Hear, O children of the Eternal City, and mark the tale of Romulus and Remus, for in their blood flows the birth of Rome!

Long ago, when kings ruled Alba Longa, there arose a man of pride and power—Amulius by name—who seized his brother’s throne. To guard his ill-gotten crown, he chained fate itself: he slew the male heirs and forced the daughter of his brother, the fair Rhea Silvia, into the service of Vesta, that she might never bear a son. Yet the will of the gods is not broken by mortal hands. For Mars, lord of war, descended in secret flame, and from that divine union were born twin sons—Romulus and Remus.

But the tyrant’s heart knew fear. He ordered the babes cast upon the Tiber, to be swallowed by its rushing waves. Yet the river, obedient to destiny, cradled the wicker cradle in its gentle arms and bore it to the roots of a wild fig tree. There, beneath the shadow of the Palatine hill, a she-wolf came—a creature fierce as the storm, yet tender as the dawn. She gave them suck with her own savage milk, and with her licked their limbs, until a shepherd named Faustulus found the boys and reared them as his own.

Strong they grew, bold of spirit, swift of hand, hunters and warriors of the fields. But in their veins still burned the fire of kings. One day, the brothers learned of their noble blood and rose against the tyrant. Amulius fell by their swords, and Alba Longa hailed their justice. Yet the twins hungered for more than vengeance—they yearned to found a city of their own.

To the place where the Tiber bends they came, and there arose a strife: Which hill should bear the new walls? Romulus chose the Palatine, Remus the Aventine. They called upon the omens of the sky, but envy gnawed their bond. When Remus, in bitter jest, leapt the furrow of Romulus’ walls, the earth drank his blood. Thus Romulus stood alone, crowned by fate and shadowed by guilt.

He raised his walls higher, and named the city Roma, after himself. He called men from every land, a refuge for the bold and the lost, and by guile and strength he gave the city wives and warriors. So rose Rome, born of blood and fire, suckled by the wild, guarded by the will of the gods.

Thus begins the story of our people, a tale of wolves and kings, of swords and omens. Remember it well, for in the heart of every Roman beats the spirit of those twin sons of Mars.