Prologue
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According to ancient Roman legend – somewhere between myth and religion and law – Romulus was the founder of Rome. Seven hills, the centre being the eternal Capitoline Hill. The ancient and most noble city of Roma: immortalised by Virgil, tyrannised by Caesar, revolutionised by Augustus, revised by Constantine, and mythicised by Romulus and Remus.
But first there was Alba Longa.
The ancient Italian city was beautiful, resting atop rich land and ruled by the stern but gracious fist of the just King Numitor. His brother, the wily Amulius, at his side and his daughter, the lovely Rhea Silvia, at his feet, and his city flourished. Amulius was no kind soul, and by his hand his own brother was deposed, sent into exile, and King Numitor was no more.
Valiant efforts came, fighting against the cruel hand of Amulius, but to no avail. As Numitor had been sent away, Rhea Silvia was equally shunned. Sent to temples of the goddess Vesta, the lovely princess became an eternally lonely Vestal Virgin. Banned from marriage, from love, and from the bonds of family, Rhea Silvia pined gracefully. Lovely and serene, and as opposites are bound to attract, the fair Rhea caught the eyes and heart of Mars. The god of war devoted himself, heart and soul, to the eternally radiant princess and she gave hers in return and, as things are apt to go in such circumstances, Rhea Silvia soon gave birth to two hearty, healthy twin boys.
The cruel do not thrive on mercy or peaceful dealings, and thus Amulius could not overlook the two innocent infants – his own blood. Terrified of the potential of usurpation, from the hands of newborn babes, the king kidnapped the two boys and had them thrown into the River Tiber.
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Remember that saying? 'If you want something done right, do it yourself'? Well, somebody had neglected to inform the king of this, and he left the task to a slave. Unable to be as heartless as his master demanded, the slave left the two babes in a wicker trough and watched them float away.
The infants floated down the river – how far may ever remain a mystery – and eventually came to shore. Stranded in a trough, unable to do more than cry, the newborns were found by a she-wolf, let her be called Lupa in the Roman tradition. Lupa, among the animals eternally sacred to the almighty Mars, cradled his children and took them to safety. As the sleek Lupa fed and cared for the infants, the god of war's close companion, the woodpecker, aided the wolf's search for food. Thus the boys were well guarded. However, as lovely as their infancy may have been, they were found. An older shepherd, Faustulus, took the two boys home to his wife Larentia, where the boys grew to be bold, strong, powerful men.
Kingship in their veins, the boys led a strong band of shepherds, and grew into the names given to them by the good Faustulus: Romulus and Remus.
Perhaps it was some of Mars in the boys, but eventually they got into one scrape too many. Brought to local demi-king, the twins were questioned carefully and extensively. Their inquisitor, being both clever and intuitive, noted how incredibly regal the demeanour of the young men just happened to be, and it did not take long for the man to recognise exactly who Romulus and Remus were.
Standing, tall despite age and exile, the king threw off his robes and announced to his two grandsons that he, Numitor, recognised them. Of course, they knew nothing of their true past and when their grandfather revealed it to them anger and vengeance boiled in their veins. With their prowess, the quick mind of their grandfather, and the support of their capable fellow men, Romulus and Remus returned to Alba Longa for the first time since their infancy. The rebellion was short, bloody, and successful. Amulius was killed and Numitor's throne restored, much to the joy of the people.
Eager and desperate for their true family, Romulus and Remus lived with their grandfather and learned to rule in the pseudo-paradise that was Alba Longa. Nonetheless, the land of their Lupa called to them, and they pined for their wolves and their adoptive parents and the seven hills they called home. Moving back, the duo began settlements along the River Tiber, the landmark of their childhood.
Remus stood tall and picked Capitoline Hill – teasing his beloved brother and laughing about how they would end up with two cities because, after all, they could never agree.
Romulus was determined not to be outshone and claimed Palatine Hill – watching his twin carefully and desperate to create the superior of the two hilltop cities, after all, he could never take a joke.
Ever the humorous of the twins, Remus continued teasing his straight-laced brother, and every joke began to grate deeper and deeper for the sombre Romulus. In the end the two brothers stood together, gazing up at their two cities, eternally lovely. But dear Remus was restless, eager to entice a laugh from his twin, and he stood atop his higher settlement. Romulus watched, brow darkening as his brother laughed and taunted the walls of his city. Unimpressed by his brother's jeers, Romulus ignored them. Naturally, Remus could not let this slide; retaliating, the jokester began to leap back and forth over the walls protecting Palatine Hill.
Rage surged through Romulus, not unlike what had driven the duo upon the deposition of their usurping uncle Amulius, and he lashed out at Remus. Remus never did know when to stop. What had begun as a joke escalated and as the brothers fought, tooth and nail, Romulus found himself – breathing heavily – standing over his brother's body. Distraught, as one ought to be, Romulus took a deep breath and braced himself. Standing tall, the remaining brother took Remus's men and Remus's hill and marked the first two of seven hills. Eventually the city merged, beautiful and blossoming and the once-outlaws were now upstanding citizens, and Palatine Hill met Capitoline Hill and they met five others and they became Roma, the city and jewel of King Romulus.
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Up Next: Chapter one and one Remus John Lupin