Roman Foundation Stories
The Romans wanted their own epic origin story to match the Greeks, so they created the Aeneas myth. This Trojan prince, son of Venus and the mortal Anchises, escaped when Troy fell and was destined to found a new civilization in Italy.
Aeneas embodied 'pietas' - the Roman virtue of duty to family, city, and gods. When Troy burned, he carried his elderly father on his back and led his son to safety, also bringing the sacred objects of Troy. Jupiter's prophecy promised that his descendants would create a mighty empire, giving Romans divine legitimacy.
The story jumps forward several generations to Romulus and Remus, twin grandsons born to a Vestal Virgin who claimed Mars was their father. Their great-uncle Amulius tried to kill them by throwing them in the River Tiber, but a she-wolf rescued and raised them.
When the twins decided to found a city, they couldn't agree who should rule. They asked the gods for an omen - Remus saw six vultures, Romulus saw twelve. Both claimed victory, leading to a fight where Romulus killed Remus. Rome was literally founded on fratricide, but Romans saw this as showing Romulus's determination to succeed.
Think About It: These stories weren't just entertainment - they explained why Rome deserved to rule the world and why their emperors had divine support.