio, imprisoned (put into jail) her father and took over the town. He feared that Rhea Silvia would have sons who would one day grow up and kill him. Therefore, he made Rhea Silvia become a priestess (a female priest), a Vestal Virgin who would never marry nor have children.

The God of War, Mars, looked down on the earth and saw Rhea Silvia in the temple. He fathered children with her and she had twin boys. She named them Romulus and Remus.

When Amulio found out about the twins he ordered one of his soldiers to take the boys into the forest and kill them. However, the soldier just put the boys in nature thinking that they would be killed by starvation or by the animals.

This was not to be. A mother wolf who lost her cubs found the twin boys and gave them milk. Woodpeckers gave them nuts and berries. The baby boys survived.

A shepherd found the boys and took them home.

Shortly after that a shepherd found the twins. He was surprised to see them alone out in the forest, and he took them home. He and his wife raised them as their own sons. They grew up into strong and health young men. But they always knew about survival. They could steal and fight very well. They even fought with each other! Perhaps that was because they were the sons of Mars.

Romulus and Remus later learned about their uncle's cruelty toward their mother, and about their own past. They went to Alba Longa and killed Amulio.

Romulus and Remus did not want to stay in Alba Longa, however. They wanted to start their own city, but they could not agree on many things. Where would the city be? What would they call it? Who would be the king?

Romulus and Remus got into a terrible fight. Finally they decided to let the gods show them who would rule. They looked for birds, messengers of the gods. Remus saw the first bird, but Romulus saw the most.

Romulus plowed the boundary lines of the city and he named it 'Roma' after himself. He said, "No one will come into this land without my permission."

His brother Remus laughed at the boundary lines. He easily jumped over the line and said, "Look, it is so easy to come here. You have no power over me." This started a fight between the twins. Romulus drew his sword and killed Remus.

 Romulus felt bad about what had happened. However, he was determined to build a great city. The date was April 21, 753 B.C.

[The Roman calendar used this year as the beginning - year one of the Year of the Founding of the City - Anno Urbis Conditai - A.U.C.]

Learn More About It: The Legend of Romulus and Remus