Beginning of Essay
Numitor, King of Alba, had been ousted by his brutal brother, Amulius. Amulius made sure Numitor would have no heirs by forcing Numitor's only child, his daughter, Rhea Silvia, to spend her days as a vestal virgin, serving in the temple of Venus, goddess of the he ....

Middle of Essay
.... gods. Each climbed a high mountain to see what he could see. Remus saw a flight of six vultures, but Romulus saw twelve. Therefore Romulus, judging that the gods had favored him, began to lay the foundations of the city of Rome. He plowed a furrow to mark where the walls would be. But Remus mocked him, leaping over the thin furrow and saying that Rome's enemies would be able to get over its walls just as easily. Romulus was so furious he struck his brother dead. The city was built. It had a ruler, but no citizens. So Romulus declared Rome's sacred grove to be a sanctuary, and it soon filled with outlaws and fugitives, whom Romulus welcomed as his sub ....