Romulus and Remus: Rome’s Mythic Brothers and the Birth of an Empire
- dthholland
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Discover the legendary tale of Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers who founded Rome in 753 BCE. Explore their mythic lineage, divine parentage, the tragic fraternal clash, and the historical roots behind the enduring Roman foundation myth.
A Wolf, a War God, and Two Brothers: The Tale Behind Rome’s Legendary Beginnings
It’s one of the oldest tales in Western civilisation: a pair of abandoned twins, suckled by a she-wolf, rising to establish what would become the greatest city of the ancient world. But behind the image immortalised in bronze and marble lies a rich tapestry of myth, politics, and early Italic history. The legend of Romulus and Remus is not simply an origin story—it is a statement of divine right, national identity, and military destiny.
According to tradition, Rome was founded in 753 BCE by Romulus, who gave the city its name after a deadly falling-out with his twin brother, Remus. Yet the saga of these brothers begins long before their birth, with the fall of Troy and the wanderings of a hero named Aeneas.
The Legendary Lineage of Romulus and Remus
To the Romans, theirs was not just a city among others, but the rightful heir to the grandeur of Troy. This belief was rooted in the story of Aeneas, a cousin of Hector and Paris, who escaped the sack of Troy in 1184 BCE. The image of Aeneas carrying his aged father Anchises on his back—immortalised in vase paintings and sculpture—served as a founding symbol of filial piety and divine mission.
Aeneas’s mother was none other than the goddess Aphrodite, known to the Romans as Venus. After a long journey, the Trojans arrived on the Italian peninsula and were welcomed by Latinus, king of the Latins. A marriage to Latinus’s daughter Lavinia followed, triggering a war with Turnus, her former suitor. With Venus on Aeneas’s side and Juno backing Turnus, the gods themselves took part in the conflict. Eventually, Aeneas prevailed and established the city of Lavinium, named for his new bride.
This Trojan-Latin union bore a son, Ascanius (also known as Iulus), who later founded Alba Longa, a city situated about 30 kilometres southeast of where Rome would later rise. For centuries, Alba Longa would serve as the cradle of Rome’s royal lineage. And it is here that we meet Numitor, a descendant of Aeneas, who would become the grandfather of Romulus and Remus.
The Twins Cast Out: Divine Conception and Early Peril
Numitor’s brother, Amulius, seized the throne of Alba Longa and, fearing future rivals, forced his niece Rhea Silvia into becoming a Vestal Virgin—a priestess sworn to celibacy. However, legend holds that she was visited by Mars, the god of war, and bore him twin sons: Romulus and Remus.
Infuriated, Amulius ordered the infants to be drowned in the Tiber River. Yet the river’s waters had risen, and the basket carrying the twins washed ashore. There, the most iconic figure of Roman myth appears—a she-wolf, or Lupa, who suckled the children in a cave known as the Lupercal.
The twins were eventually discovered by a shepherd named Faustulus, who raised them with his wife, Acca Larentia. Oblivious to their royal blood, the boys grew into charismatic leaders, gathering a band of followers from the countryside.
The Return to Alba Longa and a Bold Decision
Trouble returned when Remus was captured in a skirmish with Amulius’s men. Romulus mounted a daring rescue, and in the process, the brothers overthrew Amulius and reinstated their grandfather Numitor as king.
Offered the kingship of Alba Longa, Romulus and Remus declined. Instead, they resolved to build their own city near the site of their miraculous survival. But agreement did not come easily.
The Fratricidal Birth of Rome
Choosing the right hill on which to found the city became a matter of contention. Romulus favoured the Palatine Hill; Remus preferred the Aventine. Seeking divine guidance, they conducted augury—watching the flight of birds to read the will of the gods. Remus claimed to see six vultures first; Romulus claimed to see twelve later. Each declared himself the victor.
Romulus began constructing walls around the Palatine Hill. In a gesture meant to mock his brother’s efforts, Remus jumped over the newly built wall. According to the traditional narrative, Romulus killed him for the insult—though Ovid claimed the deed was done by one of Romulus’s men, Celer.
Despite killing him, Romulus mourned Remus deeply and gave him funeral honours. With his brother gone, Romulus pressed ahead, naming the city Roma and becoming its first king.
Rome Takes Shape
Romulus wasted no time in building Rome’s early institutions. He dug a furrow to mark its sacred boundary—the pomerium—and built a defensive wall, the Murus Romuli. He divided the population into tribes and created a rudimentary senate, laying the groundwork for future governance.
One of his most controversial actions was the abduction of Sabine women to provide wives for his largely male citizenry—a move that led to war but ultimately ended in unification. The Sabines were incorporated into Roman society, symbolising Rome’s ability to assimilate others through conflict and alliance.
Romulus ruled until his mysterious death, after which he was believed to have been taken up to the heavens and deified as Quirinus—a Roman god associated with civic virtue and war.
How Rome Remembered Its Founders
While kingship was later disavowed in Republican Rome, Romulus remained an important figure. From the 3rd century BCE onwards, the she-wolf nursing the twins became a ubiquitous symbol of the city. Coins, statues, and mosaics celebrated the scene.
Romulus’s divinity was firmly established in Roman belief, and his cult persisted. Yet Remus, though appearing in the same myths, never achieved the same veneration. He remained the shadow of Romulus, honoured more in image than in name.
Separating Fact from Fiction
So, how much of this story is historical? The earliest written versions of the Romulus and Remus tale appear in the 3rd century BCE, hundreds of years after the events they purport to describe.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Rome began as a small settlement in the early 7th century BCE, not 753 BCE. The area was inhabited by Latin and Sabine tribes who likely united for mutual defence and economic opportunity. The choice of location—close to the Tiber and atop defensible hills—was pragmatic.
Alba Longa, the supposed royal city of Numitor, shows little sign of being a dominant power at the time. It was likely chosen for its religious significance rather than historical grandeur. Similarly, the rivalry between Romulus and Remus might reflect tensions between tribal factions rather than literal fratricide.
Later influences, particularly from the Etruscans, were key to Rome’s growth. The Etruscans introduced temple architecture, urban planning, and elements of religion. Rome’s earliest temples—including the Capitoline Triad of Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus—likely reflect this cultural fusion.
Myth with a Message
The story of Romulus and Remus is not history in the strictest sense, but it is a powerful myth that helped shape Roman identity. It offered divine lineage, justified conquest, and explained Rome’s mixed tribal origins in a narrative of survival, strength, and unity.
While we may never know the exact events that gave rise to the Eternal City, the legend of two wolf-reared twins continues to echo through the ages—part parable, part propaganda, and wholly Roman.
