Romulus and Remus 

The founders of Rome:

In Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus are legendary twin brothers, whose story tells the events that led to the founding of the city of Rome and the Roman Kingdom by Romulus. 

The tale of the death of Remus at the hands of his brother and others has been a major source of inspiration for artists throughout the ages. Since ancient times, the image of the twins being suckled by a she-wolf has been a symbol of the city of Rome and the Roman people. 

Although the tale takes place before the founding of Rome around 750 BC, the earliest known written account of the myth is from the late 3rd century BC.

The myth begins with the story of their origins and the palace intrigue that resulted in their being left to die in the wilderness.

The birth place & descent of Romulus & Remus:

Romulus and Remus were born in Alba Longa, one of the ancient Latin cities near the future site of Rome. 

Their mother, Rhea Silvia was a vestal virgin and the daughter of the former king, Numitor, who had been displaced by his brother Amulius. In some sources, Rhea Silvia conceived them when their father, the god Mars visited her in a sacred grove dedicated to him.

Through their mother, the twins were descended from Greek and Latin nobility.

The king orders Romulus & Remus to killed:

Seeing them as a possible threat to his rule, King Amulius ordered them to be killed and they were abandoned on the bank of the Tiber River to die. 

They were saved by the god Tiberinus, Father of the River and survived with the care of others, at the site of what would eventually become Rome. In the most well-known episode, the twins were suckled by a she-wolf, in a cave now known as the Lupercal.

Romulus & Remus adopted by a shepherd:

Eventually, they were adopted by Faustulus, a shepherd. They grew up tending flocks, unaware of their true identities. Over time, their natural-born leadership abilities attracted a company of supporters from the community.

When they were young adults, they became involved in a dispute between supporters of Numitor and Amulius. As a result, Remus was taken prisoner and brought to Alba Longa. Both his grandfather and the king suspected his true identity. 

Romulus, meanwhile, had organized an effort to free his brother and set out with help for the city. During this time they learned of their past and joined forces with their grandfather to restore him to the throne. Amulius was killed and Numitor was reinstated as king of Alba. The twins set out to build a city of their own.

Romulus kills Remus:

After arriving back in the area of the seven hills, they disagreed about the hill upon which to build. Romulus preferred the Palatine Hill, above the Lupercal; Remus preferred the Aventine hill. When they could not resolve the dispute, they agreed to seek the gods’ approval through a contest of augury. 

Remus first saw 6 auspicious birds but soon after, Romulus saw 12, and claimed to have won divine approval. This new dispute furthered the contention between them. In the aftermath, Remus was killed either by Romulus or by one of his supporters.

Romulus then went on to found the city of Rome, its institutions, government, military and religious traditions. He reigned for many years as its first king.