Classical Mythology

ROMAN MYTHOLOGY AND SAGA 655

Ennius, however, gave a different version of Remus' death, which was fol-

lowed by Livy and Ovid. Romulus began to build his city on the Palatine, and

when the walls had risen a little way, Remus scornfully leaped over them and

was killed by his brother because he had acted as an enemy, for a friend enters

a city by the gate.

ROMULUS AND THE SABINES
Romulus now set about establishing his kingdom and laying the foundations of
Rome's political structure. In order to increase the population, he declared the
area between the two parts of the Capitoline Hill an asylum (i.e., a sanctuary
where any man could be assured of freedom from violence or prosecution). To
this place men came from many directions to become Rome's future citizens.
There was a shortage of women, however, and attempts to remedy this situa-
tion led to a long series of incidents involving the Romans and the Sabines.
In the first place, the surrounding tribes refused requests from Roman em-
bassies for young women to be wives for Roman men. Romulus decided there-
fore to use deceit and force. Men and women from the Sabine tribes were in-
vited to attend the festival games of the Consualia. At a given signal, the Roman
men seized the young Sabine women, whose relatives fled. Such an act could
not go unavenged, and the Sabines, under the leadership of Titus Tatius, or-
ganized themselves for war on the Romans. In the first encounter, Romulus killed

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Romulus and Remus, by Alexander Calder (1898-1976). Wire sculpture, 1928; 31 X 112 in.

This large construction is a witty reinterpretation of the famous Etruscan bronze "Capi-

toline Wolf" in Rome suckling the mythical founders of Rome. (Solomon R. Guggenheim

Museum, New York. Photograph by Robert E. Mates. © The Solomon R. Guggenheim Founda-

tion, New York. © 1998 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/AD AGP, Paris.)