The Foundation of Rome

(i) Using a map locate the following places: Troy, Rome, Carthage, Egypt, the Mediterranean, the Tiber and the seven hills of Rome.
Rome started as a settlement of agricultural people on the left bank of the Tiber. It became a city under Romulus and eventually expanded into a huge Empire which circled the Mediterranean.

(ii) Geographical Site

• The greatness of Rome is partly due to its geographical location
• a natural fortress with seven hills with good soil for agriculture
• it is situated on the River Tiber 16 miles from the sea which is important for trade and travel
• pleasant climate
• scenic

Therefore it is a suitable place for a settlement.
(iii) The Foundation Legends
The story of Rome begins with MYTHS. Myths are important because:
The Romans believed them

• Used by the Roman writers
  The themes of these myths are still important in the world's literature, art and music.

(iv) The Main Myths include:

• Aeneas connecting Rome with Troy
• The Seven Kings beginning with Romulus, who gave Rome its name
• The Sabine Women
• The part played by MARS
• The Tarquins

AENEAS

• The story of Aeneas links Rome with Troy (see "The Journey of Aeneas" in "Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece" - in the syllabus and in these Guidelines)~
• Aeneas arrived in Latium and married Lavinia, the king's daughter, after a terrible war with Turnus, her old suitor.
• He established a city called Lavinium and lived there for three years.
• His son Ascanius (also called Ilus or Iulus) then took over and ruled for thirty years.
• He transferred his seat from Lavinium to ALBA LONGA.
• His descendants were kings for 300 years.
• One of these kings was NUMITOR.

ROMULUS AND REMUS

• Numitor had a daughter RHEA SILVIA.
  He was deposed by his brother, Amulius, who compelled Rhea Silvia to become a VESTAL VIRGIN. (This meant she could not marry).
• Rhea Silvia had twins, by MARS
  • ROMULUS
  • REMUS.
• Her uncle imprisoned her and threw the babies into the TIBER.
• They were suckled by a WOLF and given food by a WOODPECKER until one day a shepherd found them and brought them home.
• When they grew up they restored Numitor to his throne and built a city of their own.
• They quarrelled over who should become ruler and a sign from 12 vultures suggested that it should be Romulus.
• Romulus cast a spear from the AVENTINE to the PALATINE and there built the walls of his new city (square walls).Remus, out of jealousy, jumped over the walls to prove they were useless as a defence and was killed by Romulus.
• Romulus then named his city, after himself, ROME, on the 21st April, 753 B.C.

THE SABINE WOMEN

• Romulus built a sanctuary, on the CAPITOL Hill, for the homeless.
• The Romans wanted to marry but there were not enough women.
  Romulus invited his neighbours, the SABINES, who lived on QUIRINAL Hill, to a festival and his warriors carried away the women.
  The King of the Sabines was annoyed and declared war on Romulus.
  The Sabines captured the Capitol with the aid of TARPEIA who offered to open the gate if she were given their jewellery.
  The Sabines however threw their shields at her and crushed her to death.
• This place, called the TARPEIAN ROCK, is where traitors were executed ever after.
• The Sabines and Romans eventually made peace and were united.
• The valley between the two tribes became their FORUM (market and meeting place).
• Romulus was swept up in a whirlwind one day and was never seen again.
• He was worshipped as a God under the name of QUIRINUS who is associated with MARS
• Romulus was succeeded by a Sabine king, called NUMA.
• Numa brought peace and gave Rome its LAWS.
• The Sabine kings were later overrun by the Etruscans (The TARQUIN Kings).

MARS

• In the beginning the Gods had no images. They were regarded as forces (NUMINA).
• Mars was worshipped as the God of Agriculture.
• He was associated with the wolf.
• He was later associated with strength and manliness.
• Under Greek influence he was associated with ARES and became known as the God of War.
  CAMPUS MARTIUS (The Field of Mars) was an open space where armies paraded and military and athletic sports took place. This later became the site of the Pantheon of Agrippa (27 B.C.).
• MARCH (Martius) is called after Mars.
• QUIRINUS, a form of Mars, was the name given to Romulus when he was made a God after his death.

THE TARQUINS

• The three Tarquin Kings were all Etruscans
  (i) Tarquinlus Priscus (616-579 B.C.)
• Descended from a Greek family
  An Etruscan refugee. He was an employee of the Roman royal family and he took the throne himself.
• Subdued the whole of Etruria (The Etruscans).
• Brought the Etruscan emblems of sovereignty to Rome
  the Curule, an ivory folding chair the rods and axes (the "Fasces" - the word
  'fascism' comes from this)
• Built the great sewer (Cloaca Maxima) which still runs below the Forum.
  (2) Servius Tullius (578-535 B.C.)
• Son-in-law of Tarquinius Priscus.
  He extended the power of Rome to the Latins.
• Surrounded Rome with a great wall; parts of which still exist.
• Organised people by land, not birth, and this annoyed the nobles.
• He founded the Chief Assembly of the Roman People, Comitia Centuriata.
• He was murdered and the throne was seized by
  Tarquinius Superbus.
  (3) Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud) (534-510
  B.C.)
• He murdered the king, Servius Tullius, and seized the throne.
• Reigned as a Tyrant and oppressed the people.
• His son attacked a Roman matron, LUCRETIA.
• The people were annoyed over this and rose against him.
• He was expelled.
  This marks the end of the Kings of Rome and the beginning of the Republic. Rome was now ruled by two consuls from 509 B.C who held office for one year only and shared power.
• These first consuls were
  • BRUTUS, nephew of Tarquin
  • The husband of LUCRETIA.

[In Athens at this time the despots, the PISISTRATIDAE, were expelled].

Archaeological Evidence

The settlement of the first shepherds on the Left Bank of the tiber below the Palatine consisted of RECTANGULAR HUTS.

On PALATINE, the SQUARE CITY WALLS were built in 753 B.C. and associated with Romulus.

The Forum, which is located in a valley between the Palatine and Esquiline hills. It was originally a market place for agriculturists. Later it became the political, religious and commercial centre of Republican and Imperial Rome.

The great sewer, CLOACA MAXIMA, below the Forum is the work of the first Tarquin king.

The massive CIRCULAR WALLS which follow the original walls of SERVIUS TULLIUS are still to be partially found in front of the Central Station.

The remains of the port of OSTIA, the legendary
landing place of AENEAS.

(vi) Primary Sources

Virgil: "The Aeneid".
Plutarch's "Lives" (Romulus; Numa Pompilius).
Livy: "History of Rome".
Ovid: "The Fasti".
Coins.
Bronze Wolf 3rd Century B.C. - (Capitoline Museum)
Archaelogical remains of Rome (outlined above).

(vii) Influence on European Culture

• Literature
  • Statius, Marlowe, Dante, Spenser, Chaucer, Milton, Dryden, C.S. Lewis
• Art
  • Lemaire: "The Young Romulus" (National Gallery, Ireland).
  • Botticelli: "Venus and Mars" (National Gallery, London)
  • Also paintings by Poussin, Rubens, David.
  • Sculpture - Giovanni da Bologna: "Statue of the Sabines".
• Music
  • Purcell: "Dido and Aeneas".
  • Berlioz: "Roman Carnival" and "Les Troyens"
  • Holst: "The Planets" (piece on Mars)

(viii) Additional Reading Material for Teachers

• Leonardo B. Dal Maso: "Rome of the Caesars".
• Patricia Corbett: "Roman Art".

(ix) Suggested Activities for Students

• Retell the stories of Aeneas and Romulus and Remus.
• Draw pictures based on the stories
• Imagine you are Romulus living on the Palatine Hill. Describe:
  • your hut, its shape etc.
  • shape of walls around the city
  • the geographical features around youwhat you find pleasant about your life
  • your neighbours
• Retell the story of the Tarquin Kings.