When Was Rome Founded?

By Anna Duncan

When Was Rome Founded?

Rome, the capital city of Italy and one of the most ancient cities in the world, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The exact date of Rome’s foundation is steeped in legend and mythology. According to Roman mythology, the city was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus on April 21, 753 BCE.

The Legend of Romulus and Remus

The story goes that Romulus and Remus were abandoned as infants and left to die in the Tiber River. However, they were rescued by a she-wolf who nurtured them until they were found by a shepherd. The shepherd raised them as his own until they grew up to become strong and valiant young men.

The Founding of Rome

As adults, Romulus and Remus decided to establish their own city. However, they disagreed on where it should be located.

In an attempt to settle the dispute, they consulted with the gods through augury (the interpretation of omens). Each brother stood on one of Rome’s seven hills – Palatine Hill for Romulus and Aventine Hill for Remus.

The Augury

In order to determine which brother would have the honor of deciding where the city should be built, they agreed that whoever saw more birds would emerge victorious. As fate would have it, Romulus saw six birds while Remus only saw four.

Rome’s Foundation

With this divine sign in favor of Romulus, he commenced building his city on Palatine Hill in 753 BCE. He marked out its boundaries with a plow pulled by a white ox and began constructing walls around it. This marked the foundation of Rome.

As the city grew, Romulus became its first king and named it after himself. He also established the Senate, a governing body that played a crucial role in shaping the destiny of Rome.

The Legacy of Rome

Rome went on to become a powerful empire, dominating much of Europe, northern Africa, and parts of Asia. It became known for its advanced civilization, architecture, engineering marvels such as aqueducts and roads, and military prowess.

  • Roman law and governance influenced legal systems across the world.
  • Roman architecture inspired countless buildings throughout history.
  • The Latin language evolved into modern-day Romance languages such as Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian.

Today, Rome stands as a testament to its ancient origins and continues to captivate visitors with its rich historical heritage.