THE RAPE OF THE SABINE WOMEN & THE JOINT RULE OF ROMULUS & TITUS TATIUS
by Sasha Alex Lessin, Ph.D. (Anthropology, UCLA) & Janet Kira Lessin
ROMULUS CREATED THE FIRST ROMAN SENATE
Romulus created the first Roman legion of men willing to defend the city. From among the wealthiest elders, he formed a class of leaders known as Patricians—men who held both political and religious power. When they assembled, their council became the Senate.
Yet Rome lacked women. The Senate sent emissaries to neighboring kingdoms to arrange marriages, but the monarchs distrusted the Romans. None wanted their daughters to bear Roman heirs who might later claim succession to their thrones.
THE FESTIVAL PLOT
The shortage of women frustrated Romulus’ plans to populate his new kingdom. In 750 BCE, three years after Rome’s founding, he devised another strategy. He invited the Sabines, along with other tribes—the Caeninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates—to attend games in honor of Consualia (known to the Greeks as Poseidon, and to the Sumerians as Enki, the Anunnaki geneticist said to have developed grains for Earth).
A Sabine father reacts in agony as he realizes what has happened, his face contorted with grief and fury.
The sun blazed over the arena, casting sharp shadows across the Forum. Crimson and gold banners rippled in the wind as Romans mingled with visiting families. Fathers, mothers, and daughters filled the seats, unaware of what was to come.
Trumpets blared—the games began.
Description: After the festival, Roman youths escort Sabine women through the streets of Rome in a ceremonial procession. Though framed as weddings, the women’s emotions are mixed—some solemn, some sorrowful.
From his platform, Romulus watched not the races, but the daughters of Rome’s guests. At his side, an officer whispered, “Shall we begin?” Romulus gave a single nod, pulled his cloak over his head, and raised his arm.
Chaos erupted. Roman youths, planted throughout the crowd, leapt into action. They seized young women by wrists and waists, carrying them off as screams filled the air.
“Unhand my daughter!” cried a Sabine father, restrained by Roman guards.
“This is no theft,” a Roman youth shouted, dragging away a bride-to-be. “It is union!”
Romulus thundered above the tumult: “Do not fear! You are not captives, but brides! Rome offers you honor, family, and a place in our destiny!”
Description: A young Sabine bride stands veiled with flowers in her hair, her eyes wet with tears. Though dressed for marriage, her expression shows fear and uncertainty.
The festival ended not with celebration, but with outrage.
THE SABINES SWEAR REVENGE
The Sabines, led by King Titus Tatius, swore vengeance. Battles raged, but Rome held firm behind its defenses.
Then came betrayal. Tarpeia, daughter of the Capitoline guard, agreed to open the gates in exchange for golden bracelets. The Sabines entered—but despising her treachery, they crushed her beneath their shields.
On the battlefield, Sabines and Romans clashed in brutal combat. Neither side could claim victory, and both faced ruin.
THE INTERVENTION OF THE SABINE WOMEN
On the battlefield, Sabine women carrying children rush between the Roman and Sabine armies, their pleas halting the fighting.
Amid the slaughter, the abducted women—now mothers of Roman children—ran between the armies. Infants in their arms, they pleaded with fathers and brothers not to kill their Roman husbands, and with their husbands not to slay their kin.
A Sabine mother raises her baby toward the warriors, her tear-streaked face begging both sides to stop the slaughter.
“Strike us down first,” they cried, “before you make us widows and our children orphans.”
Their courage stilled the fury of both hosts.
A circle of Sabine women stand together beneath a dramatic sky, holding laurel branches and children, illuminated by light from above. They symbolize the end of conflict.
A Sabine mother, illuminated by light, holds her child close and raises a laurel branch as a timeless symbol of peace and courage.
ROMULUS & TITUS TATIUS RULE TOGETHER
Romulus and Titus Tatius rule side by side, uniting Romans and Sabines under one throne, with the Senate doubled in size.
Peace was struck. The Romans and Sabines united as one people. Titus Tatius joined Romulus on the throne, ruling jointly for five years. The Senate doubled in size to include Sabine elders, and temples to Concordia were built to honor the alliance. Rome, once a small settlement on the Palatine, spread across its hills and grew stronger than ever.
But unrest lingered. Some Romans grumbled, “We share too much power with our new in-laws.”
Soon after, Titus Tatius was murdered at Lavinium.
Romulus stood over his body and declared, “Tatius was my brother in kingship. His blood mingles with ours; his line binds forever to Rome. Let there be no vengeance—let there be only Rome.”
From then on, Romulus ruled alone.
THE VANISHING OF ROMULUS
At the end of his reign, Romulus vanishes in a storm and is remembered as the god Quirinus.
At a public sacrifice on the Field of Mars in 716 BCE, a violent storm swept over the crowd. Lightning split the sky, winds howled across the plain—and when calm returned, Romulus was gone.
Some whispered that jealous senators murdered him, hiding his body beneath their cloaks. Others swore he was taken up into the sky by his divine father, Mars, whom some equated with Ninurta. (Janet note: Mars is sometimes equated with Marduk).
Soon after, the noble Proculus Julius proclaimed before the people:
“At dawn, Romulus appeared to me, radiant and divine. He said: ‘Go, tell the Romans—by heaven’s will, Rome shall be the head of the world. My spirit watches over you. From this day forth, call me Quirinus.’”
The people believed. Altars to Quirinus rose on the Quirinal Hill. Their founder, the wolf-born king, the taker of brides, the uniter of Romans and Sabines, had vanished in a storm and been remembered as a god.
Thus ended the reign of Romulus—Rome’s first king, and its first god.
📚 REFERENCES
- Livy, Ab Urbe Condita (Book 1:6–16)
- Plutarch, Life of Romulus
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities (Book 2)
- Cornell, T. J., The Beginnings of Rome (1995)
- Wiseman, T. P., Remus: A Roman Myth (1995)
🔑 KEYWORDS
Romulus, Titus Tatius, Sabine Women, Rape of the Sabines, Roman mythology, Roman Senate, Tarpeia, Roman kings, Quirinus, ancient Rome, foundation myths, Roman history, Enki, Consualia, abduction myth, Roman-Sabine alliance, myth of Rome, god Quirinus, Capitoline Hill, Roman kingship
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📲 SOCIAL MEDIA DESCRIPTIONS
⚔️ Rome’s origins are as dramatic as any epic—betrayal, stolen brides, and a people united by the courage of women. Discover how Romulus, Titus Tatius, and the Sabine women shaped the destiny of Rome. 🌿👑
👉 Read more: [insert link]
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Rome was forged in chaos, betrayal—and women’s courage. 🌿👑
Romulus, Titus Tatius & the Sabine Women: from war to union, from kingship to godhood.
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The rape of the SABINE WOMEN & the joint rule of ROMULUS & TITUS TATIUS.
https://youtu.be/7wZRRPVMNjg?si=lNxMIgWOA0VH_zVM
This is a VIDEO; click the word “KIDNAPPING” to start it.
The rape of the SABINE WOMEN & the joint rule of ROMULUS & TITUS TATIUS
by Sasha Alex Lessin, Ph.D. (Anthropology, UCLA)
Peruse the video on the post below this post, and learn way more.
ROMULUS CREATED THE 1ST ROMAN SENATE
Romulus created the first Roman legion of men willing to defend the city. From among the wealthiest elders, he formed a class of leaders known as Patricians—men who held political and religious power. When they assembled, they called their assembly the Senate.
Yet Rome lacked women. The Senate sent emissaries to neighboring kingdoms to bargain for marriages, but the neighboring monarchs distrusted the Romans. None wished their daughters to bear Roman nephews who might later claim succession to their thrones.
FESTIVAL PLOT
The lack of women to breed in his new kingdom frustrated Romulus’ efforts to populate Rome. In 750 BCE, three years after he founded Rome, Romulus devised another plan. He invited the Sabines, along with other tribes—the Caeninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates—to games in honor of Consualia (aka Poseidon/Enki, the Anunnaki geneticist from Planet Nibiru who developed grains for us Earthlings).
The sun hung high over the new arena, casting sharp shadows across the Forum. Banners of crimson and gold fluttered in the breeze as citizens bustled, mingling with visiting tribes. Fathers, mothers, and daughters settled into their seats, unaware of what was about to unfold.
Trumpets blared. The races began.
From his raised platform, Romulus scanned the crowd—not the games, but the families. At his feet, an officer whispered, “Shall we begin?” Romulus gave a single nod. He rose, lifted his right arm, and threw his cloak over his head.
Chaos erupted. Roman youths, planted strategically among the guests, leapt into motion. They seized young women by wrists and waists, carrying them off amid screams and protests.
“Unhand my daughter!” a Sabine father roared, only to be restrained by Roman guards.
“This is no theft,” a Roman shouted, dragging away a bride-to-be. “It is union!”
Romulus’s commanding voice thundered above the tumult: “Do not fear! You are not captives, but brides! Rome offers you honor, family, and a place in our destiny!”
The festival ended not in celebration, but in outrage.
SABINE MEN SWORE REVENGE
The Sabines swore revenge. Led by King Titus Tatius, they waged war against Rome. Battles raged, yet the city’s defenses held.
Then came betrayal: Tarpeia, daughter of the Capitoline guard, opened the gates to the enemy in exchange for golden bracelets. The Sabines entered—but, despising her treachery, crushed her beneath their shields.
On the battlefield, Romans and Sabines clashed in brutal combat. Victory seemed uncertain, and the cost promised to be ruinous for both sides.
THE SABINE WOMEN INTERVENED
Then, amid battle, the Sabine women—now mothers of Roman children—rushed between the armies. With infants in their arms, they begged their fathers and brothers not to slay their husbands, and pleaded with their husbands not to slaughter their kin.
“Strike us down first,” they cried, “before you make us widows and our children orphans.”
Their courage stilled the fury of both hosts.
KING ROMULUS & TITUS TATUISU RULED ROME TOGETHER
Romans and Sabines became one people. King Titus Tatius joined Romulus on the throne, ruling jointly over the united city for five years. The Senate doubled to include Sabine elders. Temples to Concordia rose, sanctifying the alliance. Rome, once a small settlement on the Palatine, spread across many hills, growing stronger than ever.
ROMULUS REMAINED ROME’S ONLY KING
But unease lingered. Some Romans grumbled, We share too much power with our new in-laws.
The Sabine men killedTatius at Lavinium for honoring Romulus (like Trump honoring Putin).
Romulus stood over Tatius’ body and said, Tatius was my brother in kingship. His blood mingles with ours, his line binds to Rome forever. Let there be no vengeance. Let there be only Rome.”
From then on, Romulus ruled alone. Victorious in war, harsh in governance, he led Rome to greatness, though the Senate muttered of tyranny.
ROMULUS VANISHED
At a public sacrifice on the Field of Mars in 716 BCE, as the people gathered for sacrifice, a sudden storm engulfed the sky. Lightning split the heavens, winds tore through the plain—and when the storm passed, Romulus was gone.
Some whispered resentful senators murdered him, his body hidden beneath their cloaks. Others swore he had been taken up into the sky by his father, Mars/Ninurta.
Soon after, the noble Proculus Julius declared before the people: At dawn Romulus appeared to me, radiant and divine. He said, ‘Go tell the Romans: by heaven’s will, Rome shall be the head of the world. My spirit watches over you. From this day forth, call me Quirinus.’
The people believed. Altars rose on the Quirinal Hill. Their founder, the wolf-born king, the taker of brides, the uniter of Romans and Sabines, had vanished into storm and was remembered as a god.
Thus ended the reign of Romulus—Rome’s first king, and the first god of the city.
Hey, fellow students, I’d appreciate it if you could share this post; thanks.
Preview YouTube video When the Romans Kidnapped the Sabine Women – Roman Mythology
The Sabine women, now mothers, stand proudly with their children. Their faces show relief, love, and joy as harmony is restored.
The Sabine women, now mothers, stand proudly with their children. Their faces show relief, love, and joy as harmony is restored.
