What is Romulus and Remus?
[[Image:0 Lupa Capitolina (2).JPG|thumb|200px|The she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus]] '''Romulus and Remus''' were the [[legend]]ary founders of [[Rome]]. In [[Roman mythology]] they were [[twin]] [[brother]]s, children of [[Rhea Silvia]] and the god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]. == Birth and youth == [[Rhea Silvia]] was the daughter of [[Numitor Silvius]], king of Alba Longa, a legendary town founded by Ascanius, son of [[Aeneas]], prince of Troy. When Numitor's brother [[Amulius]] became king by force, he made Rhea Silvia a [[Vestal Virgin]], so she would not have children who could be kings instead of him. But the god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] seduced her and she had the twins Romulus and Remus. Rhea Silvia was punished, and her sons were thrown into the [[Tiber]] river as punishment, but were saved by the river god [[Tiberinus]], who also saved Rhea Silvia and married her. Romulus and Remus were found by a [[wolf|she-wolf]] who suckled them. A [[woodpecker]] fed them. The twins were later found by a shepherd, Faustulus, who raised them. they were raised as [[Shepherd|shepherds]], herding sheep, not knowing of their true bloodline. Over many years, the twins became natural leaders in their shared village. they eventually learned their past by a fight with Amulius, which saw Amulius killed in action. they had their grandfather Numitor reinstated as king. == The Founding of Rome == Once they were grown, they led a band of young men to go build a city. Romulus and Remus would build the city of [[Rome]]. However, the twins and men argued about where to start in Rome. Romulus favored the [[Palatine Hill]] for defense in an attack, but Remus favored the [[Aventine Hill]], which was better placed for easy trading of goods. They decided to settle the disagreement by asking the gods. Each brother stood on his respective hill and made religious offerings. Remus saw six [[Vulture|vultures]] fly overhead, and Romulus saw twelve land on his hill. Vultures are a symbol of [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]], their father. Romulus s