Editing Romulus and Remus (section)

==Overview==
Romulus and Remus were born in [[Alba Longa]], one of the many ancient Latin cities near the [[seven hills of Rome]]. Their mother [[Rhea Silvia]], also known as Ilia,<ref>{{Cite web | first1=Dio | last1=Cassius | year=1914| title=Dio's Roman History | url=https://archive.org/details/diosromanhistory08cassuoft/diosromanhistory08cassuoft/ | last2=Earnest | first2=Cary | last3=Foster | first3=Herbert Baldwin | location=Cambridge, MA | publisher=Harvard University Press| page=13}}</ref> was a [[Vestal Virgin]] and the daughter of former king [[Numitor]], who had been displaced by his brother [[Amulius]]. In some sources, Rhea Silvia conceived them when the god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] visited her in a sacred grove dedicated to him.<ref>Other sources express doubt as to the divine nature of their parentage. One claims that the boys were fathered by Amulius himself, who raped his niece while wearing his armor to conceal his identity.</ref>

Seeing them as a possible threat to his rule, King Amulius ordered them to be killed and they were abandoned on the bank of the river [[Tiber]] to die. They were saved by the god [[Tiberinus (god)|Tiberinus]], Father of the River, and survived with the care of others at the site of future Rome. In the best-known episode, the twins were suckled by a she-wolf in a cave now known as the [[Lupercal]].<ref>For other depictions, see Livy and Dionysius</ref> Eventually, they were adopted by [[Faustulus]], a shepherd. They grew up tending flocks, unaware of their true identities. Over time, they became natural leaders and attracted a company of supporters from the community.
[[File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Maison de la Louve - 05.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|<div style="text-align:center">Romulus and Remus on the House of the She-wolf at the [[Grand-Place]] of [[Brussels]]</div>]]

When they were young adults, they became involved in a dispute between supporters of Numitor and Amulius. As a result, Remus was taken prisoner and brought to Alba Longa. Both his grandfather and the king suspected his true identity. Romulus, meanwhile, had organized an effort to free his brother and set out with help for the city. During this time, they learned of their past and joined forces with their grandfather to restore him to the throne. Amulius was killed and Numitor was reinstated as king of Alba. The twins set out to build a city of their own.

After arriving back in the area of the seven hills, they disagreed about the hill upon which to build. Romulus preferred the [[Palatine Hill]], above the Lupercal; Remus preferred the [[Aventine Hill]]. When they could not resolve the dispute, they agreed to seek the gods' approval through a contest of [[augury]]. Remus saw 6 auspicious birds, but Romulus saw 12 and claimed to have won divine approval. They disputed the result; Remus insulted Romulus' new city and was killed, either by Romulus or by one of his supporters.<ref>Dionysius lays out several of the different accounts of his death, along with his murder by Romulus.</ref> Romulus then went on to found the city of Rome, its institutions, government, military, and religious traditions. He reigned for many years as its first king.