The city of Romulus, upon the Palatine Hill, was called from its shape
Roma Quadrata. It occupied the half of what we know as the Palatine,
and was surrounded by a wall built up from the base of the hill, and
on the top of the scarped cliff: this wall can be still traced in
part. It was formed of large blocks of tufa, hard stone, and must not
be confounded with the remains of the Arcadian period, on the
Palatine, composed of soft tufa.
"Romulus called the people to a place appointed, and described a
quadrangular figure about the hill, tracing with a plough, drawn by a
bull and a cow yoked together, one continued furrow" (Dionysius, i.
88).
"He began to mark out the limits of his city from the Forum Boarium,
so as to comprise within its limits the Great Altar of Hercules. The
wall was built with Etruscan rites, being marked out by a furrow, made
by a plough drawn by a cow and a bull, the clods being carefully
thrown inwards, the plough being lifted over the profane places
necessary for the gates" (Tacitus, xii. 24).
When the Sabines were approaching to attack the Romans, in revenge for
carrying off their women, Romulus strengthened the wall of Roma
Quadrata, and the Capitoline Hill was occupied as an outpost.
"He raised the wall of the Palatine Hill by building higher works upon
it, as a farther security to the inhabitants, and surrounded the
adjacent hills--the Aventine, and that now called the Capitoline
Hill--with ditches and strong palisades" (Dionysius, ii. 37).
"The city was difficult of access, having a strong garrison on the
hill where the Capitol now stands" (Plutarch, "Romulus," 18).
This hill was taken by treachery, and was not previously occupied by
the Sabines. It was called the Hill of Saturn, but after its capture
the Tarpeian Hill.
"While the Sabines were passing at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, to
view the place, and see whether any part of the hill could be taken by
surprise or force, they were observed from the eminence by a
virgin"--"Tarpeia, in execution of her promise, opened the gate agreed
upon to the enemy, and calling up the garrison, desired they would
save themselves"--"After the retreat of the garrison, the Sabines,
finding the gates open and the place deserted, possessed themselves of
it" (Dionysius, ii. 38, 39).
After peace was agreed upon, the two kings, Romulus and Titus Tatius,
reigned jointly, and surrounded the Palatine and Capitoline Hills with
a wall. The other hills, at this period, were not walled.