The Founding of Rome
Greek and Roman myths were generally based on historical events and were told to explain why something occurred, to teach a moral lesson, or to simply be entertaining. The events were not recorded immediately and the stories about the past changed with time. When myths were formally written down, the writers were essentially writing down history known to them through generations of oral tradition. Over time, the stories evolved to be more interesting or appropriate for the time. Different versions of the stories could have come out as a result. Nonetheless, we can still find historical information in the stories and can learn about the people and events of the past. From what we know, we conclude that the historical background on the founding of Rome adheres to the story of Aeneas and the story of Romulus and Remus. We learn about all the ancestors of Romulus through the story of Aeneas. After the Trojan War, Aeneas went down to Hades with the Sibyl of Cumae. He sought his father, Anchises, for advice on how to start a great city. Anchises showed Aeneas his descendants. According to Edith Hamilton, "One by one Anchises pointed them out, and told of the deeds they would do which men would never through all time forget
," (Mythology, page 240). These men would become the great leaders of Rome. When Aeneas arrived on the west coast of Italy, he fought in a series of terrible battles to win the hand of Lavinia, daughter of King Latinus. With the help of the Etruscan people, Aeneas defeated the leader of the Rutulians, Turnus. "His travels were finally over and he married a Latin princess called Lavinia," (Oxford Latin Course: Part 1, page 78). The Trojans took the name of those they conquered, the Latins, and settled along the Mediterranean Sea. The newly established Lavinium was named after its queen, Lavinia. The feast of the Parilia is closely connected with the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus. Varro, a well-known writer, states that on April 21, 753 B.C., the city of Rome was founded. This day is celebrated in Rome with the feast of Parilia. The feast of Parilia shows the importance of cattle to the people and the gods at the time of the founding. "This day is sacred to the god Pales, after whom the Palatine hill is named. Pales is identified as a personification of Mars," (http://famromo.wiccan.net/iuno/par.htm). Mars was the father of Romulus and Remus and this feast day is connected with him. Pales is also known as a god of flocks and on April 21, it is tradition for shepherds to have their cattle walk through smoke in order for them to be purified. The story of Romulus and Remus shows how they set up a city in Italy that became Rome. In the myth, Romulus and Remus are sent by their great-uncle, Amulius
Some common words found in the essay are:
Romulus Remus, Greek Roman, Palatine Hill, BC Latins, Latin Course, Remus Varro, Romans Aeneas, Rome Aeneas, Rhea Silvia, romulus remus, Pales Palatine, palatine hill, feast parilia, latin course 1, rhea silvia, god war, founding rome, page 78, course 1, 1 page, oxford latin course, 1 page 78, course 1 page, latin course, romulus remus raised,
Approximate Word count = 1030
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
