The founding of the town of Rome; Rome's very beginning Rome

Romulus and Remus were raised by She-Wolves: they eventually founded a city that became one of the strongest empires of all time. The Ancient Roman Empire was one of the largest empires of all time. However, the ancient Roman Empire started out as a tiny town near the Tiber River. Rome, according to legend, was founded by Romulus and Remus, two brothers who escaped Troy.

The Ancient Roman Empire started out as a small group of huts near the Palatine Hill and the Tiber River. The ancient Roman Empire was heavily influenced by the Greek religion; it had similar gods, but they were more war-influenced. The ancient Greek god was Ares; the Roman version was Mars; they both had a war influence. However, the Roman version was even more warlike and aggressive. The ancient Romans were influenced by Troy and led the Mediterranean.  This matters because it meant that Rome’s rise was not guaranteed, likely, or predictable. The Ancient Roman Empire was a cultural, military, and religious leader throughout the Mediterranean.

The Ancient Roman Empire’s story begins with the legend of Romulus and Remus, two refugees from the Trojan War. Allegedly, the ancient city of Rome was started by runaways and criminals. The historical official story is that it was founded by Aeneas.  According to legend/tradition, Romulus and Remus founded Rome in 754BCE.[1] The Etruscans set up one of their own as a king of Rome in the 7^th century. The last Etruscan king was thrown out of Rome on 510BCE. he was named Tarquin the Proud. The Ancient Roman claimed to be descended from the Roman gods, which were partially derived from the Greek gods/culture. The ancient Roman god’s being descended from Greek gods, but being different and more warlike is important because it means that Rome has a clear connection with Greece; however, it was significantly more warlike and relied much more on war. Their power was based on the greater Mediterranean.

The Ancient Romans were a leading power throughout the Mediterranean and broader Europe. They were extremely culturally significant. The Ancient Romans claimed to be descended from Mars, the war god, or Ares; the Greek version.[2] The story of Rome was based on Aeneas being a Trojan refugee who had been given special refugee treatment. A man named Latinus was impressed by Aeneas and allowed him to found a town near the Tiber River and the Palatine Hill.[3] The ancient Roman empire was built from the ground up and had strong infrastructure; for example, aqueducts and stone/cobble roads. This is important because it means that Roman Culture was primarily based on its founding and religious background.

The ancient Romans were key players in the Mediterranean between the time of the 9^th Century BCE and the middle of the 5^th century AD. The Romans were in a strong location to build an empire from; however, it was not obvious that they would be as strong as they were in the 2^nd century AD. The Romans were founded by criminals and runaways. The Romans were pretty strategic and powerful leaders and also led their kingdom to victory, most crucially in the Punic Wars.   The founding story of Rome shows us that Rome valued war, leaders, and encorporating new people.

Chicago Citation:

Scarre, Christopher. The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome. London: Penguin Books, 1995.

Livy. The Early History of Rome: Books I–V of the History of Rome from Its Foundation. Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. Revised with an introduction by R. M. Ogilvie and a preface by S. P. Oakley. London: Penguin Classics, 2002.

Livy. The War with Hannibal: Books XXI–XXX of the History of Rome from Its Foundation. Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. Edited with an introduction by Betty Radice. London: Penguin Classics, 1965.

[1] Christopher Scarre, The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome (London: Penguin Books, 1995), 20.

[2]   Livy, The Early History of Rome, trans. Aubrey de Sélincourt (London: Penguin Classics, 2002), 30.

[3] Livy, The Early History of Rome, trans. Aubrey de Sélincourt (London: Penguin Classics, 2002), 32.