Iron Age Italy

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.