Romulus and Remus and Aeneas — The Founding Myths of Rome (Explained for a 13-year-old)

Clear, kid-friendly explanation of the Roman founding myths: Aeneas, and the twins Romulus and Remus. Learn the stories, how they connect, their meanings, and why they mattered to ancient Rome.

PDF

Romulus and Remus and Aeneas — Simple, step-by-step explanation

These are two famous myths that ancient Romans told to explain where their city and people came from. Myths are like stories people tell to make sense of the past. They aren’t strict history, but they teach ideas about identity, courage, gods, and destiny.

1) Who is Aeneas?

  • Origin: Aeneas is a hero from the city of Troy (Greek myth). After the Trojan War, he escapes when Troy falls.
  • Main story: According to the Roman poet Virgil (who wrote the Aeneid), Aeneas travels across the sea, faces many adventures, and eventually reaches Italy. There he and his followers settle and become ancestors of future peoples who will form Rome.
  • Key qualities: Aeneas is often called “pious” — he respects the gods, his family, and his duty to lead his people.
  • Why Romans liked this story: It connects Rome to the great heroic world of Troy and gives Rome a noble, ancient origin that links it to the Eastern Mediterranean and to destiny guided by the gods.

2) Who are Romulus and Remus?

  • Origin: Twins born to Rhea Silvia (a Vestal Virgin) and the god Mars or sometimes described as fathered by Mars — showing a divine link.
  • Early life: Their grandfather was King Numitor, who was driven from power by his brother Amulius. To stop Numitor's line, Amulius forced Rhea Silvia to be a priestess. When she had twins, Amulius ordered them killed. The babies were put in a basket and set on the Tiber River.
  • The wolf story: The twins were rescued by a she-wolf who suckled them, and later a shepherd found and raised them. This is the famous image of the she-wolf and the twins.
  • Founding Rome: As adults they discovered their true heritage, restored Numitor, and decided to build a city. A quarrel broke out between them and Romulus killed Remus. Romulus then became the first king and the city was named Rome after him.
  • Traditional date: Ancient Romans set the founding of Rome at 753 BCE (this is part of the legend, not certain fact).

3) How are these stories connected?

  1. Aeneas leads Trojans to Italy and his son (often called Ascanius or Iulus) is said to begin a royal line.
  2. That royal line rules in a city called Alba Longa for many generations.
  3. Romulus and Remus are said to be descendants of that royal line (so, in the myths, Romulus and Remus are far-down-the-line descendants of Aeneas).

So, Aeneas is the earlier ancestor figure. Romulus and Remus are the twin founders who start the city itself much later in the story.

4) Main themes and what the stories teach

  • Destiny and the gods: The gods guide and protect Rome’s ancestors, so Rome’s success is shown as part of fate.
  • Leadership and duty: Aeneas shows duty to his people; Romulus shows strong, even violent, leadership to create a city.
  • Violence and sacrifice: Founding a city in myth often involves hard choices and violence (for example Romulus killing Remus).
  • Identity and legitimacy: Romans used these myths to claim a heroic past and to explain why they had the right to rule.

5) Which parts are historical?

These are myths, not exact history. Archaeology shows Rome grew slowly from villages on the hills near the Tiber River, not from a single dramatic founding event. However, myths tell us what Romans believed about themselves.

6) Quick comparison (short)

  • Aeneas: Trojan hero, ancestor of Romans, story of long journey and duty (early ancestor myth).
  • Romulus and Remus: Twin founders of the city of Rome itself, story includes a wolf, a fight, and the first king Romulus (foundation myth of the city).

7) Simple timeline in the stories

  • Trojan War and Aeneas (mythical time: long before Rome’s city-foundation)
  • Aeneas settles in Italy; his descendants rule in Alba Longa
  • Many generations later: Romulus and Remus are born and found Rome (traditional date 753 BCE)

8) Fun ways to remember or study

  • Draw a small family tree: Aeneas → Ascanius → (many generations) → Numitor → Rhea Silvia → Romulus & Remus.
  • Retell each story in your own words or act it out with friends — focus on the most dramatic scenes (escape from Troy, the she-wolf, the founding fight).
  • Compare the two stories: which hero would you follow and why?

9) Short quiz (try answering)

  1. Who rescued Romulus and Remus when they were babies?
  2. Why was Aeneas important to Romans?
  3. Which story explains the origin of the city and which explains the ancestry of the Roman people?

Answers: 1) A she-wolf (and later a shepherd). 2) He was an ancestor who led Trojans to Italy and started the line that became Roman rulers. 3) Romulus and Remus explain the city; Aeneas explains the people’s ancestry.

Remember: Myths tell us what people believed and what they wanted their story to be. They mix imagination, religion, and politics — and they help explain why Romans thought their city was special.

If you want, I can create a simple family tree diagram, a short comic-style retelling, or practice questions for a school project. Which would you like?

Ask a followup question