On this day in 753 BC, the city of Rome is believed to have been founded by Romulus. According to legend, Romulus and Remus were raised by a wolf. When the boys grew up, Romulus killed Remus for greed and power. He later became the first leader of Rome.

The Legend of Romulus and Remus. On the ruins of Troy the Gods decided to save one hero ~ Aeneas. Aeneas journeyed to Latium, the region that is now Rome. He settled there and founded the town of Lavinium.

This Town is Too Small... Soon the town became too small for the people there, and Aeneas founded another town ~ Alba Longa, meaning "the long white town." Alba Longa was near the later city of Rome.

Three Hundred Years Flew By. Procas, king of Alba Longa, died, leaving behind two sons. The oldest, Numitor, was the heir apparent to the throne. The youngest, Amulius, wanted to be king. With the money he inherited, he hired some followers who drove Numitor away.

Living in Fear. Amulius was afraid that Numitor's sons would dethrone him. He had Numitor's sons killed. Numitor's daughter Silvia was taken to a temple, to be sacrificed to Vesta.

Mars Steps In. Mars, the god of war, was angry over Amulius' cruelty. Feeling sorry for Silvia, Mars gave her a set of twins.

More Trouble From Amulius. Amulius was not only angry; he feared for his kingship. So Amulius had Silvia imprisoned and ordered that the twins be placed in a basket and thrown into the Tiber River.

High Waters. The river was high. The basket floated to a shallow pool, where it stuck in the roots of a fig tree.

She Wolf Out Walking. A curious she-wolf, wandering by the river, heard the cries of the babies. She took pity on the children, licked the mud off them, and took them in.

Enter the Shepherd. The shepherd Faustulus found the twins. He took them home, and named them Romulus and Remus. Faustulus did not realize the boys were princes; he raised them as his own sons. Only through a series of divine signs did that Romulus and Remus discover who they were.

Down By the Old Fig Tree. Romulus and Remus took back their power and decided to found a town at a hill near the fig tree. They couldn't agree about the exact place for the town. Remus chose the Aventine; Romulus chose the Palatine. They asked Numitor and he told them to watch for signs at their respective hills.