Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus are twin brothers in Roman mythology, best known as the legendary founders of Rome.
Romulus and Remus are twin brothers in Roman mythology, best known as the legendary founders of Rome. Their story explains Rome’s origins and includes their abandonment as infants, rescue and care by a she-wolf, and the fatal conflict in which Romulus kills Remus before founding the city.
Mythic origins
The twins are traditionally said to be the sons of Rhea Silvia and Mars, linking Rome’s origins to both royal lineage and divine ancestry. Their story is connected to earlier figures such as Aeneas and Numitor in Roman tradition.
Abandonment and rescue
According to the legend, the babies were exposed as infants after a royal power struggle. They were saved and fed by a she-wolf before being raised by a shepherd and his wife in some versions of the tale.
Founding of Rome
As adults, Romulus and Remus helped restore their grandfather Numitor, then sought to found a city of their own. A quarrel over its location or boundaries led to Remus’s death and Romulus’s establishment of Rome.
Cultural significance
The myth became a foundational Roman origin story and a symbol of Roman identity, emphasizing themes such as destiny, conflict, and state formation. It remained influential in Roman literature, art, and later historical tradition.
Key facts
- Romulus and Remus are twin brothers from Roman mythology.
- They are traditionally identified as the founders of Rome.
- Their mother is Rhea Silvia, and their father is traditionally given as the god Mars.
- The myth says the infants were abandoned and later suckled by a she-wolf.
- The story ends with Romulus killing Remus in a dispute over the city’s foundation.
The story is mainly relevant to Canadian readers through its place in world mythology, classical studies, art history, and the broader European cultural tradition taught in Canadian schools and universities.
Frequently asked questions
Who were Romulus and Remus?
Who were their parents?
What is the she-wolf story?
Why is Romulus more famous than Remus?
When was Rome founded, according to tradition?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_and_RemusSupports: Basic identification of Romulus and Remus as twin brothers in Roman mythology and the core outline of the founding myth.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Romulus-and-RemusSupports: Their status as legendary founders of Rome and their traditional parentage.
- EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/myth-romulus-and-remusSupports: Detailed summary of the myth, including the she-wolf, Numitor, Amulius, Romulus killing Remus, and Rome’s founding tradition.
- Rome.net — https://www.rome.net/romulus-and-remusSupports: Traditional account of Rhea Silvia, Mars, and the infants being sent to the Tiber.
- World History Encyclopedia — https://www.worldhistory.org/Romulus_and_Remus/Supports: Roman myth tradition, parentage variations, and the role of the story in Rome’s identity.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RomulusSupports: Broader Romulus tradition, including Remus’s death, the founding of Rome, and later Roman kingship.