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In Roman mythology, Amulius (Latin: [aˈmuːliʊs]) was king of Alba Longa who ordered the death of his infant, twin grandnephews Romulus, the eventual founder and king of Rome, and Remus. He was deposed and killed by them after they survived and grew to adulthood. He is the brother and usurper of Numitor and son of Procas.
He was the son and heir of the Alban king Numitor, but was killed by his uncle Amulius, who wanted to seize the throne. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, his name was Aegestus. He was killed while hunting by Amulius, who blamed his death on bandits. Many Albans did not believe him. His story is briefly told by Ovid. [1]
At the same time, Numitor realized the boy he held in custody was his grandson Remus, and so a plan was hatched to slay King Amulius. Romulus gathered a band of shepherds and, combined with Remus's forces from the house of Numitor, attacked and killed the king. The twins declared the death of the tyrant and named their grandfather king.
Amulius also murdered Numitor's sons, in an effort to remove power from his brother for himself. [ 3 ] Rhea Silvia was made a Vestal Virgin by Amulius, rendering her unable to have children on pain of death; however, according to myth, she was forcibly impregnated by the god Mars . [ 4 ]
Both his grandfather and the king suspected his true identity. Romulus, meanwhile, had organized an effort to free his brother and set out with help for the city. During this time, they learned of their past and joined forces with their grandfather to restore him to the throne. Amulius was killed and Numitor was reinstated as king of Alba.
The city of Alba Longa, often abbreviated Alba, was a Latin settlement in the montes Albani, or Alban Hills, near the present site of Castel Gandolfo in Latium. [4] Although the exact location remains difficult to prove, there is archaeological evidence of Iron Age settlements in the area traditionally identified as the site. [5]
According to Livy's account of the legend, she was the daughter of Numitor, king of Alba Longa, and descended from Aeneas. Numitor's younger brother Amulius seized the throne and killed Numitor's son, then forced Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin, a priestess of the goddess Vesta. As Vestal Virgins were sworn to celibacy, this would ensure ...
Amulius, the king, had the babes placed in a trough and cast into the River Tiber. They drifted ashore and were rescued by a female wolf who suckled, fed and protected them until Faustulus, a shepherd, and his wife found them and raised them into adulthood.