Rome Fun
The origins of the city of Rome, as is often the case with cities in possession of a grand history, are steeped in legend. There exists a tale regarding the foundations of the city, which went on to become the capital of one of the largest empires ever to exist on the face of the earth, around the story of Romulus and Remus, of which there are innumerable versions. This is one of them.
Thirty years successive to Aeneas’ flight from the island of Troy, her son Ascanius founded the city of Alba Longa, over which he and his descendants reigned for many years, until Amulus dethroned Numitor. In order to prevent legitimate heirs from being sired, Amulus forced Numitor’s daughter, Rea Silvia, to remain a vestal virgin and thereby to be childless. Nevertheless, Rea Silvia bore two sons at the hand of the god Mars, and consequently was condemned to death. The two babies were placed into a basket and set adrift on the currents of the river Aniene (modern day Tiber). The basket settled on the banks and the orphans came to be looked after by a she-wolf, who had come down to the river to drink and was attracted by the sound of the babies’ crying.
One evening, the poor shepherd Faustolo stumbled across the wolf whilst she was giving suck to the babes. Incredulous, he returned to his hut where his wife, Laurenzia, was waiting, and recounted the incredible tale to her. The pair returned to the river and decided to take the boys home with them and raise them as their own. Faustolo decided to call the brothers Romulus and Remus, and they grew up to be strong and healthy.
Once they reached adulthood, the brothers started to remember snatches of their past, due to a series of circumstances, and returned to the city of Alba Longa where they punished the cruel Amulus and liberated their grandfather Numitor. With his permission, Romulus and Remus returned to the banks of the Tiber, the river to which their lives were so strongly linked, in order to found a city. With the aim of deciding which of the two brothers should name the city, Romulus and Remus engaged in a competition: whichever spotted the greatest number of birds would have the final say. The competition favoured Romulus, who decided to name the city “Roma”, on the 21st April 753. Using a plough, he made a furrow to delineate the confines of the city, upon Palatino hill.
This episode, however, marked the end of Remus’ life. There are different versions of the fable in circulation: and according to some, Remus had violated, either out of jealousy or in jest, the edict stating he should not overstep the recently established confines, and for this reason he was killed by the sword of his very brother Romulus, in an impromptu fit of ire. In fact, whoever offended the name of Rome would have to die. Thus, Romulus was the first king of Rome, and governed the city wisely until one day he disappeared into the sky during a storm, kidnapped by the god Mars.
A fascinating tale and no less so than the real history of the capital. It is a city with a magnificent past, which conserves hundreds of important monuments, further information upon which can be found in this blog. On the other hand, to find accommodation that will provide for a comfortable stay in the city, please consult the following list of Appartamenti a Roma, Roma hotel, Alloggio a Roma.
