I. MYTHICAL PERIOD.--The history of Rome extends through a space of
more than twelve hundred years, which may be divided into _six_
periods. The first period includes the time from the building of the
city, B. C. 752, to the expulsion of Tarquin, B. C. 509. It may be
called the period of the kings, or of _Regal Power_.
The Roman historians have left a particular account of this period,
beginning with the very founders of the city, Romulus and Remus, whose
descent is traced from Æneas the hero of Virgil. To review them briefly
here will be all that is necessary.
Æneas, fleeing from Troy after the fall of that city, came, in the
course of his wanderings and after many adventures, to the shores of
Italy. Settling here, he married the daughter of the king Latinus, and
after a fierce war with Turnus, his rival for the hand of Lavinia, he
established himself in Latium. The capital of that country, Alba Longa,
was founded by his son, Ascanius, and for three centuries the
descendants of Æneas ruled the country.
In the eighth century B. C., Amulius usurped the throne but failed to
kill his grand-nephews Romulus and Remus, who, by the fortuitous aid of
the gods, were rescued from death. Growing to manhood, they destroyed
the usurper and restored their grandfather, Numitor. Romulus then
founded the city of Rome in 753 B. C., populated it by means of inviting
all the discontented to come unto him, and gave them wives from the
Sabine tribes, which incident has passed into history as the Rape of the
Sabines. To this same incident in Roman mythology belongs the legend
connected with the Tarpeian Rock. Romulus finally was taken to the gods
by his father, Mars, and is henceforward worshiped by the Romans as the
god Quirinus.