Rome: Burial site of legendary city founder 'uncovered,' but who was Romulus?
Archaeologists working in Rome believe they have pinpointed the burial place of Romulus, the city’s founder. Digging at the Forum, the heart of the ancient city, has revealed an underground shrine with a sarcophagus 1.4 meters (55 inches) tall, dating from the sixth century BC, and what seems to be an altar.
The sarcophagus was discovered decades ago, but on further investigation experts now believe the shrine was placed where Romulus was buried. Mayor Virginia Raggi tweeted “Rome always marvels with its treasures,” while the Colosseum Archaeological Park’s director Alfonsina Russo said “This is an extraordinary discovery.”
But who was Romulus?
Romulus: A tale for the ages
As befits the supposed founder of a city that grew into a continent-straddling empire, Romulus is surrounded by tall tales, somewhere between folklore and myth. Nearly 30 centuries later, it’s difficult to discern the fact from the fantasy (although we can have a guess).
Among the plotlines to shame a Hollywood blockbuster are having a deity for a father, being abandoned at birth, being suckled by a wolf, killing his twin brother, founding what would become the world’s most powerful city, killing his twin brother, abducting the womenfolk of a neighboring tribe, then disappearing in a whirlwind - perhaps ascending to heaven courtesy of the god of war. You can see why it’s a popular story, and equally why a suspension of disbelief may be necessary.
A difficult childhood
Romulus and his twin brother Remus were born in the middle of the eighth century BC. Mum was Rhea Silvia, daughter of Numitor - the former king of the Alba Longa city-state; ‘former’ because Numitor’s brother Amulius usurped him, killed his son and ruled Rhea Silvia out of producing an heir by making her a vestal virgin, forced to commit to religious chastity.
So when Rhea became pregnant by the god of war, Mars - that old excuse - Amulius imprisoned her and ordered the resultant twins, Romulus and Remus, be thrown into the Tiber river. His servants secretly left the twins by the river at the foot of the Palatine Hill, where they were nurtured and suckled by a she-wolf (but of course).
Discovered and raised by shepherds, the twins discovered their birth story, killed Amulius, restored their grandpa Numitor then looked to found their own city, as young men so often do. Settling upon the hills overlooking the Tiber, they squabbled about which hill to choose; here, the legends vary, but they all end up with Remus dead, whether purposefully or accidentally.
City fathers, country wives
Pressing on regardless, Romulus established Rome (named after him, of course) around the Palatine Hill and set up a class system (senators at the top, plebeians or ‘plebs’ at the bottom). To grow the population, he outlawed infanticide, which seems reasonable enough, and welcomed asylum-seekers, which may have been a more difficult sell.
However, Romulus faced a demographic problem: Rome was overwhelmingly male. He sent envoys suggesting intermarriage with the womenfolk of nearby cities, but they all swiped left. So he arranged a big festival, invited the neighbors round - and at a given signal, all the women of the Sabines people judged to be of childbearing age were abducted and forced into marriage.
Inevitably there was a war, only ended when the women themselves pleaded for peace. Romulus agreed to a power-sharing arrangement with the Sabines’ leader (but not any women) and the city continued to grow until, after an impressive 37 years’ reign, Romulus finally departed this life.
A suitable ending
Being Romulus, he didn’t die quietly at home, surrounded by his loving family. Instead, while he was reviewing his troops, a sudden and violent storm erupted and he disappeared in a whirlwind, which is quite the way to make an exit.
Cementing the legend, subsequent historians claimed he was either murdered by senators - a plotline to which Rome would return more than once in later years - or ascended to heaven on the bidding of his father Mars, the god of war. Romans quickly took the second explanation to heart, justifying what they saw as their god-given right to build an empire - and you have to admit, they did rather well at it.
