Remus and Romulus: The Legendary Founders of the Eternal City of Rome

"Romulus was not just a founder of Rome but a symbol of the city's fierce spirit and destiny —a tale where myth and history intertwine to shape a civilization" — Titus Livy (59 BC - 17 AD)

 Most people who know me would definitely know I have an undying love for the City of Rome, I mean with all its histories and stuffs. I have this heartful wish to one day walk the street of Rome. Well, that's not why we're here, today I'll be taking you far back to the 8th century BC, back to when it all began...

If you ever wondered how Rome started, then you’ve got to hear the story of Remus and Romulus. These two brothers are at the heart of Rome’s origin myth — a tale full of drama, family rivalry, and some serious twists. Yeah, Julius Caesar, Augustus or Marcus Aurelius are not the only legendary figures 😏

So, it all begins with a guy named King Numitor, who was the rightful ruler of a place called Alba Longa. But his brother Amulius was a real snake. He kicked Numitor out and took the throne for himself. To keep his grip tight, Amulius did something pretty harsh — he killed Numitor’s sons and made his daughter Rhea Silvia a Vestal Virgin. Now, Vestal Virgins were priestesses sworn to remain unmarried and childless, so this was supposed to stop any heirs from coming. But the gods had other plans. According to the legend, Mars, the god of war, came to Rhea Silvia and she gave birth to twins — Remus and Romulus. Fearing what might happen if Amulius found out, she abandoned the babies by the Tiber River.

Here’s where the story gets wild. Instead of dying, the twins were saved by a she-wolf who found them and took care of them. Yeah, a wolf! She nursed them until a shepherd named Faustulus found them and raised them as his own.

As they grew up, Remus and Romulus became strong and brave young men, unaware of their royal bloodline. Eventually, they learned the truth about their past, confronted Amulius, and restored their grandfather Numitor to the throne. But the brothers weren’t done. They decided to build a city of their own. That’s when the famous rivalry began. Each wanted the city to be named after himself and be the ruler. They agreed to seek the gods’ will through a form of bird-watching, an ancient way of divining the future.

Romulus saw more birds first, so he took that as a sign he should be king. Remus wasn’t having it though. The argument got heated, and in a tragic moment, Remus was killed — some say Romulus himself did it, others say it was one of his followers.

Romulus then went on to found the city of Rome in 753 BCE, naming it after himself. He became its first king and began building what would become one of the most powerful civilizations in history.

The story of Remus and Romulus isn’t just a cool myth; it tells us a lot about Rome’s values — bravery, loyalty, and the price of power. Even today, the image of the she-wolf nursing the twins is a powerful symbol of Rome.

So yeah, next time you hear about Rome, see an edit on TikTok about the Roman empire, remember this epic tale of two brothers, a wolf, and the birth of an empire. Although, we might never know if it's a myth or a real story, as most historians consider it a myth, like you know the Olympus gods in Greek mythology, but what we do know is the Roman civilization went on to become one of the world most powerful civilization influencing art, law, governance, religion, language, geography and the impacts? Still felt today. 

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