Myth is "an organized collection of stories by which we explain our beliefs and our history," stated James Harvey Stout.   

Viewed another way, myth might be that illumination by which we, as a later generation, can view our Spiritual past, while gazing before us upon the footsteps we have yet to imprint upon our world.   

While Italian mythology is a very rich field of wisdom, thoughts, endeavors, gene (archetypal) characteristics, etc., for purposes of this Luminary series on Italian myths, only several installments will be devoted to a few of the Italian myths that shaped our heritage and ancestry, for it would take a very large volume to do otherwise 

In this, the first installment of this Luminary series, on Italian myths, we will deal with the Roman foundation myth of Romulus and Remus, with an attempt being made to interpret what lies below the surface of this myth and the significance to the Italian people thereof.   

Following is the reiteration of the Romulus and Remus myth: 

"Romulus and Remus were the twin sons of Rhea Silvia and Mars, and the two founders of Rome. Rhea Silvia had been the only child of King Numitor of Alba Longa. When Numitor's brother Amulius deposed him, he also forced Rhea Silvia to become a vestal virgin, thereby ensuring that there would be no other claimant to the throne. But the war god Mars raped her in his sacred grove, and Rhea Silvia gave birth to Romulus and Remus.  Amulius ordered his servants to kill the new born twins, but instead they cast them on the Tiber. Their cradle was carried swiftly away and eventually came to rest on a mud bank. To look after his children, Mars sent his sacred animal the wolf. Later Romulus and Remus were discovered in the wolf's lair by a shepherd named Faustulus, who took the foundlings home. So they were raised as shepherds, although the ability of the brothers to lead others, and to fight, eventually became widely known. One day Numitor met Remus and guessed who he was and so the lost grandchildren were reunited with him, but they were not content to live quietly in Alba Longa. Instead, they went off and founded a Coty of their own - Rome. A quarrel, however, ensued and Romulus killed Remus, possibly with a blow from a spade. Though he showed remorse at the funeral, Romulus ruled Rome with a strong hand and the city flourished. It was a haven for runaway slaves and other fugitives, but suffered from a shortage of women, which Romulus overcame by arranging for the capture of Sabine women at a nearby festival. After a reign of forty years he disappeared to become, some of his subjects believed, the war god Quirinus." 

As can be seen from this particular myth there are many truths hidden below the surface of this story, from archetypal behavior and characteristics to cosmic connections with the Spiritual or Supernatural (beyond the natural) World.  A possible interpretation of these nuances follow: 

The myth in synopsis form is that twin sons were born to Rhea Silvia and the God of War, Mars, who, when they grew up, would be the ancestor precursors or initiators of Rome - with Romulus being the actual founder of Rome.  (Romulus = the name Rome).   

Perhaps the first clue as to from hence these most unusual and fated twins came, lies in the fact that their mother was a virgin and was named "Rhea Silvia."  The virginal state has always been associated, down through the ages, with such characteristics as "the pure and passive aspect," as well as with "The Mother, who is the manifest or differentiated universe."  Thus, these godlike twins came from the feminine line of the universal concept of "primordial innocence" made manifest.  In addition, it should be noted that Rhea was not just a "virgin" but a "vestal virgin" or much more than a mere mortal "virgin."  The title of "vestal virgin" was not a title given to just anyone, but rather it extends back into the sacred realms of mythology and history, for a "vestal virgin" was a virgin "consecrated to the goddess Vesta and tending the sacred fire kept burning in her temple."  If we identify "sacred fire" with its hidden meaning, "life," then we are privy to the deeper meaning that Romulus and Remus received through their mother's side a portion of "the sacred life" bestowed upon those subjects found worthy of such a divine boon.    

Her first name, "Rhea," implies her connection with even more ancient divine connections, for Rhea in Greek Mythology was the "mother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hstia; hence often known as the mother of the gods."  Her surname, "Silvia," is the feminine of "Silvanus," and shows her divine Roman connection, for "Silvanus" was a Roman deity that had to do with flocks and herding, as well as the household and boundaries; perhaps a prophetic reference to the twins later to be raised as shepherds.  And what are shepherds if not but guardians of the weak and the herd (the masses?), which could easily stand as an exact description as to what function the Roman Empire performed.  In addition, Rome brought order to the human "household," (the world?), and set "boundaries" regarding one's behavior, with later such "boundaries" identified with being civilized or being part of civilization.  Perhaps the Queen of England echoed this interpretation best when she addressed the Italian parliament and stated, "Your ancestors brought civilization to my people."   

That the conception of Romulus and Remus took place in Mars' "sacred grove," connotes that the conception was identified with the "sacred" and thus further underlined by the father of the twins being one of the gods:  Mars, the God of War.  Of course, we all know that through "war" Rome extended its "boundaries" and brought civilization to a barbaric world.  That the father of Romulus and Remus was Mars and not some other god, predicts that the twins would establish a people who would be warlike - yet having the domesticity of their mother (see above).  Yet, we should not overlook the fact that the conception took place through violence: rape.  Could this be a precursor clue that these twins, born of such a union, would produce descendants who would take the world by storm? 

The myth goes on to state that "Amulius ordered his servants to kill the new born twins, but instead they cast them on the Tiber."  Sound familiar?  Perhaps Moses and his journey on the river is a parallel to this aspect of the myth?  The theme "river" has always been a symbol, down through the ages, for "the passage of life," "a return to the source" or "the ocean of unity" or that which comes from the Divine and nourishes the field of earth.  In short, the twins took a Sacred Journey down the river of life, which gave them "spiritual power and nourishment," which in their and Moses' cases was being snatched from the jaws of death and given life itself, so as to continue on their Quest/Journey.   

We note too the redundant theme that Romulus and Remus were protected, as would be their offspring, as these offsprings, the Romans, fulfill the destiny put forth in the underpinnings/connotations of this myth: the creation story of Rome and its Empire.  In the case of Romulus and Remus, this protection theme is individualized, as they are reported to having been nursed by Mars' sacred animal:  a wolf.  Now nursing, as is portrayed in the statue rendition of Romulus and Remus sitting below their protector, the wolf, and nursing, has the implication that they are taking in the very essence of the wolf via the wolf's milk:  fierceness and valor.  It might be interesting to note that again the underlining of "fierceness and valor" takes place with additional meanings within this particular reference to a wolf, for not only is the wolf sacred to the God Mars, but also to the God Apollo (Greek God of the Sun or fire or life itself) and Silvanus (the masculine name for the feminine name "Silva," the name of Romulus and Remus' mother).  Even from a very cursory reading of the exploits of the Romans, one would definitely attribute to them "fierceness and valor."   

Faustulus found the twins in the wolf's lair and took  home the twins to be raised as "shepherds" or protectors of the herd (common folk?)  "Faustulus" in one version of the myth has Faustulus as a soldier, perhaps alluding to a future aspect of the Romans, descendants of Romulus and Remus.  Again, the story makes clear, however, that they were born to lead and to fight (see myth), for the story seems to want no mistake made that not only is the Roman Empire to be founded on the ancestry of two twins, but that perhaps the nature of the Roman Empire would too be dual:  bringing civilization to the world and conquest and force.   

We now note that King Numitor of Alba Longa recognizes the twins as coming from his ancestral line and "the lost grandchildren are reunited with him" or as "reunited" might mean, "to be reconnected" with their ancestry.  So, who was King Numitor of Alba Longa and what significance does Romulus and Remus being "reunited" with their royal ancestor possibly mean? 

This question is basically answered by the hidden meaning within the name "King Numitor of Alba Longa."  First, we note that "Numitor" is a King, which means he is set aside from the vulgus (vulgar crowd) and, thus, is of royal ancestry.  Yet, even beyond this, we are "told," through interpretation of his name, "Numitor of Alba Longa," that he is very, very special.   

His actual name, "Numitor," is a combination of two Latin words:  "Num-" and "Itor."  "Num-" is the Latin word "Numerius," abbreviated as "Num-," meaning "Number" or "Pertaining to Number."  In ancient Greek symbolism, per Aristotle, "Number" has the meaning of "the origin and, as it were, the substance of all things and, as it were, their affections and states."  Or, as the Hindus interpret "number," "Numbers are the primary substance of the universe."  This Hindu idea of "number" is echoed by Pythagoras in his famous statement, "Everything is disposed according to numbers." 

We find too, in examining the abbreviation "Num-," meaning "Numerius," that "Num-" is a Roman praenomen or "The name prefixed to an ancient Roman family name to mark the individual."   

The remainder of his name, "-itor," means in Latin, "go, walk; march, advance; pass; flow; pass (time); ride; sail." 

His, "Numitor's," origin, like the Biblical Abraham before him, being from the land of Ur (Light), is described as having come from "Alba Longa."  The Latin for "Alba" means "white, pale, fair, hoary, gray; bright, clear; favorable, auspicious, fortunat" (fortunate).  "Longa" in Latin means "long; tall; tedious, taking long time; boundless; far; or specific length/time."  ("Boundless" as in Infinite, perhaps?) 

Thus, from these linguistic origins, we find that the ancestry of "King Numitor of Alba Longa," places him as coming from a universal substance, called "number," which is the very essence of everything around us, and which "flows" or "passes (through time)," in a "boundless" (Infinite) existence and is of the nature or color "white" or "clear (Light?)."  And what is this "infinite whiteness or light (clearness)"?  In ancient Hebrew the creation story of those from whom (the Chaldeans) the Hebrews took their mystical system, The Kabbalah, "infinite whiteness or light" is reported to precede the making of our world (spelled in Hebrew AYN-SWP AWR or "The Limitless Light"), and was the substance from which our world (reality) was made or formed.  Thus, what is possibly being said of "King Numitor of Alba Longa" is that he and his descendants can trace their ancestry back to the very beginnings of creation and even beyond.  Not exactly a bad beginning for a couple of twins conceived in the act of rape and cast upon the river Tiber, for as the Latin word "Alba" ("white or clear (light?") indicates as one of its meanings, "fortunat" or fortunate.   

The myth goes on to tell us that Romulus and Remus did not stay with or go back and be with their grandfather, "King Numitor of Alba Longa;" that is, they did not return to their divine origins, but rather played the part of heroes and stayed and labored and died in the field of reality and founded Rome (well, at least Romulus/Rome did so).   

A quarrel is said to have ensued and Romulus killed Remus, which is part and parcel of biblical or mythic lore, wherein Cain kills Able and Joseph's brothers attempt to kill Jospeh, etc.  Thus, the founding of Rome takes place as the cycle of violence is joined, wherein his mother was raped by the God Mars and he, Romulus, slays his brother, Remus, with the violence continuing on with his, Romulus', descendants.   

The myth concludes with our being told that Romulus' reign was "of forty years" and that he then "disappeared to become, some of his subjects believed, the war god Quirinus."  What is significant here in this description of the length of his reign is that the number "forty" (another one of those "tip-off" clues), as mentioned in the Bible numerous times (forty days of Moses on Mount Sinai; Elijah is in hiding forty days; the Deluge; the Jews wandering in the desert for forty years; the Hebrews under the heel of the Philistines for forty years; the reign of David and the reign of Solomon; and Ezekiel bearing the iniquity of Israel for forty days, etc.) means "As an elevation of four it is wholeness and totality."  Thus, what we have is the message that Romulus, in his forty year reign, achieved his purpose of achieving "wholeness" or completeness, just as his Rome would do, although it would take a bit more than forty years for Rome to do so.   

The brilliant Italian thinker, Edward De Bono once said of myth:  "A myth is a fixed way of looking at the world which cannot be destroyed because, looked at through the myth, all evidence supports that myth."   

Perhaps De Bono was more right than he knew, for there is some archaeological evidence in Italy that there was indeed a Romulus, but that's another story for another time.   

Multa renascentur, quae iam cecidere (Many things that had died will know rebirth), Horatius.

Please know, my ancestral brothers and sisters that we come from royalty; well at least mythic royalty, which perhaps has at least as much claim to royalty as does the royalty of "reality(?)" of today, called Kings and Queens.   

Author:  Your ancestral brother, Paul Bernard