Romulus and Remus and Adoption
Biography
These were twin sons of Mars and Rhea Silvia. Their grandfather, Numitor, was the king of Alba Longa and was deposed by his younger brother, Amulius, who ordered the twins to be thrown into the river Tiber (compare Maui and Moses). But they drifted ashore and were found and fostered by a wolf (see Feral Children) until they were discovered by the royal herdsman, Faustulus, who adopted them.
They grew up and eventually discovered their identity, killed Amulius and restored Numitor to the throne. Romulus later killed Remus and went on to found Rome in 753 BCE.
References
Oxford Classical Dictionary, edited by M. Cary, et al. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1949) Encyclopedia of Religion. 16 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1987) "Roma: Romulus and Remus." Available at: cyberfair.gsn.org/citrag/roma/doc/history/est_112.htm
- Adoption Celebrities
- Adopted Persons
- European
- Roman Empire
- Italy
- Birth Identity Disputed or Deliberately Concealed
- Murdered, Assassinated
- Birth or Infancy
- War or Persecution
- Foundlings and Feral Children
- Others ("Strangers")
- Animals (i.e., Feral Children)
- Very Poor (Financially) Adoptive or Foster Families
- Customary or Traditional Adoption, Informal and Extra-Legal Care
- Adoptees/Fosterees from Wealthy, Famous, Noble or Divine Birth Families
- Birth Siblings Placed Together
- Twins and Triplets
- Tracing Impossible or Birth Family Extinct