Long ago, in the ancient city of Alba Longa, a kingdom of power and intrigue, King Numitor ruled wisely until his jealous brother Amulius seized the throne. Driven by greed, Amulius killed Numitor’s sons and forced his niece, Rhea Silvia, to become a Vestal Virgin, swearing her to a life of chastity so she could not bear heirs to challenge his rule. Yet fate had other plans. The god of war, Mars, fell in love with Rhea Silvia, and she gave birth to twin boys, Romulus and Remus. Fearful that the children would one day claim his throne, Amulius ordered them placed in a basket and cast into the flooding Tiber River.
The twins were not lost to the waters, for the river carried the basket to the foot of Palatine Hill, where a she-wolf, known in Latin as Lupa, found them. Rather than harm the infants, the wolf nurtured them, feeding them her milk and protecting them from wild beasts. A woodpecker, another sacred creature of Mars, brought food to aid in their survival. Later, a shepherd named Faustulus discovered the twins and raised them as his own sons. Under his care, Romulus and Remus grew into strong, courageous young men, gifted with natural leadership and bravery.
As they matured, the truth of their birth came to light after a confrontation with the shepherds loyal to Amulius. Romulus and Remus gathered an army, overthrew the tyrant, and restored the rightful king, their grandfather Numitor, to the throne. But the brothers’ ambitions did not end there. They decided to build a new city at the very site where they had been saved as infants. However, conflict soon arose: Romulus preferred Palatine Hill, while Remus favored Aventine Hill.
To resolve the dispute, they turned to the gods through augury, observing birds to determine divine will. Remus first saw six vultures, signaling victory, but soon after, Romulus witnessed twelve, claiming the same. Both brothers believed they were chosen by fate. Tensions escalated, and when Remus mockingly leaped over Romulus’ city wall to show it was too low, Romulus struck him down in anger, declaring, “This shall be the fate of anyone who dares to cross my walls.”
With Remus gone, Romulus became the sole founder and ruler of the city, naming it Roma, or Rome, on April 21, 753 BCE. He established the earliest Roman institutions, including the Senate and the military, laying the foundations of a civilization destined for greatness. According to legend, Romulus never truly died; he vanished in a great storm and became the god Quirinus, protector of Rome.
The story of Romulus and Remus carries enduring symbolism. The she-wolf who nurtured the twins remains a sacred emblem of Rome, immortalized in statues and even inspiring the emblem of the AS Roma football club. The legend underscores the Roman spirit: the city was born through courage, sacrifice, and strict discipline, teaching that law and civic duty must sometimes triumph over personal desire or family ties.