The Story of Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus with she-wolf
Rhea Silvia was the daughter of the king: Numitor. His brother, Amulius, was jealous and believed Numitor didn't deserve the throne. He threatens Numitor, who manages to escape and flee the city leaving it in Amulius' hands. He made Rhea a Priestess of the goddess Vesta so she wouldn't be allowed to marry and have kids that, someday, might be able to overthrow him. While in her temple, the god Mars came to her and she conceived two sons: Romulus and Remus. When they were born, Amulius was furious. He ordered a servent to get the children and drown them in the river. The servant did what he was told but instead of drowning them, he placed them in a basket and let them float in the river, thinking that he would let the gods determine their fate.
Romulus and Remus floated right to the bank of a river where they were found by a she-wolf. The wolf took care of them as if they were her own children and surprisingly did not attack them. An old shepherd found them with the wolf and took them to his house where he raised them as his own children.
One day when they are both young men, they ask the shepherd who their mother was. The shepherd told them that it was rumored that they were the sons of Rhea Silvia and that she was now in prison. Both of them are very angry for Amulius is treating their mother like that and when they are grown men they assemble a small army. They charge into the city and kill Amulius. They go out and find Numitor and give him back his thrown. Then, they go to the prison and free their mother at long last.
Soon, they decide to build a new city. Romulus begins to build walls and Remus laughs at him because they are so small. To prove his point he jumps over the walls and Romulus gets very angry. In a moment of anger, he kills his brother and immediately feels horrible about it though it doesn't stop him from continuing building. When he was done, he named the city after himself: Rome.
Romulus and Remus floated right to the bank of a river where they were found by a she-wolf. The wolf took care of them as if they were her own children and surprisingly did not attack them. An old shepherd found them with the wolf and took them to his house where he raised them as his own children.
One day when they are both young men, they ask the shepherd who their mother was. The shepherd told them that it was rumored that they were the sons of Rhea Silvia and that she was now in prison. Both of them are very angry for Amulius is treating their mother like that and when they are grown men they assemble a small army. They charge into the city and kill Amulius. They go out and find Numitor and give him back his thrown. Then, they go to the prison and free their mother at long last.
Soon, they decide to build a new city. Romulus begins to build walls and Remus laughs at him because they are so small. To prove his point he jumps over the walls and Romulus gets very angry. In a moment of anger, he kills his brother and immediately feels horrible about it though it doesn't stop him from continuing building. When he was done, he named the city after himself: Rome.
Hero Horatius
Horatius defending the bridge to Rome
Once upon a time, a long time ago, the ancient Romans said, “Enough. We’ve had it with you, King Tarquin the Proud, the Mean, the Nasty and the Unfair. Go away. Leave our city forever.” They threw him out.
Tarquin the Proud didn’t like that much. He went to the Etruscans and said, “I need your help. Rome threw me out. They must pay.” The Etruscans said, “Sure, we’ll give you some help. We’ll give you an army.” Back Tarquin came.
Rome was taken by surprise. The people who lived in the surrounding countryside fled towards Rome as fast as they could. They poured across the narrow wooden bridge over the Tiber that connected Rome with its farm fields on the other side, seeking refuge in the walled city of Rome. The Etruscan army was on their heels.
Inside the city, the Romans were in such a panic, they forgot to destroy the bridge, or perhaps it never occurred to them to do so. Led by Tarquin the Proud, who knew his way around Rome pretty well, the Etruscan army headed for narrowest piece of the Tiber, where of course the Romans had built their bridge. Imagine their delight when they discovered that the Romans had left the bridge for them to cross. They would not have to swim the Tiber to reach Rome.
It was disaster. If the Etruscans crossed the bridge, they would take Rome.
Horatius, a young Roman soldier, called to his friends, “Come on! We’ll hold the bridge while the others chop it down.” His friends froze. They were terrified at the thought of facing an entire army. “Then at least chop the bridge down while I hold them off alone,” Horatius pleaded.
He stood on the bridge and faced the Etruscan army alone. “Who among you is brave enough to face a Roman soldier,” he shouted. The Etruscans threw spears at him. But they were some distance away, and the bridge itself gave Horatius protection.
Horatius stood firm, fighting like a hero. When the Etruscans tried to cross the narrow bridge, Horatius cut them down. Two of his friends rushed out to help him. Behind them, other young soldiers were frantically sawing at the heavy cords that held the bridge.
Horatius felt the bridge give way. “Go back,” he shouted at his friends. His friends raced for the protection of the walled city. It was hopeless, they thought. One man cannot stop an army. Only the gods could save them now. As the bridge began to fall, Horatius turned and dived into the Tiber. The gods were with him. He swam back to Rome safely, and received a hero’s welcome.
The Etruscan army fell back. How could one man face an army and live? It was an omen. They did not wish to anger the gods. It was true what they said about Rome. It was a divine city.
Tarquin the Proud screamed and shouted and carried on something awful. But nothing he said convinced the Etruscan army to swim the Tiber and fight Rome. The Etruscan army went home. And they never came back again.
From: http://rome.mrdonn.org/horatius.html
Tarquin the Proud didn’t like that much. He went to the Etruscans and said, “I need your help. Rome threw me out. They must pay.” The Etruscans said, “Sure, we’ll give you some help. We’ll give you an army.” Back Tarquin came.
Rome was taken by surprise. The people who lived in the surrounding countryside fled towards Rome as fast as they could. They poured across the narrow wooden bridge over the Tiber that connected Rome with its farm fields on the other side, seeking refuge in the walled city of Rome. The Etruscan army was on their heels.
Inside the city, the Romans were in such a panic, they forgot to destroy the bridge, or perhaps it never occurred to them to do so. Led by Tarquin the Proud, who knew his way around Rome pretty well, the Etruscan army headed for narrowest piece of the Tiber, where of course the Romans had built their bridge. Imagine their delight when they discovered that the Romans had left the bridge for them to cross. They would not have to swim the Tiber to reach Rome.
It was disaster. If the Etruscans crossed the bridge, they would take Rome.
Horatius, a young Roman soldier, called to his friends, “Come on! We’ll hold the bridge while the others chop it down.” His friends froze. They were terrified at the thought of facing an entire army. “Then at least chop the bridge down while I hold them off alone,” Horatius pleaded.
He stood on the bridge and faced the Etruscan army alone. “Who among you is brave enough to face a Roman soldier,” he shouted. The Etruscans threw spears at him. But they were some distance away, and the bridge itself gave Horatius protection.
Horatius stood firm, fighting like a hero. When the Etruscans tried to cross the narrow bridge, Horatius cut them down. Two of his friends rushed out to help him. Behind them, other young soldiers were frantically sawing at the heavy cords that held the bridge.
Horatius felt the bridge give way. “Go back,” he shouted at his friends. His friends raced for the protection of the walled city. It was hopeless, they thought. One man cannot stop an army. Only the gods could save them now. As the bridge began to fall, Horatius turned and dived into the Tiber. The gods were with him. He swam back to Rome safely, and received a hero’s welcome.
The Etruscan army fell back. How could one man face an army and live? It was an omen. They did not wish to anger the gods. It was true what they said about Rome. It was a divine city.
Tarquin the Proud screamed and shouted and carried on something awful. But nothing he said convinced the Etruscan army to swim the Tiber and fight Rome. The Etruscan army went home. And they never came back again.
From: http://rome.mrdonn.org/horatius.html