The Mysterious Death of Romulus By Livy

After accomplishing these immortal deeds, he had an assembly here on the plain by the marsh of Capera to review his army. Suddenly with a huge crash of thunder a storm arose, it covered the king with such a thick cloud that it removed the sight of him from the assembly, and Romulus was no more on earth.

The young men of Rome after the storm was calmed at last, after the bright and calm light returned from such a violent spell, when they saw the royal throne empty, although they believed well enough the senators who stood next to him said that he was ceased on high by a whirlwind. However they maintained for some time a sorrowful silence as if struck by the fear of bereavement, they fell into a sorrowful silence for some time. 

Then with a few having made a start, the whole assembly greeted (hailed) Romulus as a God, son of a God, as a king and as the father of the city of Rome. They asked for peace with prayers so that he might protect his descendants favourably and kindly. I believe that at that time there were some people who secretly claimed that the king was torn to bits by the hands of the senators; for those rumours also spread however obscure.

 Respect for the man and present fear made the other rumour superior. Credibility is said to have been added to the matter by the plan of one man, Proculus Iulius (house of Julius), a man of influence who came before the assembly. With the state disturbed by the loss of their king and being hostile towards their senators, Proculus Iulius, a respected man according to the traditions however serious the situation came forward. He said “Citizens! Romulus, the father of the city, today at dawn suddenly appeared to me having descended from the heavens. When I had stood there filled with fear and in religious respect asking with prayer that it might be allowed to look at him face to face, he said “Go! Tell it to the Roman people, that it is the will of the Gods that my Rome must be the capital of the world.” Therefore, let them cultivate the art of war, and let them know and hand down to their children that no human power can resist Roman army. Having said these things he went away on high” said Proculus Iulius. It is wonderful how much faith there was in that man’s announcement and how the loss of Romulus among the people and the army was soothed by the belief in his immortality.