Roman Mythology

My name is Romulus, and I want to tell you a story about my twin brother, Remus, and me. Long, long ago, the sun warmed the grassy banks of the big Tiber River in a land we now call Italy. Remus and I were just tiny babies, floating in a basket on the water. We were princes, but a jealous king had sent us away, hoping we would be lost forever. But someone very special found us, someone with sharp ears and a warm heart! This is the story of how we were saved and went on to build one of the greatest cities in the world, a tale the Romans would call the founding of Rome.

Who found us? It wasn't a person, but a magnificent she-wolf! She heard our cries and gently carried our basket to her den. With her own cubs, she cared for us, keeping us warm and safe. A little while later, a kind shepherd named Faustulus discovered us with the wolf. He was amazed! He and his wife took us home and raised us as their own sons. We grew up strong and brave, running through the fields and leading the other shepherd boys in games and adventures. We didn't know we were royalty until we were young men. When we learned the truth about our grandfather, the true king, we rushed to help him. After we put him back on his throne, Remus and I decided it was our turn to build something new—a city for us and our friends. But we had one problem: I wanted to build our city on a sunny hill called the Palatine Hill, but Remus thought the nearby Aventine Hill was a better spot. We just couldn't agree.

To settle our argument, we looked to the sky for a sign from the gods. We watched for special birds, a sign of good fortune. Remus spotted six vultures first and shouted with joy, but then I looked up and saw twelve—a whole flock! This meant the gods had chosen my hill. So, on April 21st, 753 BCE, I began to build the walls of our new home on the Palatine Hill. I named the city Rome, after myself. Our story was told by Roman parents to their children for hundreds of years. It reminded them that their city had a special beginning and that they should always be strong and brave, just like Remus and me. Today, if you visit the city of Rome in Italy, you can still see statues of the she-wolf caring for two babies. Our story still inspires people to dream big and reminds us that even the greatest things can have the smallest, most magical beginnings.