The legend begins with the usurpation of the throne of Alba Longa by Amulius, who deposed his brother Numitor. To ensure no heirs would challenge him, Amulius forced Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, to become a Vestal Virgin. However, the god Mars visited her, and she gave birth to twin boys, Romulus and Remus. Terrified of the king's wrath, Rhea Silvia placed the infants in a basket and set them adrift on the Tiber River. The river gods guided the basket safely to the banks under a sacred fig tree. There, a she-wolf, known as Lupa, discovered the crying infants. Instead of preying upon them, she was moved by maternal instinct and nursed them with her own milk. A woodpecker, another animal sacred to Mars, also helped bring them food. Eventually, the shepherd Faustulus found the boys and raised them as his own. Upon reaching adulthood, the twins discovered their royal heritage, restored their grandfather to the throne, and set out to found a new city where they were once saved, a city that would eventually become Rome.
Cruelty and abandonment cannot defeat a destiny ordained by the divine, as nature itself protects those meant for greatness.
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Questions about this story
What is the moral of The She-Wolf of Rome?
The story teaches that destiny is inescapable and that even the most vulnerable can rise to greatness with divine or unexpected help. It highlights the belief that Rome was founded on a unique, rugged resilience favored by the gods.
Who were Romulus and Remus?
They were the twin sons of Rhea Silvia and the god Mars. According to legend, Romulus eventually killed Remus after a dispute and became the first king and namesake of Rome.
Who raised Romulus and Remus after the she-wolf?
A shepherd named Faustulus discovered the twins in the wolf's den. He and his wife, Acca Larentia, took the boys into their home and raised them as simple shepherds until their true identity was revealed.
Why were the twins abandoned in the river?
Their great-uncle, King Amulius, feared that the twins would grow up to overthrow him and reclaim the throne for their grandfather. He ordered them to be drowned in the Tiber to eliminate the threat to his power.
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