Romulus and Remus: History and Mythology

The myth about the origin of Rome began in 753 BC.  Romulus and Remus were twin boys born to a princess names Rhea Silvia.  Their father was the Roman god of war.  The king where the boys lived was afraid that Romulus and Remus would overthrow him when they grew up so he had the boys put in a basket on the Tiber River and left to die.  The myth foes on to say the boys were found by a she-wolf and she raised them until they were found by a shepherd.

  He took the boys home and raised them as his own.After the boys grew up, Romulus weas captured and taken to the king. He found out who he really was .  Romulus then got men together to rescue his bother,  The brothers were reated like royalty but could not agree on where to make their homeland and rule.  After many arguments about the homeland it ended with Romulus killing Remus.

After Remus was killed, Romulus continued to work on his city. He officially founded the city on April 21, 753 BC, making himself king, and naming it Rome after himself.The historical account of how Rome originated is that it was first settled around 1000 BC.  The first settlement being built on Palantine Hill because could be easily protected from enemies.  Over time, the six other hills around Palantine were also settled.  As the settlement grew, it became a city.Rome was dominated by men.  Only men held political offices, only men could vote and men had control over their families and children.

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Soldiers were very important in Rome.  The soldier lived in an army camp in tents.  Discipline was the major part of being a soldier.  They had to obey every command given.  If a soldier failed to obey a command or did not perform their job correctly they were beaten. When soldiers began to be recruited from other countries making them less loyal to Rome and pay for the soldiers was often not given, the army declined.Women who married to political leaders influenced government.  

Men believed Roman women could be weak or powerful and were objects to be controlled but at the same time respected.  Even though women had little control, they did have control over their family.  She had authority over her children and the slaves.  Young women were not educated until after the third century BC.  They were taught household chores like spinning wool and cooking.  They learned these things to prepare themselves to be wives.  Some women worked outside the home as nurses, midwives, weavers, and merchants.Gladiators were one of the most famous group of men in Roman history.  The first gladiators performed for funeral services.  They were believed to be prisoners of war who were forced to fight to the death.  Government officials and candidates for office would have gladiators perform for public entertainment and to gain approval for themselves.  Coliseums were built for gladiators to have combat.  

Gladiators were trained in government ran schools.  It was like the military.  Christians did not like the idea of gladiator combat and by 404 AD the sport was abolished.Most Roman people were simple wool or linen clothes.  Wealthy people work silk and special cotton clothing made from imported cotton.  The main piece of clothing was a tunic made from two pieces of material sewn down the sides and came to the knees.  The tunic had elbow length sleeves.  A belt went around the waist.  On special occasions Romans wore toga over their tunic with leather or wood sandals.Emperors did not allow cooking in the homes so people brough their salt, sausages, porridge and bread and cooked in public ovens.  Wealthy people had kitchen facilities in their homes and had slaves prepare their meals.  Most Romans drank water and wine and ate mostly vegetables and bread.  The ate barley soup with peas, lentils, barley cabbage and leeks in it.  They soaked their bread in milk or fried it in oil and served it with honey for dessert.  The main meal was eaten in the evening around 4 o’clock and finished later in the evening. The food was served on plates, but eaten with the fingers only sometimes with knives and spoons.  They did not use forks.  On special occasions wealthy Romans held banquets that went on for days.  Guests would be entertained  with poetry reading, live music, juggling and acrobatics.  The people ate so much that a room was provided for vomiting.