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Rome was founded by twin brothers Romulus and Remus.  They were born to a vestal virgin named Rea Silvia, who was raped by Mars (Ares in Greek, the god of war) and had the twins.  She was suppose to sacrifice them but instead left them in a cave where they were suckled by wolves.  A shepherd found the twins, named them and brought them up.  When they grew up, they set out across what is now Italy and founded a city on Palatine Hill ( where the Roman Forum is).  However, the two brothers could not agree on who would rule the city and quarreled until Romulus killed Remus.  Hence, Romulus becoming the first ruler and naming the city after him self Romulus (For all you Treckies, the Romulans take their name from Romulus and their system from the ancient Romans!)   The city prospered, and grew.  And grew.  And grew.  One of the four corners of the original city is the site of the Coliseum and Forum, which are now located in the middle of the city.  From this city, with abundant resources surrounding it, an empire grew. Spanning across the Mediterranean, as well as all of western Europe as far north as England.  Under the Caesar Augustine the empire flourished, grown immense during this imperial era building grand buildings, and roads that they used to spread their influence.   The empire began to fall in the third century when the empire was split into an east (Constantinople being the capital) and west (with Rome as the capital).  After a series of invasions (Barbarians, Vandals, Goths) had left the city in ruin.   During this time, the first Christian empire had shifted the seat of the empire to Constantinople (later to become the Byzantine empire) with all of influential people traveling their to avoid the hoards of invaders.  However, because of this the empire had fallen.   The Pope, except for a brief period, has always been in Rome. A pope is also responsible for saving the city from ruins.  He sent out missionaries to spread Christianity through Europe.  This brought pilgrims to Rome, to see the Pope and the Pope used their "contributions" to help rebuild Rome.  Rome grew and in the 700 with  start the Holy Roman Empire, based on the Catholic Church being the seat of power, Rome had been rebuilt and the Pope recognized as the center of the Catholic Church.  Though I can go on about the history, I think this is enough of the origin of the city.  I should point out that the Renaissance period brought numerous artists to the city and a "Golden Era" was born with them working on such places as the Sistine chapel and St. Peters its self.   I've split my galleries into two parts, The Vatican and Roman Ruins Click on a picture below to go to that gallery.

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Copyright by John L. C. Polos October 5, 1997