Classical Mythology

ROMAN MYTHOLOGY AND SAGA 653

herself seemed to speak: "I am a nymph of the peaceful Numicus. I hide in the

river that flows year round (perenne) and my name is Anna Perenna." Immedi-

ately they feasted in the meadows where they had wandered in their search and

celebrated the day and themselves with copious wine.

Thus Ovid identified Anna, sister of Dido, with Anna Perenna, the Italian

goddess of the New Year, whose festival was marked by feasting in the open

air, drinking, and lovemaking.

ROMULUS AND THE EARLIEST

LEGENDS OF ROME

ROMULUS AND REMUS
The last king of Alba Longa was Amulius, who had usurped the throne from
his brother Numitor. Numitor's daughter was Rhea Silvia, also called Ilia, whom
Amulius attempted to keep from marriage by making her a Vestal Virgin. Mars
loved her, however, and she bore him twin sons, Romulus and Remus, whom
Amulius ordered to be thrown into the Tiber. But the servants pitied them and
left them by the edge of the river, which was in flood. When the waters receded,
the twins were safe on dry ground, where they were found by a she-wolf, who
suckled them. The place was marked by the Ficus (fig tree) Ruminalis, a name
that is related to the word rumis, a teat. It grew near the Lupercal cave below
the Palatine Hill, which was the site of Evander's city, Pallanteum.
The babies were found by one of Amulius' shepherds, Faustulus, who
brought them to his home, where he and his wife Acca Larentia brought them
up. When they were grown up, they made their living, it was said, by attacking
brigands and relieving them of their spoils. Eventually Remus was arrested and
brought before Numitor, but his punishment was prevented by the appearance
of Romulus, who related the story told to him by Faustulus of the twins' rescue.
So grandfather and grandsons recognized each other, and together they brought
about the death of Amulius and the restoration of Numitor to the throne of Alba.
Romulus and Remus then left Alba and founded their own city at the site of
their miraculous rescue from the Tiber.
The theme of fraternal rivalry now appears in the story of Romulus and Re-
mus, and it led to the death of Remus. To decide which should give his name
to the city, Romulus and Remus resorted to augury, that is, taking omens from
the flight of birds. Here is how Ennius describes the scene (Annales 1, frag. 47):

f

Then caring with great care and desiring to rule they give their attention to aus-

pices and augury. Remus takes his place on the hill and alone watches for a fa-

vorable bird. But handsome Romulus watches from the heights of the Aventine,

observing the race of high-flying birds. Their contest was whether to name the

city Roma or Rémora. All [the people] were in suspense as to who would be

their leader. Straightway the bright light came forth, struck by the rays [of the