05/14/2024
# **The Origins of Rome**
This topic has been covered before, more than once. Now, let"s look at a more summarized version.
**Chapter 1: From Myth to Foundation**
On the border between history and mythology, the origin of Rome intertwines with the fates of heroes and gods. The saga begins with Aeneas, the brave Trojan who, fleeing from the ashes of Troy set ablaze by the Greeks, carries on his shoulders the weight of a new beginning. Guided by the designs of the gods, his journey across the Mediterranean is filled with trials and adventures, culminating finally in his arrival in Latium, where his destiny would merge with that of the local people.
Aeneas, upon settling in the region, married Lavinia, daughter of King Latinus, and from this union was born a lineage that would come to shape the destiny of Rome. Among his descendants, Numitor and Amulius stand out, brothers whose rivalry would trigger a series of crucial events for the foundation of the eternal city. Amulius, the usurper, stripped his older brother of his right and condemned Rhea Silvia, Numitor"s daughter, to a life of virginity as a Vestal, so that there would be no heirs. But fate, capricious, united Rhea Silvia with the god Mars, and from this union were born the twins Romulus and Remus.
Amulius, fearing the prophecy that he would be dethroned by Numitor"s descendants, ordered that the twins be thrown into the Tiber River. But divine providence intervened, and the current carried them to safety, where they were saved and suckled by a she-wolf. Later, they were found by the shepherd Faustulus, who raised them as his own sons.
Romulus and Remus grew up strong and brave, but unaware of their noble origin. Upon discovering the truth about their past, they led a revolt that deposed Amulius, restoring Numitor to the throne of Alba Longa.
Still, the desire to found their own city burned in the brothers" hearts. Choosing the place where they were saved by the she-wolf as the location, they began the foundations of a new village. However, the dispute over the right to name the place culminated in Remus"s death at the hands of his brother Romulus. Thus, in 753 BC, Rome was born, marked from the beginning by a bloody dispute.
Under the reign of Romulus, Rome expanded, initially welcoming refugees, exiles, and even criminals, forming a diverse and robust population. But there were only men, however. Legend has it that, to find women, the Romans held a feast and invited their neighbors, the Sabines, to participate. At the feast, the Romans kidnapped the Sabine women who were present, single, married, they kidnapped a bunch of them. This triggered a war between the two peoples, but before blood was shed in abundance, the kidnapped Sabine women themselves stepped between the warriors and called for peace. Their wish was granted, and peace was established. How did this happen? Well, that"s a story for another time, in a specific post... Returning to Romulus, he instituted the Senate, creating a governance structure that would last for centuries. After his mysterious death, he was deified as the god Quirinus, and the throne passed through seven kings, notably Numa Pompilius, who established the religious foundations of Rome, and Tarquin the Elder, who began major public works.
But it was with Tarquin the Proud that the monarchy found its end. His tyrannical rule and the r**e of Lucretia by his son, followed by her denouncement and her public su***de due to the outraged honor, led to a popular revolt led by Lucius Junius Brutus, culminating in the expulsion of the royal family.
The expulsion of Tarquin, in 509 BC, was not just the end of a reign, but the beginning of a new era for Rome. The Republic was established, marking the end of the monarchy and the beginning of a political system that would influence the development of Western civilization.
The transition from a monarchy to a republic was not just a change of rulers, but a profound transformation in the political, social, and cultural structure of Rome. What comes next? How will Rome develop under the new republican system? And what challenges, tragedies, and conquests await this people who, among gods and mortals, trace their destiny?
In the next chapters, we will uncover the mysteries of the great city"s expansion, the Punic Wars, the zenith and crisis of the Republic, until the rise of the Empire. The history of Rome is an invitation to explore the past, understand the present, and imagine the future.
*Edson Rodrigues, writer of PRIMA LANCA, wrote this post*
