Numitor

The twins grew up as ordinary herdsmen living a simple tribal lifestyle, but with an inherent knowledge that they were the main characters of the events that were going to unfold.

As the boys grew, displaying remarkable bravery and strength, they eventually uncovered their royal heritage, overthrew Amulius, and restored their grandfather Numitor to power.

With their royal lineage restored, Romulus and Remus decided to establish their own city near the spot where they were saved.

They enjoyed widespread popular support because despite their royal lineage, they were also simple herdsmen themselves.

Here again there are variations in the story but its general outline is as follows.

The descendants of Aeneas reigned as kings in Alba and the succession devolved at length upon two brothers Numitor and Amulius.

Amulius divided the whole inheritance into two parts setting the treasures and the gold which had been brought from Troy over against the kingdom and Numitor chose the kingdom.

Amulius then in possession of the treasure and made more powerful by it than Numitor easily took the kingdom away from his brother and fearing lest that brother's daughter should have children made her a priestess of Vesta bound to live unwedded and a virgin all her days.

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It is for these reasons that honours are paid to this second Larentia amongst the Romans.

As for the babes, they were taken up and reared by Faustulus, a swineherd of Amelius, and no man knew of it.

A Roman writer named Livy, writing at about the time of Christ, tells us that there once was an ancient kingdom named Alba.

Alba was ruled by King Proca, and he had two sons, Numitor and Amulius.

When Proca died, Numitor inherited the throne, but Amulius was treacherous.

He seized the throne, banished his brother, and murdered his brother's sons.

But Numitor also had one daughter, named Rhea Silvia.

Amulius wanted to show mercy to his niece, but he also wanted to be sure that his brother could have no male heirs whatsoever, so he bestowed a great honor on Rhea Silvia.

He dedicated her to the goddess Vesta.

Nine months later, she gave birth to twin boys.

Here again there are variations in the story, but its general outline is as follows.

The descendants of Aeneas reigned as kings in Alba, and the succession devolved at length upon two brothers, Numitor and Amulius.

Amulius divided the whole inheritance into two parts, setting the treasures and the gold which had been brought from Troy over against the kingdom, and Numitor chose the kingdom.

Amulius, then, in possession of the treasure, and made more powerful by it than Numitor, easily took the kingdom away from his brother, and, fearing lest that brother's daughter should have children, made her a priestess of Vesta, bound to live unwedded and a virgin all her days.

Her name is variously given as Ilia, or Rhea, or Silvia.

Not long after this she was discovered to be with child, contrary to the established laws for the Vestals.

It is for these reasons that honours are paid to this second Larentia amongst the Romans.

As for the babes, they were taken up and reared by Faustulus, a swineherd of Amulius, and no man knew of it.

Sylvius received the kingdom from his father, and being struck by lightning, demised it to Aventinus, who, being buried on that hill which is now a part of the city of Rome, gave it his name.

To him succeeded Procas, who had two sons, Numitor and Amulius.

To Numitor, as being the firstborn, he bequeathed the ancient kingdom of the Sylvian family, but force prevailed over both the will of their father and the respect due to priority of birth.

Amulius dethroned his brother, took possession of the kingdom, and adding crime to crime put to death the male offspring of Numitor, making his daughter Rhea Silvia a vestal under the specious pretense of doing her honor, but in fact to deprive her of all hope of issue, the vestals being obliged to vow perpetual virginity.

But the fates, I suppose, demanded the founding of this great city and the first establishment of an empire which is now in power next to the immortal gods.

The vestal being deflowered by force brought forth twins and declared that the father of her doubtful offspring was Mars, either because she really thought so or in hopes of extenuating the guilt of her transgression by imputing it to the act of a deity.

While they were intent on the performance of these sports, the time of their celebration being generally known, the robbers, enraged at the loss of their booty, attacked them by surprise, having placed themselves in ambush.

Romulus making a vigorous defense extricated himself, but they took Remus prisoner, delivered him up to King Amulius, and had the assurance to accuse them both of criminal misbehavior.