Romulus and Remus

The Legend of Romulus and Remus

Mrs. Thallman and Ms. Tesnow

Open Ended

What is happening in this picture?

Open Ended

Do you think this would happen? What else may happen?

Open Ended

Why do people believe in stories that could not be true?

Reorder

PREDICT: Place the following pictures(events) of the myth of Romulus and Remus in order. Use your best guess!

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

A legend dating back to about the 4th century BC holds that twin brothers
named Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome.

told..

According to the
legend, Romulus
and Remus were
sons of Mars, the
god of war.

Multiple Choice

Who was the Greek god of war?

• Zeus

• Demeter

• Ares

• Aphrodite

Their mother was Rhea Silvia,
the daughter of a king. Her
father was removed from the
throne by her uncle, Amulius.

Rhea was forced to swear
that she would not have
children, because Amulius did
not want her to give birth to
anyone who might threaten
his claim to the throne.

Rhea went against her uncle’s wishes and had the twin boys. She was ordered to
drown the twins in the river. She was sent to prison and a servant took pity. She put
the babies in a basket and they were set adrift on the Tiber river.

High waters carried the
boys to the riverbank and
they landed safely under a
fig tree at the foot of a hill. They were found by a
she-wolf who heard the babies crying. She took care of the boys.

A shepherd
found the
twins. He and
his wife raised
them until they
become adults. The sheperd and his wife named them Romulus and Remus.

The boys found out
what had happened to
them so they killed
Amulius. The twins
wanted to build a city. However, they could not decide where to build it.
They argued and finally
decided to wait for an omen to settle their argument.

Multiple Choice

What did the Romans believe an omen was?

• Something random to happen

• A sign from their gods

At dawn, Remus saw 6 vultures flying overhead. However, as the sun rose higher in the sky, Romulus saw 12. The brothers argued and began to fight over the meaning of the vultures in the sky.

​

In a rage, Romulus killed Remus.

Romulus then began to build his city on the spot he had chosen, the hill where the tiny basket containing the twins had come to rest years before. He named his new city after himself - Rome.

Open Ended

Why do you think Romulus chose the spot he did to build his city?

One day Romulus
mysteriously
disappeared in a
storm. Believing that
he had been changed
into a god, the
Romans worshipped
him.

The story of Romulus and Remus is a legend and much of the early history of Rome is unknown. Though, not historically accurate, legends are useful. They tell us what qualities people admired and the values they wished to pass on to future generations.

​

Open Ended

What do you think Romans admired in this story?

Reorder

Place the following pictures(events) of the myth of Romulus and Remus in order.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5