Rome

Rome (Roma) was a city-state on the banks of River Tiber, located in the region of ancient Latium. Although Rome is now larger than it was back then, Rome in ancient times occupied seven hills: Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, and Aventine.

Historically Rome would later conquer the entire Italian peninsula and then beyond. Its empire covered the entire coast of the Mediterranean, which included the Syrian and north African coasts, through centuries of military campaigns and occupations of conquered territories.

Rome (Roma) was a city said to be traditionally founded in 753 BC by Romulus. Romulus was a son of the Roman god of war, Mars (Ares), and Rhea Silvia daughter of Numitor, king of Alba Longa. Romulus was the twin brother of Remus. When they were young men, Romulus wanted to build a city, and began piling up rocks to build his wall. Remus mocked Romulus and leapt on to Romulus' waist wall. Romulus angrily murdered his brother for the mockery. Romulus would rule, and he was then succeeded by six other kings before the monarchy fell, and was replaced by a Republic in c. 510 BC.

Virgil, author of the epic Aeneid, alluded to Romulus and the foundation of Rome. Romulus was a descendant of Aeneas.

This was the official legend of Rome's foundation told by the Roman Livy and the Greek biographer Plutarch, but there were others told by Greek historians, like Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Diodorus Sicilus.

According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Rome was not named after Romulus, but after a Trojan woman, Rhome, who journeyed to Italy in one of Aeneas' ships. Rhome had set fire to the Trojan ships, preventing them from travelling further. Two Greek writers, Hellanicus of Lesbos and Damastes of Sigeum, actually named Aeneas himself as the founder of Rome.

The story of Aeneas can be found in the Aeneid, and the legends of Romulus and other kings in the Tales of Rome.