Romulus and Remus
by Holly Hutto
$275
A foundation myth from Rome. Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of a vestal virgin and the god Mars, were ordered to be killed by the king because they were grandsons of the former king and thus a threat. They were cast out on the river to die, but they floated down the river to the area of the seven hills and were suckled and nurtured by a she wolf. Eventually they were adopted and raised by a shepherd. After learning of their true identities, Romulus and Remus helped restore their grandfather to the throne, then set out to build a city of their own. They went back to the area of the seven hills, but had a dispute about which hill to build on. They decided to settle their dispute through a contest of augury—reading the signs of the birds—but also disputed the results. During their argument, Romulus killed Remus in a fit of rage. Romulus then went on to found the city of Rome and served as its first king. While the myth focuses on heroics, the building of Rome, and its ties to the divine through the war god Mars, it also shows how war and quests for power can tear families apart – the miraculous birth and survival of the bonded twins being torn apart over a dispute.