Download The Founding of Rome

The Founding of Rome
Fact vs. Myth
Aeneas
 Ancient Romans liked to trace their
roots to a famous Trojan prince,
Aeneas.
 The myth teaches that Aeneas was
directed by the gods to travel west
after Troy fell.
 Aeneas is said to have lead a few
remaining Trojans to safety this way.
The Latins
 When Aeneas and his followers arrived in
modern-day Italy they encountered a group
called the Latins.
 The two groups intermarried and lived in
harmony.
Rhea Silvia
 Around 800 BC, a Latin princess, Rhea Silvia,
is said to have given birth to twins fathered by
the god Mars.
 This princess had taken a vow as a priestess
and was forbidden to marry or have children.
 As punishment for breaking her vow, the
twins were taken from her and left to die.
The Twins
 The newborn twins, Romulus and Remus,
were thrown into the Tiber River.
 Luckily, the babies were rescued by a shewolf. The she-wolf raised them as her own.
 One form of the myth also says a woodpecker
helped to feed the twins.
Rescue by Shepherd
 The she-wolf was later
killed by a shepherd.
 Fortunately, the
shepherd found the
babies and took them
home to his wife.
Romulus and Remus
 As adults, Romulus and Remus decided to
build a city on the Tiber River.
 They fought over who should rule the city.
After a lot of arguing, they decided to let the
gods choose between them.
 They each stood atop a hill waiting for a sign.
The gods sent 12 vultures over Palatine
where Romulus stood.
Romulus is King
 Romulus claimed he had been chosen king.
 Remus wasn’t happy with this. The brothers
fought and Romulus killed Remus.
 Romulus became king of the new city which
he named Rome (after himself).
The Historical Findings
 Archeologists know that people with iron
weapons began invading the Mediterranean
lands around 1200 BC.
 One group, called the Latins, did live on
Palatine.
 By 776 BC, Palatine was a farming village of
about 1,000 people.
Etruscans
 A people called the Etruscans settled near
Palatine in about 800 BC.
 By 600 BC, the Etruscans had conquered all
of northern Italy (including the Latins).
 The Etruscans were an advanced civilization.
Their kings ruled Rome for more than 200
years.