Legends about the founding of Rome in short

Like any other ancient city, Rome contains many stories related to its foundation. The genealogy of the ancestors of Rome is from the ancient celestial - Mars. Legends about the founding of Rome argue that it is the influence of the god of war that explains the constant belligerence of the Romans, the desire to conquer other nations and create empires.

A bit of history

In the second millennium BC, the tribes of the Latins migrated to the banks of the Tiber and Rubicon. Gradually, most of the Latins settled at the foot of the Palatine and Velia hills. Their close neighbors were the tribes of the Sabines who occupied the nearest territories. By the 8th c. BC. The combined tribes of the Latins and the Sabines formed a city. The legends of the foundation of Rome are based on the legends of these peoples. History has three periods of life of this city as the capital of the state - the tsarist, the republican and the imperial. Of course, many events of those epochs are semi-legendary in nature and are based on legends, myths and legends. For example, the legend of the foundation of Rome and the seven kings, although it contains the names of reliable characters, but it is impossible to talk about it as a fact. The same story and the legend of Numitor.

Numifier

Legends about the founding of Rome are associated with the name of the ancient Greek hero Aeneas. At the beginning of time he came to the Apennine peninsula and founded here the first settlement - Latsium. Most likely, this legend is based on the brisk trade relations of the Latins with the ancient Greeks. The son of Aeneas - Askaniy-Yul - founded another settlement called Alba-Longa. The cities of the cities were ruled by the descendants of Askania.

Approximately in the 8th century BC. These cities were ruled by brothers from the family of Askania - Amulius and Numitor. Amulius usurped the power and took away all the powers of the ruler from his brother. To make his reign safe, he killed the only son of Numitor, and his daughter made the priestess of the goddess Vesta. According to the laws of that time, the vestals must remain virgins.

But the daughter of Numitor, Sylvia-Rhea, violated the sacred vow and gave birth to two boys, the twins Romulus and Remus, from Mars.

It is with their names connected with legends about the founding of Rome. The cruel Amulius imprisoned Sylvia in prison, and threw the basket with the babies into the waters of the Tiber. But the waters of the mighty river lifted the basket, and she clung to the bush of the fig tree near Palatine Hill. There the brothers were found and nurtured by a wolf.

Time passed, and the children were found by the shepherd of the ruler Amulia named Faustul. He brought the children home, and the shepherd's wife, who had recently lost her baby, happily accepted them. Growing up, the brothers killed the usurper Amulia and returned power to his grandfather Numitor.

Founding of Rome

Legends about the founding of Rome say that four years after his first feat the brothers were allowed to found a new city. But there was a dispute about who will become the founder of the new settlement. To a common opinion the brothers did not come. The final decision they gave to the gods. Romulus and Remus sat on opposite sides and waited for a sign. Rem first saw six kites flying past. But almost immediately for his part, Romulus saw twelve of these birds of prey. Romulus and Remus did not come to a single interpretation of this prediction, each of the brothers believed that he was lucky. There was a quarrel. In anger, Romulus killed his brother. Deeply repenting, he founded a new city, calling it his name. The first furrow, held around the Palantine Hill, and was an event that marked the birth of a new city. The legendary foundation of Rome occurred on April 21, 753.

The Legend of the Abduction of the Sabines

At the behest of Romulus, the new city took in the ranks of its inhabitants all comers. The emergence of Rome led to its walls of runaway slaves, ruined peasants, adventurers and exiles. The new city was experiencing an acute shortage of women. To solve this problem, the ruler of Rome organized a feast in honor of the harvest. At the height of the holiday, Latins abducted residents of a neighboring tribe - beautiful Sabine women.

This event almost ended in war, but the abducted women managed to reconcile the Latins and Sabines. The Romans and Sabines make peace, and for six years, Rome was ruled by two kings - Romulus from the Latins and Titus Tatsy from the Sabine tribe. After the death of Tatsia, Romulus remains the sole ruler and the first king of Rome for life.

Ascension of Romulus

The legend of the founding of Rome briefly speaks of the death of the founder of this city. It mentions that Romulus disappeared at a meeting of the Senate. The coming solar eclipse caused the people to run away, leaving their king. Later, the patricians were accused of the death of the king, but the popular opinion was reduced to the fact that Romulus was ascended to heaven. The Romans considered Romulus to be their patron-guardian in the form of the god Quirinus. The altar of the patron saint of Rome was on the Quirinal hill.

The Seven Kings of Rome

The tsarist period began in the 6th century BC. E. And lasted a whole century. Its distinctive feature was the lack of continuity and a clear order of succession to the throne of the Romans. Briefly about each of the kings, we can say the following.

Brief characteristics of the kings

Romulus was of divine origin. It is considered the founder of Rome. Created the Senate. Divided the ancient city into three parts.

Numa Pompilius, the second ruler of Rome, was chosen by the people for his talent, organizational skills and ability to carry out reforms. His merits include the formation of a union of craftsmen and craftsmen, the introduction of a new calendar, in which there were 365 days, the ordering of religious cults, in particular the ban on human sacrifices.

Tull Gostiliy in the first half of his life was a rich landowner. Becoming a king, he discovered the warlike features of his character and began to wage numerous wars with his neighbors. As a result of his rule, the area of the Roman state was significantly expanded.

Anc Marcius was the grandson of Tulla. Because of his quiet disposition, he almost lost the throne. Forced to constantly beat off attacks of warlike neighbors, added to the possessions of Rome, several cities of the Etruscans.

Tarquinius Ancient is the only king of Rome from the Etruscan tribe. The owner of a huge fortune, he received the throne of Rome. He married the daughter of the previous king. He waged a series of wars with the Etruscans and Latins. Conducted work on the transformation of Rome. It was with him in the city began to operate water and sewerage, there were stone pavement, the first stone private houses began to be erected.

Servius Tullius was a slave, but he received a good education. Received the throne thanks to the wife of Tarquinia. He carried out a number of reforms in the army, divided Rome on a territorial basis, erected a host of defensive structures. He gave civil rights to the plebeians, granted freedom to slaves. I enjoyed universal love.

Tarquinius Proud - the last, the seventh king of Rome. He came to power with the help of a coup d'etat, villainously killing Servius. Substantially curtailed the rights of the lower classes, taking away from the plebs all the freedoms previously granted. As a result, he was expelled along with his sons from Rome. He finished his life in 510 when he tried to regain power.

Thus ended the first, the royal era in the life of the Eternal City.