The ancient Romans, as well as all of humanity, having reached a certain level in their cultural and moral development, involuntarily began to think about their past. But many questions remained unanswered. Trying to somehow explain the unknown, people made assumptions where fiction was intertwined with reliable events. This is how myths and legends began to appear.
Rome, with its extensive history, has left us a legacy of many secrets and legends associated with its foundation and further development. And according to one of the legends, the founders of Rome were Romulus and Remus, who were the children of Mars himself - the god of war, especially revered by the Romans and who considered him the ancestor and guardian of their hometown.
In honor of this event, on the Capitoline Square in the Capitoline Museum of the city of Rome there is one of the most famous sculptures in the world - a bronze she-wolf feeding two babies. It reminds the Romans of the legend of the founding of their hometown. Scientists believe that it was made in the 5th century BC. Etruscans - ancient people modern Italy. By that time, Rome had already become the capital of the powerful Roman Empire and had become one of the largest and the most beautiful cities peace. And there was no place in the world where the influence of Rome was not felt, or, in any case, where it was not heard or known.
On this moment our generation knows much more than the ancient Romans about the history of their city. Archeology and technological progress contributed to this. Numerous finds during excavations helped scientists learn a lot about the founding of Rome. According to their assumptions, the first settlements on the territory of modern Rome appeared about 1000 BC. on the Palatine Hill. Later, Avetinsky, Capitoline and other hills were populated. Over time, the settlements grew and eventually merged into one. This happened presumably in the 8th century BC. Like this with scientific point vision and Ancient Rome appeared.
But let us return, nevertheless, to the legend, which is one of the most beautiful and interesting in Roman mythology. Let us restore, so to speak, the chronology of all events.
Aeneas and the Founding of Alba Longa.
To complete the picture, you should introduce the hero ancient greek mythology, son of Aphrodite - the goddess of love, Aeneas. During the Trojan War, Troy was destroyed, so Aeneas and the surviving inhabitants of the city were forced to go in search of land to found a new city. During his long wanderings, Aeneas and his companions carried him across the seas and various lands.
In Carthage, where a storm sent by Hera (the patroness of marriage) threw him, the founder of Carthage, Dido, falls in love with Aeneas. But the lovers were not destined to be together. Zeus, the god of thunder, sky and lightning, ordered Aeneas to leave Carthage. Aeneas, not daring to resist the command of the god who rules the whole world, secretly leaves Carthage. The deceived Dido, unable to bear the loss of her lover, who so treacherously betrayed her, kills herself.
By the way, the curses sent by Dido after Aeneas are a symbol of the future enmity of Rome and Carthage.
Aeneas will visit Sicily, then the city of Cuma, where he receives the fateful advice of the soothsayer Sibyl - to descend into the kingdom of the dead. Following the advice, Aeneas learns about his great future and the Roman Empire.
At the end of their journey, Aeneas and the Trojans landed at the mouth of the Tiber River. So the wanderers ended up in the kingdom of Latium, which was ruled by King Latin (hence the name of the people - Latins). He promised Aeneas the hand of his daughter Lavinia. Aeneas, a descendant of Aphrodite, was easily able to charm the girl. But their marriage was hampered by the king of the Rutulians, Turnus, to whom Lavinia was also promised. A duel took place, during which Aeneas killed Turnus and then married Lavinia.
After the death of Aeneas, his son Ascanius (who later took the name Yul), who became the ruler of the kingdom, founded the city of Alba Longa at the foot of the Alban Mountain, in which, many years later, events related to the founders of Rome - Romulus and Remus - would take place.
Numitor and Amulius. Power struggle.
Years passed. About 3 centuries have passed since the Trojans arrived in Latium. The descendants of Aeneas reigned quietly all this time until the fourteenth king of Alba Longa, Numitor Silvius, ascended the throne, who received power after the death of his father as the eldest son. Amulius, Numitor's younger brother, was envious, treacherous and cruel person, dreaming of usurping power in his hands. Amulius managed to overthrow Numitor. Now all power belonged to him.
Fearing the revenge of his elder brother's children, he kills his son Numitor, and forced his daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a vestal virgin - a priestess of Vesta (goddess, patroness of sacrificial fire and the family hearth). According to the laws of that time, this doomed Sylvia to 30 years of celibacy and the inability to have children who could lay claim to the throne. Amulius was not afraid of his older brother. He was too weak and decrepit to compete with Amulius, which is why he remained alive.
Birth of Romulus and Remus.
But everything did not go as Amulius expected. In the fourth year of service in sacred grove Mars appeared to Sylvia. Fascinated by the beauty of the girl, the god of war took possession of her. Sylvia gave birth to two twin boys. Enraged, Amulius ordered the babies to be drowned in the Tiber and Silvia to be thrown into prison.
The slave who was entrusted with killing the children put them in a basket and went to the river. At this time, bad weather broke out. On the Tiber full swing there was a flood. The wind raised huge waves, and the water kept rising and rising. The slave was afraid to go into the water and left the basket near the water, thinking that the river level would rise and the basket with the children would be carried to the middle of the river, where they would drown.
Rescue of Romulus and Remus.
The waters of the river really lifted the basket, and, lo and behold, it caught on a fig tree growing on the bank. Hearing the babies' cries, a she-wolf came running from the forest and fed and warmed the twins. The brothers did not have enough wolf milk, and then a woodpecker and a lapwing came to the rescue, or rather flew in, and fed the babies wild berries. All these animals later became sacred to the inhabitants of Rome.
Then the royal shepherd Faustulus found the twins and took them to his home. His wife, Akka Larenzia, who was grieving the death of her child, happily accepted the little ones. The brothers were named Romulus and Remus. And Faustulus and Larentia began to raise the twins as their own children.
Romulus and Remus return power to their grandfather.
Time passed. The twins were growing up. The brothers helped Faustulus graze the flocks, hunted, did gymnastics, and grew up to be handsome, strong and dexterous young men. Sometimes the herds were attacked by robbers. And the brothers had to fight tooth and nail. In these battles, the brothers proved themselves to be brave and courageous warriors, for which they gained universal respect and gained wide fame.
The herds that Faustulus, Remus and Romulus tended were the property of Amulius. His elder brother Numitor, whom he left alive, also had his own land, his own herds and his own shepherds. Once a fight broke out between the shepherds Amulius and Numitor, as a result of which Remus was captured. He was taken to Numitor.
Rem interested the former ruler. There was something painfully familiar about this young man. Numitor inquired about his origin, to which Remus told a story that he had heard from the shepherd Faustulus. Having compared all the facts, Numitor guessed that standing in front of him was one of his grandchildren, the son of his daughter Rhea Silvia, who had died by that time. The grandfather then told Romulus and Remus the story of their true origins. After this, the brothers firmly decided to punish Amulius. Soon they raised an uprising, during which Amulius, who was hated by everyone, was killed, and all power passed to the rightful heir in the person of Numitor Silvius, the grandfather of Romulus and Remus.
Founding of Rome.
After some time, Numitor invited the brothers to build a new, their own city. But where exactly will the city be located? Here the brothers' opinions were divided. Remus, according to some sources, proposed a lowland between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, according to others - the Avetinsky hill. Romulus insisted that the Palatine Hill be the site of the city's founding.
They decided this: whoever sees the sign from above first will determine the location of the future city. They dispersed to their respective hills and began to wait. Soon Remus saw six kites circling over his hill, and Romulus saw twelve, but still a little later.
By the way, later the number twelve will be associated with the twelve centuries of the reign of the powerful Roman Empire.
The dispute broke out with new strength. Rem claimed that he was the first to see birds. And Romulus insisted that there were more birds than he saw. But everyone who came with their brothers to build the city considered Romulus’s arguments more weighty. Now that the dispute had been resolved, it was necessary to designate the pomeria - the boundaries of the future city. It was believed that this would make it impossible for any enemy to ever cross the city's borders and enter it.
Taking hold of the plow, Romulus began to plow a deep furrow. Out of resentment, in order to annoy his brother, Rem jumped over the furrow several times and exclaimed: “Even a baby can cross these walls.” In a rage, Romulus drew his sword and killed Remus. “This will happen to everyone who dares the walls of my city,” he said over his brother’s corpse. After all, Romulus, being the founder, is now obliged to be responsible for the future of the city and take revenge on anyone who will revile his brainchild and mock him. So Romulus fulfilled his duty by killing his brother. Then Romulus took up the plow and finished what he started.
The city of Romulus was named after himself - Roma (Rome), the city of Romulus. This is how Ancient Rome was founded, and Romulus became its first rex - that’s what the rulers were called Ancient Rome in the so-called royal period before the founding of the Republic.
The Rape of the Sabine Women.
At first, the main problem that the newly-made ruler had to face was the small population of the city. In order to attract new residents and increase the population of the city, Romulus granted those who joined them citizenship and rights on an equal basis with the first settlers who built Rome with him. All arrivals were settled on the lands of Capitol Hill. Ruined peasants, criminals of all stripes, runaway slaves, exiles and adventurers began to flock to the city.
This is where it arose new problem- lack of female population. After all, neighboring peoples did not want to enter into family ties with the Romans. It was considered shameful to tie the knot with various rogues and vagabonds who so quickly flooded Rome. This is the bad reputation the city had.
Therefore, Romulus resorted to a trick. Four months after the founding of the city on August 21, he decided to organize a holiday in honor of Cons (the guardian god responsible for sowing crops, grain reserves and silage) - Consualia with different games and competitions. Invitations to this holiday were sent to all neighbors, so a lot of people gathered.
In the midst of the fun, Romulus took off his cloak, thereby giving a conventional sign. And the armed Romans began to grab the women who came to the festival and take them to their home as spoils of war. Discouraged and confused by this turn of events, the Sabine men (the most numerous people living near Rome) fled in all directions, unable to resist the armed Romans - after all, they came to the holiday without weapons. Romulus also kidnapped one of the Sabine women, Hersilia, whom he later married. According to legend, it was from then on that the custom of bride kidnapping appeared in Rome. This solved the problem with women and population growth.
Rome's war with its neighbors.
The events that took place at the holiday greatly worsened the already not very friendly relations of Rome with neighboring peoples, who went to war against Rome. Romulus and his army not only repelled all attacks, but also captured the cities of Tsenin and Crustumeria. The glory of his victories accompanied the alliance with the Etruscans, who settled the Esquiline Hill. This is how new settlers appeared, which only made Romulus’s army stronger.
By that time, neighboring peoples decided to unite in the fight against Rome. The main force was the Sabines, who, under the leadership of Titus Tatius, marched on Rome.
Having invaded Roman lands, they laid siege to Rome. But there was no way to take it. The heroic inhabitants of the city selflessly defended themselves.
There is a legend that the Sabines managed to bribe a woman named Tarpeia, who was able to secretly open the gates of the city and let the Sabine army in. As a reward, the traitor received what every warrior carries in his left hand. But on her left hand there were not only the gold rings and bracelets that Tarpeia dreamed of, but also heavy shields. So, upon entering the city, everyone threw her a bracelet, and then a shield. From such “gifts” the traitor was overtaken by punishment and she died under the weight of the shields.
Romulus and Tatius make peace.
A battle ensued. But suddenly the combatants heard crying and sobbing. These kidnapped Sabine women with children in their arms ran out onto the battlefield and began to beg to stop the massacre. On the one hand, they addressed their brothers and fathers, and on the other, their husbands. The hearts of the stern warriors trembled, they lowered their weapons. Thus peace was concluded between the Romans and Sabines. Having united, the two peoples decided to be called Quirites (spear men), and Romulus and Tatius became the rulers.
This tandem ruled for six years. Romulus and Tatius made many successful campaigns during this time. Their last joint campaign was against the Albanian colony of Cameria, where Tatius died in the city of Lavinius. And Romulus became the sole ruler of the united peoples, as well as the first king of Ancient Rome for life.
The Disappearance of Romulus.
The death or disappearance of Romulus is shrouded in mystery. Perhaps he was simply killed. But according to legend, Romulus disappeared in a supernatural and incredible way. This is how Plutarch describes this moment ( ancient Greek philosopher and biographer) in his “Comparative Lives”:
“For thirty-seven years Romulus ruled the Rome he founded. On the fifth of July, on the day that is now called the Capratine Nones, Romulus made a sacrifice outside the city, on the Goat Marsh, for the entire people in the presence of the Senate and most of the citizens. Suddenly a great change occurred in the air: a cloud descended to the ground, accompanied by a whirlwind and a storm. The rest of the people fled in fear and scattered in different sides, Romulus disappeared. He was found neither alive nor dead. Strong suspicion fell on the patricians. The people said that they had long been burdened by the royal power and, wanting to take control of the state into their own hands, they killed the king, since for some time he began to treat them more harshly and despotic. The patricians tried to dispel this kind of suspicion by classifying Romulus as a god and saying that he “did not die, but was awarded a better fate.” Proculus, a highly respected person, swore that he saw Romulus ascend into heaven in full armor, and heard his voice commanding him to be called Quirinus.”
Plutarch. “Comparative biographies. Lycurgus and Numa Pompilius."
It was believed that Romulus ascended to heaven on July 5, 717 BC. After his death, the Romans began to venerate Romulus as the Sabine god Quirinus, who was considered a peaceful image of Mars.
This is where the legend of the founding of Ancient Rome ends.
Last modified: September 22, 2018
The ancient Roman kings ruled Rome for 244 years, starting in 753 - the date of the city's founding. Romulus ruled the city until 716. BC. At first, criminals and those who were hiding from persecution in their cities for one reason or another arrived here. The founder of Rome took everyone under his wing. New arrivals received freedom and citizenship regardless of who they were. The people rioted and tried to expand the territory at the expense of nearby settlements.
One of the adventures that the ancient Roman king Romulus came up with ended quite successfully. The result of the trick was the appearance in Rome of girls who were so in short supply to give birth to the city's indigenous population. At one of the holidays, the Sabine guests were surrounded, and in the resulting confusion they managed to recapture the sisters and daughters of unarmed men, whom they did not want to give as wives to robbers.
The ancient Roman king Romulus himself got married In a similar way on the Sabine. The ritual of bride kidnapping is said to have originated at this time and in Rome. The kidnappers behaved gallantly with the girls, assuring them of their honest intentions. The Sabine women were given certain promises, namely:
- lack of hard work even around the house, maximum - spinning wool;
- universal respect from men, including a ban on swearing in the presence of women and giving them the right to go first when meeting;
- acquiring legitimate offspring, raising children and being faithful to husbands.
The girls could not resist the sweet speeches, and most of them got married. As a result, the first indigenous Romans were born. A year after the unpleasant events, the Sabines tried to return their women with weapons, but they stood between the warring parties with children, and the conflict was resolved peacefully. According to legend, the ruler of the Sabines, Titus Tatius and Romulus began to reign together, which did not last long, only 5-6 years. But this fact has not been proven.
The ancient Roman king Romulus remained the only ruler of the two peoples, and new settlers appeared in Rome, this time the Etruscans, who were allocated the Esquiline Hill. The Sabines settled on two hills - the Capitalian and the Quirinal. Over each of the three territories, Romulus placed leaders subordinate to the ancient Roman king. He created a governing body reminiscent of the Senate, introduced the position lictor(something like an accompanying guard) and divided the population into plebeians(the worst - unknown losers) and patricians(the best - the noble, famous and rich), assigning proper rights to each group. The first ones were engaged agriculture and crafts, and the latter could become priests and manage government affairs.
The death of Romulus is associated with a mythical disappearance. Perhaps he was simply killed, or maybe he really ascended to Olympus, as the legends say. But no one saw him dead or they simply preferred to remain silent about it - there is no evidence. According to legend, the first ancient Roman king had two children - a daughter and a son. Romulus's wife Hersilia rose into the sky as a star after, while visiting the place where her husband disappeared, her hair caught fire as a result of contact with it by a descending star. However, this is also one of the legends.
| Romulus lat. Romulus | |||
| Capitoline she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus | |||
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|---|---|---|---|
| April 21 - 716 BC e. | |||
| Successor: | Numa Pompilius | ||
| Father: | Mars | ||
| Mother: | Rhea Silvia | ||
| Rem | |
| lat. Remus | |
| Capitoline she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus | |
|---|---|
| Birth name: | |
| Occupation: | |
| A place of death: | |
| Father: | |
| Mother: | |
Birth and childhood
The mother of Romulus and Remus, Rhea Silvia, was the daughter of the legitimate king of Alba Longa Numitor, who was removed from the throne by his younger brother Amulius. Amulius did not want Numitor’s children to interfere with his ambitious plans: Numitor’s son disappeared during a hunt, and Amulius forced Rhea Silvia to become a vestal virgin, which doomed her to 30 years of celibacy. In the fourth year of her service, Mars appeared to her in the sacred grove, from whom Rhea Silvia gave birth to two brothers. The angry Amulius put her in prison, and ordered the babies to be put in a basket and thrown into the Tiber. However, the basket washed ashore at the foot of the Palatine Hill, where they were nursed by a she-wolf, and the mother’s cares were replaced by the arrival of a woodpecker and lapwing. Subsequently, all these animals became sacred to Rome. The brothers were then picked up by the royal shepherd Faustulus. His wife, Akka Larentia, who had not yet been consoled after the death of her child, took the twins into her care.
When Romulus and Remus grew up, they returned to Alba Longa, where they learned the secret of their origin. They killed Amulius and restored their grandfather Numitor to the throne.
Founding of Rome
Four years later, at the behest of their grandfather, Romulus and Remus went to the Tiber to look for a place to found a new colony, Alba Longa. According to legend, Remus chose, according to various sources, either the lowland between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, or the Aventine Hill, but Romulus insisted on founding a city on the Palatine Hill. In order to resolve the dispute, the brothers sat away from each other and began to wait for a sign from above. Remus saw six flying kites, and Romulus - a little later - twelve (later this number was interpreted as twelve centuries of the power of Rome). Having won the argument, Romulus drew a sacred furrow (pomerium) on the Palatine, but Remus jumped over it in mockery, which enraged Romulus and forced him to kill his own brother. According to another version, appealing to signs did not help, a quarrel broke out, during which Romulus killed his brother.
Repenting of the murder of Remus, Romulus founded a city to which he gave his name (lat. Roma), and became its king. The founding date of the city is considered to be April 21, 753 BC. e. , when a furrow was drawn around the Palatine Hill with a plow, marking the border of the city. According to medieval legend, the city of Siena was founded by Remus's son, Senius.
At first, Romulus's main concern was increasing the population of the city. To this end, he granted the newcomers the same rights, freedoms, and citizenship as the original settlers. For them he set aside the lands of Capitol Hill. Thanks to this, fugitive slaves, exiles and simply adventurers from other cities and countries began to flock to the city.
Rome lacked a female population - neighboring peoples rightly considered it shameful for themselves to enter into kinship alliances with a crowd of vagabonds, as they called the Romans at that time. Therefore, Romulus came up with a trick - four months after the founding of the city, on August 21, he organized a solemn holiday - Consualia, with games, wrestling and various kinds of gymnastic and cavalry exercises. Many neighbors of the Romans, including the Sabines (Sabines), gathered for the holiday. At a moment when the spectators and, especially, the spectators were captivated by the progress of the game, according to a conventional sign (Romulus took off his cloak), the Romans lit a festive fire and a large army with swords and spears in their hands attacked the unarmed guests. In the confusion and crush, the Romans captured as many women as they could. Romulus himself took the Sabine woman Hersilia as his wife. According to ancient historians, a wedding with the ritual of kidnapping the bride became a Roman custom from that time on.
Romulus - king of Ancient Rome
For six years Tatius and Romulus ruled together. During this time, they made several successful campaigns, including to the Albanian colony of Cameria, but in the city of Lavinius Tatius was killed by offended citizens. Romulus became king of the united nations.
Romulus is credited with creating the Senate, which at that time consisted of 100 "fathers". He also established the insignia of supreme power, established the position of lictors, divided the people into 30 curiae, based on the names of Sabine women, and established three tribes: Ramny(Latins), Titia(Sabines) and Lucers(Etruscans). He is also credited with dividing the Romans into patricians and plebeians.
The establishment of the Roman state by Romulus
Founders
Romulus and Remus climbed the mountain,
The hill in front of them was wild and silent.
Romulus said: “There will be a city here.”
“The city is like the sun,” Remus answered.
Romulus said: "By the will of the constellations
We have regained our ancient honor."
Remus answered: “What happened before,
We must forget, let’s look forward.”
“There will be a circus here,” said Romulus, “
Here will be our home, open to everyone.”
“But we need to put it closer to home
Grave crypts,” answered Remus.
Having divided the entire people into 3 parts, Romulus placed the most prominent of the people as a leader over each of the parts. Then, again dividing each of the three parts into 10, he appointed leaders over them, equal to each other and the bravest. He called the larger parts tribes, and the smaller ones curiae. Those who stood at the head of the tribes were called tribunes, while those standing at the head of the curiae were called curios. Romulus divided the Curia into decades, headed by a decurion. Romulus divided the land of Rome into 30 equal cleres (lots by lot) and assigned each curia a cleir.
Romulus separated those noble by birth and renowned for their valor and wealth in those days, who already had children, from the unknown, poor and unlucky. He called people of unenviable fate plebeians, and people of a better lot - “fathers” (their descendants began to be called patricians). The “fathers” were entrusted with the leadership of Rome. Citizens who did not take part in public affairs were called villagers.
When Romulus separated the best from the worst, he took up legislation and determined what each of them should do: the patricians - to be priests, to govern and judge, and to engage in state affairs with him; Romulus decided to free the plebeians from all this. He assigned them the occupations of agriculture, cattle breeding and profitable crafts. Romulus considered it expedient to entrust the plebeians to the patricians, giving each of them the choice of which of the people he wished to become patron. Romulus called the protection of the poor and inferior patronage, thus establishing philanthropic and civic ties between them.
Then Romulus established the institution of senators, with whom he intended to govern the state, recruiting 100 people from the patricians. He appointed one who was to lead the state when he himself led the army beyond its borders. He ordered each of the three tribes to choose three people, who were the most intelligent due to their age and the most famous by origin. After these nine, he ordered the three most worthy patricians to be appointed from each curia. Then, adding to the first nine nominated by the tribes another 90, whom the curia had previously elected, and appointing from them a leader whom he himself had nominated, Romulus increased the number of senators to 100.
Children of Romulus
Romulus had a daughter Prima and a son Avilius, born to him, according to one version, by Hersilia.
Disappearance of Romulus
Roman mythology describes the death of Romulus as a supernatural disappearance. However, it looks like he was simply killed. Plutarch, in his Comparative Lives, talks about the ascension of Romulus with a grain of skepticism:
For thirty-seven years Romulus ruled the Rome he founded. On the fifth of July, on the day that is currently called the Capratine Nones, Romulus made a sacrifice outside the city, on the Goat Marsh, for the entire people in the presence of the Senate and most of the citizens. Suddenly a great change occurred in the air: a cloud descended to the ground, accompanied by a whirlwind and a storm. The rest of the people began to flee in fear and scattered in different directions, but Romulus disappeared. He was found neither alive nor dead. Strong suspicion fell on the patricians. The people said that they had long been burdened by the royal power and, wanting to take control of the state into their own hands, they killed the king, since for some time he began to treat them more harshly and despotic. The patricians tried to dispel this kind of suspicion by classifying Romulus as a god and saying that he “did not die, but was awarded a better fate.” Proculus, a respected figure, swore that he saw Romulus ascend into heaven in full armor, and heard his voice commanding him to be called Quirinus.
Plutarch.
A similar story is given in his “History from the Foundation of the City” by Titus Livius.
Analogies in other cultures
The fate of Remus and Romulus has many analogies in the cultures of other peoples. Thus, the ancient Greek Perseus and the Hebrew Moses were thrown into the sea and the Nile, respectively, immediately after birth. The theme of twins is also often found in Mediterranean mythology: compare at least with the Greek legends of Castor and Pollux or Amphion and Zephus. Cases of wild animals raising children are often described in mythology, religion, and modern fiction. Finally, the legend of Romulus killing his own brother is very reminiscent biblical story about Cain, who killed his brother Abel.
In the case of Romulus, his fratricide was due to a power struggle, a plot that was repeated many times throughout Roman history. In the case of Cain, we see the same envy and anger that arose against the background of his own failure and the success of his brother, who made a sacrifice pleasing to God. It is interesting that immediately after the story of the murder of his brother, Cain appears in Scripture as the builder of the first city in the history of mankind.
This analogy came to mind even to ancient authors. Here is what Aurelius Augustine (Augustine the Blessed) writes about Romulus in his work “On the City of God” (Part 2, Book 15, Chapter 5):
| About the first founder of the earthly city - a fratricide, to whom the founder of Rome corresponded in the wickedness of fratricide. So, the first founder of the earthly city was a fratricide, who out of envy killed his brother, a citizen of the eternal city, a stranger on this earth (Gen. 4). It is not surprising that after so much time, at the founding of that city, which was to become the head of this earthly city of which we are speaking, and to reign over so many nations, there appeared in its own way an imitation of this first example, or, as the Greeks say, archetype . For here, as one of their poets mentions the villainy itself: The first walls, alas, were stained with brotherly blood. This is how Rome was founded, judging by the evidence of Roman history about the murder of his brother Remus by Romulus. The only difference is that both of them were citizens of the earthly city. Both of them sought the glory of creating the Roman Republic; but both together could not have such glory as each of them could have had if he had been alone. For whoever wants to become famous for his dominance rules less than with a large number accomplices share their power. So, in order for one to have all the power in his hands, a comrade was killed, and through this atrocity increased in in the worst possible way that which, without being tainted by crime, would be less but better. But those brothers, Cain and Abel, did not have the same desire for earthly things, and the one who killed his brother was not jealous of him because his dominion could have become less if both of them had dominated (for Abel did not seek dominion in that city , which was founded by his brother); he envied the devilish envy that evil people They envy the good only because they are good, while they are evil... |
The satellites of the asteroid (87) Silvia are named in honor of Romulus and Remus: Romulus S/2001 (87) and Remus S/2004 (87), discovered in 2001 and 2004.
To the cinema
- “Romulus and Remus” (1961) - art. film, director - Sergio Corbucci, Romulus - Steve Reeves, Rem - Gordon Scott
- “The Rape of the Sabine Women” (1961) - art. film, director - Richard Pottier, Romulus played by Roger Moore
In games
- In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood there is a cult of followers of Romulus.
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Notes
Literature
- Cicero - "Republic", VI, 22 - Dream of Scipio.
- Titus Livius - “History from the Foundation of the City”, I. .
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus - “History of Rome”, I.
- Plutarch - “Comparative Lives: Life of Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Camilla.”
Links
- (2009). Retrieved April 2, 2009. .
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus.(2009). Retrieved April 2, 2009. .
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| This article or section contains or external references, but the sources of individual statements remain unclear due to the lack of footnotes. Statements not made may be questioned and removed. You can improve the article by providing more accurate citations to your sources. |
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Excerpt characterizing Romulus and Remus
This person is also needed to justify the last collective action.The action is completed. The last role has been played. The actor was ordered to undress and wash off the antimony and rouge: he would no longer be needed.
And several years pass in which this man, alone on his island, plays a pathetic comedy in front of himself, petty intrigues and lies, justifying his actions when this justification is no longer needed, and shows the whole world what it was like what people took for strength when an invisible hand guided them.
The manager, having finished the drama and undressed the actor, showed him to us.
- Look what you believed! Here he is! Do you see now that it was not he, but I who moved you?
But, blinded by the power of the movement, people did not understand this for a long time.
The life of Alexander I, the person who stood at the head of the countermovement from east to west, is even more consistent and necessary.
What is needed for that person who, overshadowing others, would stand at the head of this movement from east to west?
What is needed is a sense of justice, participation in European affairs, but distant, not obscured by petty interests; what is needed is a predominance of moral heights over one’s comrades—the sovereigns of that time; a meek and attractive personality is needed; a personal insult against Napoleon is needed. And all this is in Alexander I; all this was prepared by countless so-called accidents of his entire past life: and education, and liberal initiatives, and surrounding advisers, and Austerlitz, and Tilsit, and Erfurt.
During people's war This face is inactive because it is not needed. But as soon as the need for a general European war appears, this person at the moment appears in its place and, connecting European peoples, leads them to the goal.
The goal has been achieved. After last war 1815 Alexander is at the pinnacle of possible human power. How does he use it?
Alexander I, the pacifier of Europe, a man who from his youth strove only for the good of his people, the first instigator of liberal innovations in his fatherland, now that he seems to have the greatest power and therefore the opportunity to do the good of his people, while Napoleon exile makes childish and deceitful plans about how he would make humanity happy if he had power, Alexander I, having fulfilled his calling and sensing the hand of God on himself, suddenly recognizes the insignificance of this imaginary power, turns away from it, transfers it into the hands of those despised by him and despised people and says only:
- “Not for us, not for us, but for your name!” I am a human being too, just like you; leave me to live as a human being and think about my soul and God.
Just as the sun and each atom of the ether is a ball, complete in itself and at the same time only an atom of a whole inaccessible to man due to the enormity of the whole, so each personality carries within itself its own goals and, at the same time, carries them in order to serve common goals inaccessible to man. .
A bee sitting on a flower stung a child. And the child is afraid of bees and says that the purpose of a bee is to sting people. The poet admires a bee digging into the calyx of a flower and says that the bee’s goal is to absorb the aroma of flowers. The beekeeper, noticing that the bee collects flower dust and brings it to the hive, says that the bee's goal is to collect honey. Another beekeeper, having studied the life of a swarm more closely, says that the bee collects dust to feed young bees and breed the queen, and that its goal is to procreate. The botanist notices that, by flying with the dust of a dioecious flower onto the pistil, the bee fertilizes it, and the botanist sees the bee’s purpose in this. Another, observing the migration of plants, sees that the bee promotes this migration, and this new observer can say that this is the purpose of the bee. But the final goal of the bee is not exhausted by either one, or the other, or the third goal, which the human mind is able to discover. The higher the human mind rises in the discovery of these goals, the more obvious to it is the inaccessibility of the final goal.
Man can only observe the correspondence between the life of a bee and other phenomena of life. The same goes for the goals of historical figures and peoples.
The wedding of Natasha, who married Bezukhov in 13, was the last joyful event in the old Rostov family. That same year, Count Ilya Andreevich died, and, as always happens, with his death the old family fell apart.
Events last year: the fire of Moscow and the flight from it, the death of Prince Andrei and Natasha’s despair, the death of Petya, the grief of the countess - all this, like blow after blow, fell on the head of the old count. He did not seem to understand and felt unable to understand the meaning of all these events and, morally bending his old head, as if he was expecting and asking for new blows that would finish him off. He seemed either frightened and confused, or unnaturally animated and adventurous.
Natasha's wedding occupied him for a while outside. He ordered lunches and dinners and, apparently, wanted to appear cheerful; but his joy was not communicated as before, but, on the contrary, aroused compassion in the people who knew and loved him.
After Pierre and his wife left, he became quiet and began to complain of melancholy. A few days later he fell ill and went to bed. From the first days of his illness, despite the doctors' consolations, he realized that he would not get up. The Countess, without undressing, spent two weeks in a chair at his head. Every time she gave him medicine, he sobbed and silently kissed her hand. On the last day, he sobbed and asked for forgiveness from his wife and in absentia from his son for the ruin of his estate - the main guilt that he felt for himself. Having received communion and special rites, he died quietly, and the next day a crowd of acquaintances who had come to pay their last respects to the deceased filled the Rostovs’ rented apartment. All these acquaintances, who had dined and danced with him so many times, who had laughed at him so many times, now all with the same feeling of inner reproach and tenderness, as if justifying themselves to someone, said: “Yes, be that as it may, there was a most wonderful Human. You won’t meet such people these days... And who doesn’t have their own weaknesses?..”
It was at a time when the count’s affairs were so confused that it was impossible to imagine how it would all end if it continued for another year, he unexpectedly died.
Nicholas was with the Russian troops in Paris when news of his father's death came to him. He immediately resigned and, without waiting for it, took a vacation and came to Moscow. The state of financial affairs a month after the count's death became completely clear, surprising everyone with the enormity of the amount of various small debts, the existence of which no one suspected. There were twice as many debts as estates.
Relatives and friends advised Nikolai to refuse the inheritance. But Nikolai saw the refusal of the inheritance as an expression of reproach to the sacred memory of his father and therefore did not want to hear about the refusal and accepted the inheritance with the obligation to pay debts.
The creditors, who had been silent for so long, being bound during the count's lifetime by the vague but powerful influence that his dissolute kindness had on them, suddenly filed for collection. A competition arose, as always happens, to see who would get it first, and the very people who, like Mitenka and others, had non-cash bills of exchange - gifts, now became the most demanding creditors. Nicholas was given neither time nor rest, and those who, apparently, pitied the old man, who was the culprit of their loss (if there were losses), now mercilessly attacked the young heir, who was obviously innocent before them, who voluntarily took upon himself to pay.
None of Nikolai's proposed turns succeeded; the estate was auctioned off at half price, and half of the debts still remained unpaid. Nikolai took the thirty thousand offered to him by his son-in-law Bezukhov to pay that part of the debts that he recognized as monetary, real debts. And in order not to be thrown into a hole for the remaining debts, which the creditors threatened him with, he again entered the service.
It was impossible to go to the army, where he was in the first vacancy of a regimental commander, because the mother was now holding on to her son as the last bait of life; and therefore, despite the reluctance to remain in Moscow in the circle of people who knew him before, despite his aversion to civil service, he took a position in the civil service in Moscow and, taking off his beloved uniform, settled with his mother and Sonya in a small apartment, on Sivtsev Vrazhek.
Natasha and Pierre lived at this time in St. Petersburg, without a clear idea of Nicholas' situation. Nikolai, having borrowed money from his son-in-law, tried to hide his plight from him. Nikolai's position was especially bad because with his one thousand two hundred rubles salary he not only had to support himself, Sonya and his mother, but he had to support his mother so that she would not notice that they were poor. The countess could not understand the possibility of life without the conditions of luxury familiar to her from childhood and constantly, not understanding how difficult it was for her son, she demanded either a carriage, which they did not have, in order to send for a friend, or expensive food for herself and wine for son, then money to give a surprise gift to Natasha, Sonya and the same Nikolai.
Sonya ran the household, looked after her aunt, read aloud to her, endured her whims and hidden dislike, and helped Nikolai hide from the old countess the state of need in which they were. Nikolai felt an unpaid debt of gratitude to Sonya for everything she did for his mother, admired her patience and devotion, but tried to distance himself from her.
In his soul he seemed to reproach her for the fact that she was too perfect, and for the fact that there was nothing to reproach her for. She had everything for which people are valued; but there was little that would make him love her. And he felt that the more he appreciated, the less he loved her. He took her at her word, in her letter, with which she gave him freedom, and now he behaved with her as if everything that had happened between them had long been forgotten and could not in any case be repeated.
Nikolai's situation became worse and worse. The idea of saving from my salary turned out to be a dream. Not only did he not put it off, but, while satisfying his mother’s demands, he owed little things. He saw no way out of his situation. The thought of marrying a rich heiress, who was offered to him by his relatives, was disgusting to him. Another way out of his situation - the death of his mother - never occurred to him. He wanted nothing, hoped for nothing; and in the very depths of his soul he experienced a gloomy and stern pleasure in uncomplainingly enduring his situation. He tried to avoid former acquaintances with their condolences and offers of insulting help, avoided all distraction and entertainment, even at home he did nothing except lay out cards with his mother, silently walk around the room and smoke pipe after pipe. He seemed to diligently maintain within himself that gloomy mood of spirit in which alone he felt able to bear his situation.
At the beginning of winter, Princess Marya arrived in Moscow. From city rumors, she learned about the position of the Rostovs and how “the son sacrificed himself for his mother,” as they said in the city.
“I didn’t expect anything else from him,” Princess Marya said to herself, feeling a joyful confirmation of her love for him. Remembering her friendly and almost family relations with the whole family, she considered it her duty to go to them. But, remembering her relationship with Nikolai in Voronezh, she was afraid of this. Having made a great effort on herself, however, a few weeks after her arrival in the city, she came to the Rostovs.
Nikolai was the first to meet her, since the countess could only be reached through his room. At the first glance at her, Nikolai’s face, instead of the expression of joy that Princess Marya expected to see on him, took on an expression of coldness, dryness and pride that the princess had never seen before. Nikolai asked about her health, took her to her mother and, after sitting for about five minutes, left the room.
When the princess left the countess, Nikolai met her again and especially solemnly and dryly escorted her to the hall. He did not answer a word to her remarks about the countess's health. “What do you care? Leave me alone,” his gaze said.
- What's going on? What does she want? I can’t stand these ladies and all these pleasantries! - he said out loud in front of Sonya, apparently unable to contain his annoyance, after the princess’s carriage drove away from the house.
– Oh, how can you say that, Nicolas! – Sonya said, barely hiding her joy. “She’s so kind, and maman loves her so much.”
Nikolai did not answer anything and would like not to say anything more about the princess. But since her visit, the old countess spoke about her several times every day.
The Countess praised her, demanded that her son go to see her, expressed a desire to see her more often, but at the same time she always became out of sorts when she spoke about her.
Nikolai tried to remain silent when his mother spoke about the princess, but his silence irritated the countess.
- She is very worthy and beautiful girl“,” she said, “and you need to go to her.” Still, you will see someone; otherwise you are bored, I think, with us.
- Yes, I don’t want it at all, mummy.
“I wanted to see it, but now I don’t want to.” I really don’t understand you, my dear. Either you're bored, or suddenly you don't want to see anyone.
- Yes, I didn’t say that I was bored.
- Of course, you yourself said that you don’t even want to see her. She is a very worthy girl and you have always liked her; and now suddenly there are some reasons. They hide everything from me.
- Not at all, mummy.
- If I asked you to do something unpleasant, otherwise I ask you to go and pay a visit. It seems that politeness also requires... I asked you and now I no longer interfere when you have secrets from your mother.
- Yes, I will go if you want.
- I don't care; I wish for you.
Nikolai sighed, biting his mustache, and laid out the cards, trying to divert his mother’s attention to another subject.
On the second, third and fourth day the same conversation was repeated.
After her visit to the Rostovs and that unexpected, cold reception given to her by Nikolai, Princess Marya admitted to herself that she was right in not wanting to go first to the Rostovs.
“I didn’t expect anything different,” she told herself, calling on her pride to help. “I don’t care about him, and I just wanted to see the old lady who was always kind to me and to whom I owe a lot.”
But she could not calm down with these thoughts: a feeling similar to remorse tormented her when she remembered her visit. Despite the fact that she firmly decided not to go to the Rostovs anymore and to forget all this, she constantly felt in an uncertain position. And when she asked herself what it was that tormented her, she had to admit that it was her relationship with Rostov. His cold, polite tone did not stem from his feelings for her (she knew this), but this tone hid something. This was something she needed to explain; and until then she felt that she could not be at peace.
In the middle of winter, she was sitting in the classroom, watching her nephew’s lessons, when they came to report to her about Rostov’s arrival. With a firm decision not to give away her secret and not to show her embarrassment, she invited M lle Bourienne and went out into the living room with her.
At the first glance at Nikolai's face, she saw that he had come only to fulfill the duty of courtesy, and she decided to firmly adhere to the very tone in which he would address her.
They started talking about the countess's health, about mutual acquaintances, about latest news war, and when those ten minutes required by decency had passed, after which the guest can get up, Nikolai stood up, saying goodbye.
The princess, with the help of m lle Bourienne, endured the conversation very well; but at the very last minute, while he stood up, she was so tired of talking about what she didn’t care about, and the thought of why she alone was given so little joy in life occupied her so much that she was in a fit of absent-mindedness, looking forward herself with her radiant eyes, sat motionless, not noticing that he had risen.
Nicholas looked at her and, wanting to pretend that he did not notice her absent-mindedness, said a few words to m lle Bourienne and again looked at the princess. She sat just as motionless, and her tender face expressed suffering. He suddenly felt sorry for her and vaguely imagined that perhaps he was the cause of the sadness that was expressed on her face. He wanted to help her, to tell her something nice; but he couldn't think of anything to say to her.
“Goodbye, princess,” he said. She came to her senses, flushed and sighed heavily.
“Oh, my fault,” she said, as if waking up. - You are already on your way, Count; well, goodbye! And the countess's pillow?
“Wait, I’ll bring it now,” said m lle Bourienne and left the room.
Both were silent, occasionally looking at each other.
“Yes, princess,” Nikolai finally said, smiling sadly, “it seems so recently, and how much water has flown under the bridge since we first met in Bogucharovo.” How unhappy we all seemed - but I would have given dearly to get this time back... but you can’t turn it back.
The princess gazed into his eyes with her radiant gaze as he said this. She seemed to be trying to understand secret meaning his words, which would explain to her his feelings for her.
The legend of the founding of Rome is associated with one of the most famous sculptures in the world - a bronze she-wolf nursing two babies with milk. Perhaps no statue has raised as many questions and disputes as this one. Currently, this sculpture is located in the Capitoline Museum on the Capitoline Square in the Palazzo dei Conservatori.
Legend of the founding of Rome
According to legend, Numitor, king of the ancient city of Alba Longa, was dethroned by his brother Amulius, and he forced Rhea Silvia, Numitor’s daughter, his niece, to become a vestal virgin, who was required to maintain the sacred fire of the goddess Vesta and maintain chastity.
But Rhea soon gave birth to two twins and swore that their father was the god of war, Mars. Then Amulius ordered to kill Rhea and drown her children in the Tiber.
But the basket with the boys was taken away fast waters Tiber, and then was thrown ashore by a wave, where she was picked up by a she-wolf, who nursed them. Later, a shepherd found the children, he gave them the names Romulus and Remus and raised them to be brave and strong. When the brothers became adults and learned the whole truth about their birth, they killed Amulius, returned power to Numitor, and themselves returned to the place where they were suckled by the she-wolf to found a city there.
Romulus began to build a defensive wall, and Remus jumped over it in mockery, for which Romulus killed his brother and said: “So let anyone who violates the boundaries of the city perish!”
Rum founded the city and named it by his own name Roma - Rome and became the first Roman king. Even in ancient times, Roman scientists determined the date of the founding of Rome as 754 - 753 BC.
Sculpture of a Roman she-wolf
Scientists believe that in terms of the style of production, the sculpture of the she-wolf, located in the Capitoline Museum, dates back to the 5th century BC and was made by the ancient peoples of modern Italy, the Etruscans, and the figures of the twins were made later, presumably in the 15th century, to replace the lost ones.
At the same time, the question arose: how could the Greeks in those ancient times cast a sculpture 65 centimeters high if the technology for making such figures did not exist at that time? If the she-wolf was cast in parts, then there would be no questions, but her figure is solid.
In 2006, metallurgy specialist Anna Maria Carruba, who carried out the restoration of the statue, proved that it was made no earlier than the 8th century AD, and not in the 5th century BC! Thus, the Capitoline wolf immediately became 1200 years younger.
The only thing that can be said for sure is that the figure of the She-Wolf stood in the Lateran Palace, as evidenced by the works of Roman chroniclers. The founder of the monasteries of the west, Benedict, writes about the judgment seat in which trials and executions took place and where the Capitoline She-wolf stood - as the monk called her. There was no mention of babies sucking mother's milk in his writings.
According to research, their figures were made much later - in the 15th century AD and were added to the sculpture. Moreover, they were made in a different style by the master Antonio del Pollaiuolo.
According to scientists, most likely, the figure of the she-wolf was cast in the 15th century.
Grotto of the She-Wolf in Rome
In 2007, Italian archaeologists found a cave in which a she-wolf nursed the twins Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli said that the Lupercale Cave was found in the very center of the city under the ruins of the Palace of Augustus. The name Lupercale comes from the Latin word Lupa, which means she-wolf.
The architects explain that Emperor Augustus wanted his palace to be built in a place sacred to Rome - on a hill under which was the grotto of the She-Wolf.
The Lupercale cave was examined with a probe for almost two years and mosaics, shells and colored marble were discovered on its walls. This find confirms the famous myth about the she-wolf who found the twins on the banks of the Tiber and brought them to this cave, where she nursed them with her milk.
True, the grotto found does not look like a cave at all, but, as they say, legends cannot be rewritten.
For most people, the bright and beautiful legend of the founding of Rome will still remain a myth - after all, it is unlikely that it will ever be possible to prove in what year the She-Wolf sculpture was made.
The legend of Roman mythology says that Romulus and Remus(founders of Rome) - twin brothers, children of Rhea Silvia and the god Mars (although some sources claim that their father was the demigod Hercules).
Their mother Rhea was the daughter of Numitor, king of Alba Longa. Numitor was overthrown by his younger brother Amulius, who killed all the male heirs and forced Rhea to become a vestal virgin and thereby give a chastity dinner. Thus, he tried to prevent the birth of potential contenders for the throne from her. However, four years later Rhea gave birth to two twins, Romulus and Remus.
For violating the celibacy dinner, as a rule, the Vestal Virgin was sentenced to death. The most common death sentence was when a person was buried alive. However, Amulius, fearing the wrath of the father god Mars, did not want to directly stain his hands with the blood of Rhea and her children. Therefore, he imprisoned Rhea, and ordered the twin brothers to be put in a basket and thrown into the Tiber River. Amulius thought that if the children died not from the sword, but from natural disasters, then he and his city would be saved from the wrath and punishment of the gods.
However, thanks to a series of miraculous coincidences, Romulus and Remus were saved: the river nailed the basket with the brothers into safe place, where they were found by a she-wolf, who took pity on them and fed them with her milk. The myth also says that the she-wolf was helped to look after her brothers woodpecker and lapwing.
Romulus and Remus were then discovered by the shepherd Faustulus and his wife, who raised and raised them as their own children. The twins, not yet knowing their true origins, were very different from the other shepherds in one trait, namely leadership. And as teenagers, each of them gained many followers.
When Romulus and Remus grew up and learned the truth about their birth and who they really were, they killed Amulius and returned the throne to their grandfather Numitor.
Instead of waiting for Numitor to die and inherit the throne of Alba Longa, the brothers decided to found their own city.
Romulus wanted to build a city on the Palatine Hill, while Remus preferred the Aventine Hill. They agreed to resolve the dispute through an omen (which of them would see more kites in the sky from their hill), but when each of them began to claim that the other was lying, they quarreled, as a result of which Romulus killed Remus.
Another version of Rem's death: the dispute between the brothers was won by Romulus, since he saw more kites in the sky, namely twelve, unlike his brother, who saw only six. And Romulus drew a sacred furrow on the Palatine Hill, and Remus jumped over it, thereby insulting the founder of the city. For which he was killed by his brother, who said: “ this is how everyone who jumps over my wall in the future will die" This happened on April 21, 753 BC. This date began to be considered date of foundation of Rome.
The city, which Romulus named after himself, grew and developed rapidly. Exiles, refugees, criminals and fugitive slaves found refuge in Rome.
Romulus divides his warriors into legions. From the rest of the population, he selects 100 of the most noble and wealthy fathers, whom he includes in his council. He calls these men patricians: they are the fathers of Rome, not only because they care for their own sons, but because they will care for all the people of Rome. These are future senators. Romulus thus puts into effect a system of government (the Senate appears).
Thanks to the divine grace and inspired leadership of Romulus, Rome became a dominant power and one of the greatest cities of antiquity.
The life of Romulus ended in the 38th year of his reign. This is associated with his supernatural disappearance and ascension to godhood. There is also a version that there was a conspiracy in the Senate, as a result of which Romulus was killed.
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