Romulus and Remus ‘Rape of the Sabine women

By Alex Gerchen

Background information about Romulus and Remus

- Romulus and Remus were twin sons of the god Mars

- The god Mars is the god of spring, growth in nature, fertility, and the protector of cattle. He is also known as the god of war.- Romans actually called themselves ‘sons of Mars’

- Romulus and Remus were founders of the city Rome- Their mother was Rhea Silvia, who was the only daughter of King Numitor

- King Numitor was the king of Alban Longa

http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/323224851

Background information King Numitor’s brother, Amulius threw Numitor into prison and seized the

throne. He forced Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin. He didn’t want her to have any children that would take the throne. But then Rhea Silvia was raped by the God Mars, so then she gave birth to Romulus and Remus. When Amulius founded out about the twins, he ordered that they be thrown into the Tiber River to drown. The boys floated downstream and a she-wolf and a woodpecker, which were creatures sacred to Mars, fed the twins and kept them alive until a shepherd found them.The shepherd and his wife then raised the boys.

http://www.historywiz.com/romulus.htm

More Background InformationThe boys grew up bold and liked to lead raids. They once led a raid on a herd of cattle that belonged to

Numitor (their grandfather). Remus was caught during the raid and was brought to Numitor. Numitor realized Remus was his grandson after talking to him. The twins then killed Amulius and made Numitor king again.

-Its ironic that the raid the twins went on was on a herd of cattle and their father, Mars, is the god of protecting cattle.

Romulus and Remus decided to build the city Rome by the river where they were found. An Omen (like a fortune teller) said that Romulus should be the founder of the city.

Romulus began to build the city wall and Remus mocking Romulus for

thinking the wall could keep anyone out, jumped over the wall. Romulus

attacked him and killed him. Romulus then became the leader for Rome.

http://solarlunar.com/articles/the-twins-archetype/2/

‘Rape’ of the Sabine Women

To colonize Rome, Romulus invited people to live there, but most of the settlers that came were men

and they needed women too. Romulus invited the Sabine people, who lived in towns close by, to

come to Rome for a festival. While the Sabine men were distracted, the Romans seized the Sabine

women. They then drove the men from the city, and married their women.

The Sabine men were very upset and attacked the Romans. There was a war between the Romans

and the Sabines. The Sabines were led by their king Titus Tatius. It was actually the women who

brought peace to Rome. They convinced their fathers not to fight their new husbands. As a deal the

Romans accepted Titus Tatius asa joint ruler with Romulus and the women stayed with their new

husbands.

This event became known as The Rape of the Sabine Women.

Bibliography http://www.historywiz.com/romulus.htmhttp://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Pr-Sa/Romulus-and-Remus.htmlhttp://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/mars.html