A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

The found-"
ing of Rome.
Dionysius i.
88.
The Romans
founded
their colonies
in this way,
and therefore
believed
their own
city to have
been thus
founded. In
fact all their
fundamental
institutions,
religious,
social, and
political,
they uncritically
assigned
to their
kings as
founders.
The tribes
and the
curiae.
CHAPTER XXIX
ROME UNDER THE KINGS
I. Romulus
When everything was performed which he conceived to
be acceptable to the gods, he called all the people to a place
appointed, and described a quadrangular figure about
the hill, tracing with a plow drawn by a bull and a
cow yoked together, one continuous furrow, designed to
receive the foundation of the wall;
hence this custom remains
among the Romans of tracing a furrow with a plow
round the place where they design to build the city.
After
he had finished these things and sacrificed the bull and the
cow, and also having performed the initial gift of many
This day the
other sacrifices, he set the people to work.
Romans even at present celebrate every year as one of
their greatest festivals, and call it Parilia (April 21). On
that day, which falls in the beginning of the spring, the
husbandmen and shepherds offer up a sacrifice of thanksgiving
for the increase of their cattle. But I cannot certainly
say whether they anciently chose this day as one of
public rejoicing; and for that reason looked upon it as the
most fitting for the building of the city; or, whether the
building of it having been begun on that day, they consecrated
it, and dedicated it to the worship of those gods
who are propitious to shepherds.
Appointed king, Romulus proved himself brave and
skilful in war and wise in the adoption of a most excellent
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