Founding of Rome

Archaeological evidence shows that Rome grew from several small hilltop villages during the Final Bronze Age or early Iron Age. People lived in the area of Rome as early as 48,000 years ago. By around 1600 BC, these villages began to join together. This joining likely happened because cities were forming in places like ancient Greece.

Roman stories say that the city was founded by a man named Romulus. The story tells of Romulus and his twin brother Remus, who were saved by a she-wolf. They decided to build a city, but the brothers argued. Romulus then founded Rome on the Palatine Hill. Ancient historians gave different years for this founding, but most use 753 BC.

The story of Romulus was celebrated in Rome for many years. A festival called the Parilia Festival on April 21 was thought to mark the city's birthday. Over time, this festival became very important. Today, most historians believe the story of Romulus is a legend and not based on real events.

Cultural context

Further information: Villanovan culture and Latial culture

Many different people lived in Italy before Rome began. They spoke many kinds of languages. Some spoke a language called Latin in the lower Tiber Valley. Others spoke Etruscan in places like modern Tuscany.

Over many years, people moved into Italy from far away. Some came across the sea or over mountains. Slowly, small villages grew and joined together, forming bigger communities. This helped prepare the way for great cities like Rome to develop.

Archaeological evidence

People lived in the area of modern Rome as far back as 5,000 years ago. Many older remains are hidden by newer dirt. Traces of early settlements have been found in nearby places like Lavinium and Ardea, dating back to the 15th century BC. The area was home to ancient cultures called the Apennine and Proto-Villanovan cultures before the Latial culture developed.

Archaeological findings show that Rome grew slowly over many years and was definitely settled by the middle of the Bronze Age. The land around the Forum Boarium was a dry plain that served as a safe place for ships, watering animals, and crossing the Tiber River. The Capitoline Hill provided a strong defensive position.

During the Bronze Age, there were settlements on the Capitoline Hill and later in the valley that became the Roman Forum. By around 1000 BC, people were burying their dead in the Forum area. In the early Iron Age around 900 BC, burials began to be placed in the ground. Other cemeteries appeared on the Esquiline, Quirinal, and Viminal Hills. Simple huts on the Palatine Hill date from the 9th or 8th centuries BC, with growth speeding up in the early to middle 8th century BC.

By the eighth and seventh centuries BC, four main settlements existed on the Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Caelian, Oppian, and Velia hills. The Forum area became a public space where burials stopped and buildings were erected. Religious activities began on the Capitoline Hill, showing links to the cult of Jupiter Feretrius. Imported Greek pottery shows Rome’s connections beyond its local area. The first walls appeared on the Palatine around 730 to 720 BC. These changes show that Rome was becoming more organized with a shared public space and central leadership.

Ancient tradition and founding myths

By the late Republic, Romans believed their city was founded by a man named Romulus. This happened on the day of the Parilia Festival, on April 21, around 750 BC. The story says Romulus killed his twin brother Remus. The brothers were said to be children of the god Mars and the royal family of Alba Longa. The family was also said to come from Aeneas. Aeneas was believed to be a child of the goddess Aphrodite and from the royal family of Troy. The stories in Livy's History of Rome and in Vergil's Aeneid were very important.

Today, scholars think most of these stories are myths. There is no strong evidence to show Romulus really founded Rome or that there was an early Greek settlement. Many think the name Romulus came from the name of the city, not from a real person. Some scholars think these myths might hint at real events, but this idea is not widely accepted.

The Romans' origin myths show how they saw themselves as a mix of different groups and outside influences. Romans took the founding of their new cities very seriously. They performed many rituals and linked them to ancient times. They kept the Hut of Romulus, a simple home on the Palatine Hill, which they said belonged to Romulus, even though they did not know for sure.

Modern Scholarly Interpretation

When we think about how Rome began, it is important to know the difference between stories and real facts. Ancient writers like Livy and Plutarch told exciting tales about Romulus and Remus, mixing in religious ideas. While these stories are interesting, modern scholars know they are more like myths than true history. Even Cicero, a wise thinker from long ago, said that some old writings about Rome’s past are full of untrue things.

Today, scientists and historians study old remains and dig up places like the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum to learn about Rome’s real beginning. These excavations show us that Rome did not start all at once from one big event. Instead, it grew slowly over many years from smaller villages that joined together. The discoveries prove that people lived on these hills long before the famous myths were told, and Rome’s growth was a long process shaped by many changes over time.