Latium: Prelude to the Roman Kingdom - Paperback

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by Peter Tattersall (Author)

Romulus and Remus are the mythical founders of ancient Rome and this novel tells the story of their youth. It begins with describing how their grandfather King Numitor, ruler of Alba Longa, was overthrown by his brother Amulius. It subsequently details how Numitor survived for nearly two decades, controlling the worst of his brother's excesses in the process. Finally, it explains how the twins recovered his throne.

The story tells of how the twins were conceived. It tells of how their mother, after being forced into becoming a Vestal Virgin, was raped by Mars, God of War, entombed as punishment for the crime of being raped and was then deified through her love for one of the minor local gods. It tells of how the twins were born and condemned to death, survived to grow into young men and gained a following that would ultimately save their city from its despotic king.
The story tells of how Jupiter ruled the heavens, forcing history along towards his planned finale.

The Gods
A significant aspect of the ancestors of the ancient Romans was their belief system and so the gods play a large role. Told is the reasoning of how they originated, why and how they Latinised themselves from their Greek origins and why they require worship. They are depicted as self-centred egotistical beings who think little of the mortals. While their morals are almost non-existent, they are surprisingly likable characters.

Historical Accuracy
Three of the many puzzling questions of the ancient mythology, answered by this novel are:

Why would a wolf suckle twin boys, aided by a woodpecker?
Why did the deposing king Amulius allow his brother to not only stay alive, but autonomously run a region of the kingdom?
How did the twins gain the respect of a large body of people at such a young age?

Also incorporated are descriptions of such historical concepts as haruspicy, slavery, the Argei and the Tria Nomia.

Sources
Wherever possible, the ancient sages were used. There were often conflicting myths, such as the conception and upbringing of Romulus and Remus; in this example, both conflicting offerings were used in such a way that empowered femininity and strengthened the story. Sources used included: