by T. Scott Randolph

Created on: July 29, 2009

Anytime you have a civilization that lasts as long as the Romans did, the beginnings will be clouded in the mists of time. The beginning of Rome is no different. The only thing that can be put in concrete fact (and even this is up for debate) is that their were two brothers named Romulus and Remus. Since it wasn't called the Reme, we can make an educated guess as to who was the brother that won out in the end.

When you look back at the lineage of these brothers, it goes to the Greek city state of Troy. Hard evidence that is not debated is hard to find even about the location and the battles that the king Priam fought. Apparently one of the princes escaped with treasure and made their way to the area of modern Sicily.

Several marriages and matings with various Gods and Goddess's later you have a set of brothers. According to legend, their were suckled by a she wolf. This, with our modern knowledge, seems unlikely in itself. A more plausible explanation could be in the fact that the Latin word for wolf, or the base word at least, lupa was also used to refer to a prostitute. It would seem that this would be a more likely explanation. I find it easier to swallow that a prostitute took care of the brothers than the Tarzan style raised by wild animals version. Although, with all the Gods and child bearing either could be possible I suppose.

The second (if you want to refer to it as such) point of hard evidence is in regards to how Romulus was picked over his brother. One school of thought is that the Gods sent a flock of birds to encircle the hill that Romulus was on. This was the divine symbol that he was destined to be the founder of the city, that would lead to an Empire that would influence western civilization. The other school of thought on it, the one that I found much more likely since I have brothers, is that Romulus and Remus got into an argument. The argument escalated and came to blows and Romulus ended up killing Remus.

It would not be the first time in history that a brother killed a brother, nor the last. It just seems more plausible that they fought over the territory than divine intervention. I realize that this is the cliff notes version of the story. You can write volumes on the founding of Rome, but I think that this will give you the basic idea. At least enough to spark your interest and do deeper research to find your own answer.

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