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Founding Myths of Ancient Rome

Rome began as a small town on the banks of the Tiber River in Italy around 3000 years ago. It gradually grew in importance and power, eventually becoming the center of a powerful empire that replaced Greece as the dominant military and cultural force in Europe. The Romans conquered the Greeks but also admired and copied aspects of Greek culture, and in turn had a powerful influence on the later development of European culture. The myth of Rome's founding involves the goddess Venus, her son Aeneas who fled the fallen city of Troy to Italy and founded a kingdom there. His descendant Romulus and his brother Remus were abandoned as infants but survived and later helped their grandfather regain his throne. Romulus then founded the city of Rome

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27 views1 page

Founding Myths of Ancient Rome

Rome began as a small town on the banks of the Tiber River in Italy around 3000 years ago. It gradually grew in importance and power, eventually becoming the center of a powerful empire that replaced Greece as the dominant military and cultural force in Europe. The Romans conquered the Greeks but also admired and copied aspects of Greek culture, and in turn had a powerful influence on the later development of European culture. The myth of Rome's founding involves the goddess Venus, her son Aeneas who fled the fallen city of Troy to Italy and founded a kingdom there. His descendant Romulus and his brother Remus were abandoned as infants but survived and later helped their grandfather regain his throne. Romulus then founded the city of Rome

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James
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© All Rights Reserved
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Year 3 Human Science

History – Ancient Rome 1 – Introduction

In ancient times, many different peoples occupied much of the land we now call Italy. Almost
3000 years ago, a town began to develop on the banks of the river Tiber. This city was Rome
and it was to grow gradually in importance until it eventually became the centre of a powerful
empire. Ancient Rome was to take over from Greece as the most powerful military and cultural
force in Europe. Although the Romans easily conquered the Greeks; they admired and copied
many aspects of Greek culture. The Romans, in turn, had a powerful influence on the
development of the later culture of Europe.

The founding of Rome - the myth


‘Long ago and in a faraway country lived Venus. She was the goddess of love and beauty. She had a son
called Aeneas. She was very proud of him. He had fought bravely in defending his city, Troy, against its
enemies. But when Troy was captured, Aeneas had to flee for his life. He made a long voyage by land and
sea and eventually reached the beautiful plain of Latium in Italy. Here he married the King's daughter and
founded a kingdom of his own.

Many, many years passed, and the kingdom entered troubled times. Numitor, one of Aeneas' descendants,
was now King. His daughter Rhea had just given birth to twin sons called Romulus and Remus. Their father
was Mars, the mighty god of war. It should have been a happy time for Numitor. But his wicked brother
Amulius wanted his kingdom and drove Numitor out of the country. Amulius ordered his soldiers to throw the
babies Romulus and Remus into the River Tiber. But the babies didn't drown. They were washed ashore. A
she-wolf heard them crying, took them away and cared for them alongside her cubs. Later they were
discovered by a shepherd, who carried the boys home and looked after them as if they were his own
children.

The boys grew up strong and brave, and with their help their grandfather, King Numitor, won back his throne
from his brother. Romulus then began to build a city of his own. He chose a place where the River Tiber
could be crossed, surrounded by seven hills overlooking the river. But Remus made fun of him and the city
he was building. The twins fought each other and Remus was killed. But Romulus carried on building. And
when he finished his city he became its first King. The city was called Rome. After reigning as King for forty
years, Romulus mysteriously disappeared in the darkness of a great storm and became a god.'

The founding of Rome - the reality

In fact, Rome developed gradually from


several different villages, which were built
by the Latin people at the side of the river
Tiber about twenty five kilometres from the
sea. These villages occupied the tops of
seven small hills. They were situated near
an island on the river, where the river
became shallow enough to be crossed by
foot and too shallow for ships to pass any
further upstream.

Activity

1. Find three things in the story which might be true and three things that are unlikely to
be true.
2. Why was the myth of the founding of Rome told to children? What were children
expected to learn from it?
3. In reality, why was Rome an ideal site for a settlement?

Common questions

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The mythological account involves divine elements and heroic narratives, suggesting that Rome was founded by Romulus after divine guidance and fraternal conflict with Remus. Historically, Rome's founding was more mundane, arising from the gradual amalgamation of several Latin settlements around the Tiber River. Both accounts recognize the location around the Tiber and the seven hills but delineate different underlying causes and motivations, highlighting myth's role in moral and cultural instruction against historical gradualism .

Modern societies can learn the importance of strategic geographical positioning for economic and defensive benefits, and the value of cultural integration from Rome's history. Mythologically, Rome's founding stories illustrate how shared narratives and values can unify diverse populations. These lessons underscore the significance of both material resources and ideological cohesion in forming resilient and successful societies .

Even as Rome conquered Greece, it adopted numerous Greek cultural elements such as art, philosophy, and religion, embedding these into its own broader cultural identity. This adoption facilitated the blending of ideas, which contributed to Rome's flourishing as a center of cultural and intellectual advancement, paralleling the glory of ancient Greece and furthering the sophistication of what became Roman society .

According to the myth, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of Rhea and Mars, the god of war. As the myth describes, the twins were abandoned by the River Tiber but were saved and nurtured by a she-wolf. Eventually, they were discovered by a shepherd and raised as his own. Romulus went on to found a city on the site where Rome eventually developed. The myth serves as a tale of divine intervention and heroism, explaining Rome's origins in terms of valor and destiny .

The narrative instills key Roman values such as courage, resilience, and the divine right of leadership, serving as allegorical teachings rather than historical accounts. It fosters a sense of identity and pride in Roman heritage, illustrating loyalty and bravery through the romanticized origin story of the city, which is accessible and captivating for young audiences, thereby embedding cultural morals from an early age .

Divine parentage in myths like that of Romulus and Remus serves to legitimize the authority and extraordinary destinies of central figures. In Roman mythology, the twins' descent from Mars, the god of war, imbues them with a sense of purpose and destiny beyond mere mortal scope, similar to other myths where figures like Hercules and Achilles have divine lineage, enhancing their heroic status and granting them a cultural and religious imprint .

Rome's geographical positioning near the Tiber River provided strategic advantages such as defense via its seven hills and control over trade routes, facilitating its early growth. Access to the Mediterranean allowed for maritime expansion and trade, contributing to its broader imperial aspirations and enabling cultural exchange which underpinned its growth from a city-state to a dominant empire in the region .

The legend of Romulus and Remus symbolized divine sanction and an illustrious beginning for Rome, reinforcing cultural values such as bravery and divine favor, which were important for maintaining societal cohesion and legitimizing leadership. It also provided a shared story that united people under a common heritage, embodying ideals of sacrifice, strength, and perseverance that were central to Roman identity .

Fictional elements include the divine parentage of Romulus and Remus and their nurturing by a she-wolf, elements common in mythological stories that denote symbolic meaning rather than historical fact. These aspects lack archaeological evidence or primary historical records and instead reflect the myth's role in shaping cultural identity rather than recounting a factual origin .

The site of Rome offered several advantages for settlement; it was located near a shallow section of the River Tiber, making it ideal for crossing while still being navigable. Additionally, it was protected by seven hills, providing natural defense against potential invaders. The location about twenty-five kilometers from the sea allowed for trade without the vulnerability of being directly on the coast .

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