Romulus Flashcards
1
Q
Romulus Reign
A
753 - 716BC
2
Q
Numitor and Rhea
A
- Twins grandfather, Numitor, removed from power by his brother Amulius
- once king, Amulius murdered Numitors son and made numitors daughter, Rhea, a vestal virgin, preventing her from having children and challenging control of Alba Longa.
- Rhea Silva had told Amulius that she was raped by the God mars, to avoid execution.
- in fury, Amulius ordered the twins to be drowned in the tiber
3
Q
Upbringing of Twins
A
- discovered by a she wolf, nursed by her until found by shepherd Faustulus
- him and his wife larentia raised them as they own
- Romulus kills Amulius and restores king Numitor to his throne
4
Q
Bolesna Mirror
A
- etruscan mirror from bolsena, 340Bc
- shows romulus and remus with the she wolf
- important because it suggests that the legend of romulus and remus was well established and relevant by the fourth century
- Bolsena was an etruscan city, not roman- does that make the she wolf an etruscan tradition, adopted by the Romans?
- livy mentions romulus to have adopted many etruscan customs: could he have only suggested this because he was aware of an etruscan myth that was similair to the romulus myth?
- many modern historians believe that this picture only looks like romulus and remus. but depicts an unrelated etruscan myth
5
Q
Becoming king
A
- Twins decided to organise an augury to decide who builds the city
- Romulus - Palatine hill
- remus - aventine hill
- Remus was chosen first, whereas romulus had more vultures.
- Romulus kills remus.
6
Q
Accuracy regarding Romulus:
A
- chronology is not accurate. Rome was most likely founded in the 12th or 13th century, whilst roman historians claim it was created on 21 April 753Bc- a precise date, chosen for religious rather than historical reasons.
- claim that only 4 kings ruled between 753 and 617 is highly unlikely, given the violent nature of the time
7
Q
asylum
A
roman citizenship granted to those seeking asylum
- Dionuysius states they were green refugees
- Livy claims they were criminals and outcasts
8
Q
Safety
A
- before building the city, he fortified the palatine hill by building walls
- foundation ditches for wooden walls have been found in rome which date from the 8th century bc
- historians refute the idea that this supports the existence of romulus: City walls were essential, and the discovery of them does not prove the existence of romulus, but rather the urbanisation of Rome
9
Q
Patron client system
A
- Patriarchs, romes 100 best men, would act as patrons offering leadership and guidance to the rest of romes population, the plebeians, who would serve as clients
- in exchange for legal protection, clients would perform tasks such as fighting in war
- in this way, romulus was supposed to have created a form of representative government, 200 years before green democracy
10
Q
Senate
A
- 100 patriarchs that also served in romulus senate
- advised the king
- appointed for life
- acknowledging people’s needs and concerns
- he did however rule by decree, and adopted the etruscan customs of lictors
11
Q
Temple of jupiter
A
livy: built to commemorate military success
12
Q
Military made up of:
A
- Centurion
- century
- celeres
- eques
13
Q
century
A
unit in the roman army, usually between 60 and 100 men
14
Q
centurion
A
a leader of a century
15
Q
celeres
A
romulus most loyal bodyguards in battle
