founding of rome

Statue of a wolf standing on a platform in a blue pond, surrounded by greenery, symbolizing Romulus and Remus

The Founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus Explained

Orin Vale

The founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus is the enduring Roman foundation myth, blending divine lineage, royal conflict, abandonment, survival, and brotherly rivalry into a story that explained the city’s sacred origins. Though not verifiable history, it shaped Roman identity and continues to illuminate how legends can serve politics, memory, and cultural authority.

Cracked walnut shell on dry soil, symbolizing the death of Remus in Roman mythology

The Death of Remus: Roman Mythology and Meaning

Orin Vale

The death of Remus is a central episode in Roman foundation myth, portraying the fatal conflict between the twin brothers Remus and Romulus as a turning point in the birth of Rome. Told in multiple ancient versions, the story explores themes of boundary, authority, and fratricide, inviting readers to examine how myth shaped Roman ideas of law and power.

Marble sculpture of a muscular man carrying a woman, depicting the Rape of the Sabine Women in an ornate interior

The Rape of the Sabine Women: Meaning, History, and Art

Orin Vale

The Rape of the Sabine Women is a foundational Roman legend describing how the first Romans seized Sabine women to secure wives and, in later versions, forge alliances with neighboring peoples. Revered in ancient historiography and later art, the story reveals how Rome explained its origins, mixed identity, and the tensions at the city’s very beginning.

Marble Roman relief of Romulus ascending among gods, with Quirinus and other figures on a stone wall

Romulus Apotheosis Into Quirinus: Roman Deification

Orin Vale

The **apotheosis of Romulus into Quirinus** is a central Roman myth linking the legendary founder of Rome to a god associated with civic identity, martial order, and the sacred life of the community. Exploring this tradition reveals how Romans fused kingship, religion, and political memory, while the shifting ancient accounts leave open questions about how the transformation was understood.

The Colosseum in Rome with traffic in the foreground under a partly cloudy sky

Founding of Rome: Myth or History Explained

Orin Vale

The founding of Rome lies between myth and history, preserving the legendary tale of Romulus and Remus while also reflecting the real growth of Iron Age settlements along the Tiber. This article examines how Roman tradition, archaeology, and later historical writing shaped the enduring question of whether Rome began in 753 BCE or emerged gradually from earlier communities.

Roman Myths and Legends: The Complete Guide

Orin Vale

Roman mythology’s greatest narratives are stories of founding — of a city, a people, and a set of values. This ...