Summary

The legend of Rome’s founding father, Romulus, was powerful even in Cicero’s time. According to the legend, Romulus and his twin brother Remus were cast out of their home as infants and nursed by a wolf. As adults, the brothers each founded their own communities on the site of what would become Rome. When Remus vaulted the walls of Romulus’s new settlement, Romulus killed his brother and became the sole ruler. To build up his settlement, Romulus invited the dispossessed of the rest of Italy to seek asylum in his new community, including runaway slaves, criminals, exiles, and refugees. To find wives for his new citizens, legend has it that Romulus condoned the rape and abduction from women from neighboring communities, most notably the Sabines and Latins.

Many Romans were uncomfortable with the fratricide in the story of...