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Romulus and Remus

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The Capitoline Wolf, an ancient Roman sculpture showing a she-wolf caring for the twins Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.

Romulus and Remus

In Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus were twin brothers. Their story tells us how the city of Rome began.

The twins were found and cared for by a she-wolf when they were very little. They grew up and decided to build a city together. Only Romulus became the first king of what later became the city of Rome and the Roman Kingdom.

The picture of a she-wolf feeding the twins has been an important symbol for Rome and the ancient Romans for a very long time. People still talk about their story.

La Lupa Capitolina ("the Capitoline Wolf"). Traditional scholarship says the wolf-figure is Etruscan, 5th century BC. The figures of Romulus and Remus were added in the 15th century AD by Antonio del Pollaiuolo. Some modern research suggests that the she-wolf may be a Romanesque sculpture dating from the 13th century AD.

The twins were born in Alba Longa, a city near the seven hills of Rome. Their mother was Rhea Silvia, the daughter of a former king named Numitor. Their uncle, King Amulius, wanted to keep power and saw the twins as a threat.

Romulus and Remus on the House of the She-wolf at the Grand-Place of Brussels

The twins were raised by a shepherd named Faustulus and grew up helping with sheep. As they grew older, they learned about their family and helped their grandfather take back his throne. After this, they decided to build their own city.

Images

Ancient Roman marble relief showing Romulus and Remus being fed by a she-wolf, with symbols of Mars, Venus, the Tiber River, and the Palatine Hill.
A historical painting showing Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, being brought to a shepherd's wife.
Classical painting of Romulus and Remus with the Tiber River, displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
An ancient artwork showing the legendary Roman twins Romulus and Remus being cared for by a she-wolf.
An ancient artwork showing a she-wolf, reflecting historical and cultural artistry.
Ancient Roman relief showing the twins Romulus and Remus with the she-wolf, a famous mythological scene from Roman history.
Ancient Roman fresco artwork from Pompeii on display in Naples' Archaeological Museum.
A classical art painting showing scenes from the legend of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.
A classical artwork showing the legendary birth of Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers said to have founded Rome.
Ancient Roman coin showing a she-wolf with twins, dating back to around 269-266 BC.

Related articles

Roman mythology
Romulus
Roman Kingdom
Ancient Rome

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Romulus and Remus, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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