Murder at the Foundation

Romulus killed his own twin to become the sole founder of Rome. The legend says the brothers fought over where to build the city. When Remus mocked the new wall by leaping over it, Romulus struck him dead on the spot.

Myth or memory, the message is blunt: Rome was born in fratricide. And the Romans were not ashamed of it. They turned the killing into a point of pride, retold for a thousand years.