Romulus | Jesus |
c. 771 BC Romulus (771 BC) is the legendary founder of Rome. In Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus, twin sons of the princess and vestal Rhea Silvia and the god Mars are the legendary founders of Rome. |
3 BC-33 AD Jesus (33 AD) is God/Son of God in Christianity. Jesus is the main character in the development of the Christianity in Rome. The 'Christ myth' theory is the view that Jesus, like Romulus, was a mythical, fictional character who never existed.
|
1. Rome | |
FOUNDER
Romulus is believed to be the founder of Rome.Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus and his contemporaries. |
ESTABLISHED
Jesus is held as the founder of Christianity (Roman Catholicism) whch flourished in Rome, under Emperor Constantine and suceeding emperors. |
2. Month | |
APRIL Romulus (and prior to his death, Remus) founded the city of Rome. The founding was believed to have been on the
21st of April
Romulus_The_Savior_God_of_Rome
|
APRIL
Easter commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus, and when he rose from the tomb.
The Easter period is between March 22 and April 25, and is therefore most likely to be celebrated in April.
|
3. Age 35 | |
YES
According to legend, the first king of Rome was Romulus, who founded the city in 753 BC. The kings ruled for an average of 35 years.
|
YES
It is commonly believed that Jesus was crucified at 33 years. It can also be shown he was 35 years.
How-old-was-Jesus
|
4. Virgin Mother | |
VIRGIN
Mother was Rhea Silvia, daughter of Numitor, king of Alba Longa. Before their conception, Numitor’s brother Amulius seized power, killed Numitor’s male heirs and forced Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin, sworn to chastity. Romulus was the son of Rhea who had been miraculously impregnated by the god Mars. |
VIRGIN
'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.' |
5. Divine Father | |
MARS
Romulus didn't die a natural death but was brought to heaven by his divine father Mars.
romaoptima.com
Most accounts claim Romulus' father was either the Mars, God of War, or the demigod Hercules. |
YAHWEH
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost
In mainstream trinitarian Christianity, God the Father is regarded as the first person of the Trinity, then God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit.
|
6. Conception | |
GOD MARS
Some myths claim God Mars appeared and lay with Rhea Silvia; other myths attest that the demi-god hero Hercules was her partner.Livy claims that Rhea Silvia was in fact raped by an unknown man, but blamed her pregnancy on divine conception. ancient.eu |
HOLY SPIRIT
Behold, you [Mary] will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
The Holy Spirit came and impregnated Mary. Some Christians believe he came in the form of a man.
|
7. Royal Opposition | |
KING AMULIUS
King Amulius ordered the twins Romulus & Remus' death by means of live burial, exposure, or being thrown into the Tiber River.
ancient.eu
|
KING HEROD
When King Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious ... |
8. Killed at Birth? | |
FAILED ATTEMPT
King Amulius ordered the twins Romulus & Remus' death by means of live burial, exposure, or being thrown into the Tiber River.
ancient.eu
|
FAILED ATTEMPT
When King Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
|
9. Poor Family | |
SHEPHERD
Romulus was cared for by a shepherd and his wife: Faustulus and Acca Larentia. He grew up to be a shepherd like his adoptive father.
ancient.eu
|
CARPENTER
"Is not this [Jesus] the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. |
10. Father/Son Occupation | |
BOTH SHEPHERDS
Romulus was cared for by a shepherd and his wife: Faustulus and Acca Larentia. He grew up to be a shepherd like his adoptive father.
ancient.eu
|
BOTH CARPENTERS
"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
|
11. Divinity | |
UNAWARE Romulus grew to adulthood not knowing of his divine origin nor his status as a demigod.
Romulus_The_Savior_God_of_Rome
|
UNAWARE
Whilst traditional Christians believe Jesus confirmed his divinity in the New Testament, others argue Jesus attained true divinity following his resurrection.It is possible during his lifetime, Jesus was unaware of his 'fully divine God' status - a rank awarded to him in later ecumenical church councils. michaeljkruger.com |
12. Following | |
YES, HAILED AS KING
Romulus was the legendary founder and first king of Rome. He was honoured by the people as king. |
YES, 12 DISCIPLES
During the life and ministry of Jesus in the 1st century AD, the 12 apostles were his closest followers and became the primary teachers of the gospel message of Jesus.
|
13. Miracles | |
STRENGTH Romulus was a great general (hero) that led the Romans to many victories over their rivals - displaying superhuman strength and martial abilities.
Romulus_The_Savior_God_of_Rome
|
HUMANITY
The miracles of Jesus are the supernatural deeds attributed to Jesus. The majority are faith healings, exorcisms, resurrection, control over nature and forgiveness of sins.
|
14. Execution (how) | |
MYSTERY
There are two versions of Romulus' death:
1 Romulus mysteriously disappeared in a storm or whirlwind. 2 Romulus was violently attacked, his body cut into small pieces and carried away. |
CRUCIFIXION
And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
|
15. Trial by Authority | |
SENATE
The people of Rome were skeptical towards this supernatural phenomenon and started to speculate that Romulus must have been a victim of an assassination attempt by the patricians [Rome's ruling class].
romaoptima.com
Romulus is assassinated by the Roman senate. |
SANHEDRIN
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death
In the New Testament, the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus refers to the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (a Jewish judicial body) following his arrest in Jerusalem and prior to his dispensation by Pontius Pilate.
|
16. Execution (where) | |
ROME
The people of Rome were skeptical towards this supernatural phenomenon and started to speculate that Romulus must have been a victim of an assassination attempt by the patricians [Rome's ruling class].
romaoptima.com
Romulus is assassinated by the Roman senate. |
ROME
And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Jesus is crucified under Pilate, the Roman governor. |
17. Execution (distance) | |
CAMPUS
When the ascend happened, Romulus was just on Campus Martius (a plain before the Roman walls) overseeing a military parade.
romaoptima.com
Livy 1.16.1; Plutarch, |
GOLGOTHA
And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha
Golgotha, or Calvary was, according to the Gospels, a site immediately outside Jerusalem's walls where Jesus was crucified.
cf. Josephus War 5.6,11; Rom. 27.6; John 19:17
|
18. Supernatural Event | |
STORM
Suddenly a storm broke out and brought terrible darkness and lightning. A dark cloud covered the king and when it was finally gone, Romulus was nowhere to be found.
romaoptima.com
Plutarch, 27.6-7; Ovid, Fasti, 4:492-96; Ovid, Metam. 14.816-17; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom.; 2.56.2-6; Plutarch, |
EARTHQUAKE
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split
Mt 27:45,51; Rom. 27.6-7; Matt 27:51-54; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45 |
19. Darkness | |
DARKNESS
Suddenly a storm broke out and brought terrible darkness and lightning. A dark cloud covered the king and when it was finally gone, Romulus was nowhere to be found.
romaoptima.com
Ovid, Metam. 14.816-22; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.56.2-6; Plutarch, |
DARKNESS
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
Rom. 27.6-7; Matt 27:45;Â Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44 |
20. Clouds | |
CLOUDS
Suddenly a storm broke out and brought terrible darkness and lightning. A dark cloud covered the king and when it was finally gone, Romulus was nowhere to be found.
romaoptima.com
Livy 1.16; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.56.2-6; |
CLOUDS
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Jesus ascended to heaven in a cloud. |
21. Body Vanished | |
VANISHED
A dark cloud covered the king and when it was finally gone, Romulus was nowhere to be found.
romaoptima.com
Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.56.2-6; Plutarch, 27.7-8 |
VANISHED
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance [Jesus was gone].
But he [young man in white robe] said to them, "Don’t be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He isn't here. Look, here's the place where they laid him".
After the crucifixion, Jesus' body was placed in a tomb. The four Gospels narrate how several women, including Mary Magdalene, found the tomb of Jesus to be empty when they came to his tomb [on third day] to anoint his body with spices and oils. Rom. 27.3-5; Matt 28:11-14; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:3; John 20:2-10 |
22. Risen to Gods | |
RISEN The people wanted to search for him but the Senate told them not to, 'for he had risen to join the gods'
On the Historicity of Jesus. Richard Carrier |
RISEN
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed" he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him."
Jesus ascended to heaven in a cloud. |
23. Sent by Father-God | |
RISEN
Romulus answered [to Julius Proculus], "It pleased the gods, O Proculus, that we [half-gods], who come from them, should remain so long a time amongst men as we did; and having built a city to be the greatest in the world for empire and glory, should return again to heaven ..."
Life of Romulus |
BELIEF
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Christian doctrine holds Jesus as 'eternal God' who existed before creation was sent to earth by the Father in heaven for a short while. |
Tertullian (c.155-240 AD)The Church father Tertullian also noted that both Romulus and Jesus reportedly were taken up to heaven in a cloud, but argued that this was "far more certain" to have occurred in Jesus' case than of Romulus (21.23). |
|
24 .Rumours | |
MANY
There were numerous rumours trying to explain the disappearance of Romulus.
Livy 1.16.4-5; Plutarch, Rom. 27.5-6, 8; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.56.2-6; 2.63.3 |
PLANS
When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.
Matt 28:11-14 |
25. Resurrection | |
YES Romulus was taken to heaven and glorified, later appearing to Julius Proculus
Ovid, Metamorphoses 14.805-51; Fasti 2.481-509 |
YES
He [Jesus] is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
|
26. Appearance | |
ROAD
After the death of Romulus, his intimate friend Julius Proculus reported that while traveling on the road he had seen Romulus coming toward him. When he asks Romulus what had happened, Romulus replies, "It was the pleasure of the gods, O Proculus, from whom I came, that I should be with mankind only a short time, and that after founding a city destined to be the greatest on earth for empire and glory, I should dwell again in heaven. And I will be your propitious deity, [called] Quirinus". Cicero, Resp. 2.10; Livy 1.16.1-8; Ovid, Fasti 2.475-511; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.63.3-4; Plutarch, 28.1-3; |
ROAD
As he [Paul] journeyed he came near Damascus [on road to], and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven ... Then the Lord said "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."
Sightings of resurrected humans, particularly on a road, were a common feature in Greco-Roman translation fables.
Lk 24:13-49; Acts 9:3-19; Rom. 27-28;Â Luke 24:35; 1 Cor 15:3-11 |
27. Message | |
GREATER ROME
Romulus offers Proculus (and Rome generally) parting advice and instructions. He rose to heaven after giving instructions.
Plutarch, 28.2; Ovid, Fasti, 2:505-09 |
PREACH GOSPEL
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The resurrected Christ gave his disciples parting instructions and rose to heaven.
Mk 16:14-18; Mt 28:18-20; Jn 20:21; Acts 1:9 |
28. Confusion | |
SPECULATION
A dark cloud covered the king and when it was finally gone, Romulus was nowhere to be found. The people of Rome were skeptical towards this supernatural phenomenon.
The people of Rome ... started to speculate that Romulus must have been a victim of an assassination attempt by the patricians. romaoptima.com |
DISBELIEF
Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.'
After Jesus died, his body could not be found in the tomb, and people apparently suspected the disciples had stolen it.
When they [disciples] heard that Jesus was alive and that she [Mary] had seen him, they did not believe it
Matt 27:63-66; Matt 28:13 |
29. Fear | |
FEAR
Ovid, Fasti 2.475-511; Livy 1.16.2;Â Plutarch, |
FEAR
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
Mark, Matthew, and Luke say it was the women who were afraid and they were frightened by the appearance of the angel at the tomb.
Rom. 28.2; Matt 28:5, 10; Mark 16:8; Luke 24:37-38 |
30. Silence | |
PEOPLE, SILENT
Livy's account, emphasizes that 'fear and bereavement' kept the people 'silent for a long time', and only later did they proclaim Romulus 'God, Son of God, King and Father'.
On the Historicity of Jesus. Richard Carrier
|
WOMEN, SILENT
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
|
31. Hero | |
PROCULUS
To settle the matter, a man named Proculus Julius, an old friend of the missing king, stood before the people ...
romaoptima.com
|
PAUL
As he [Paul] journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven ... Then the Lord said 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
|
32. Ceremony | |
QUINTILUS
He disappeared on the Nones of July, as they now call the month which was then Quintilus ... for on that day many ceremonies are still performed.
Plutarch |
EASTER
Easter, or Resurrection Sunday is a festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day after his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.
|
33. Ceremony Rites | |
FLED IN FEAR
Plutarch tells us that the annual Roman ceremony of the Romulan ascent involved a recitation of the names of those who fled his vanishing in fear, and the acting out of their fear and flight in public On the Historicity of Jesus. Richard Carrier |
FLED IN FEAR
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid
The end of Mark's Gospel scene is suspiciously similar to the Roman ceremony rites. On the Historicity of Jesus. Richard Carrier |
34. Ceremony Procession | |
PUBLIC MARCH
The date of July 7th (the Nones of July) was established as a date of worship in celebration of Romulus' formal accent to god-hood. The religious procession began at the temple dedicated in his honor, through streets of Rome, ended at the legendary site of Goat's Marsh where ritual sacrifices were made. Romulus_The_Savior_God_of_Rome |
PUBLIC MARCH
A Holy Week (Easter) procession is a public ritual march. Images of saints, Virgin Mary and a crucified Jesus are carried by foot; acts of mortification and traditional hymns sung.Crosses and biers holding Catholic holy images adorned with flowers and candles are carried from one parish church to another led by the clergy, monastic orders, or heads of the penitential orders. |
35. Prophecy | |
GREATER ROME
Proculus Julius ... claimed he witness Romulus stepping down from heaven for a while and share a prophecy about the future greatness of Rome.
romaoptima.com
|
FOR GENTILES
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel" |
36. Encounter | |
NIGHT
Ovid, Fasti 2.475-511; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.63.3-4; |
ROAD
As he [Paul] journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven ... Then the Lord said 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Luke 24:13-35; Acts 9:3-19 |
37. Bright Light | |
SHINING
Plutarch, Rom. 28.1-2; Ovid, Fasti 2.475-511; |
LIGHT
As he [Paul] journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven ... Then the Lord said 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Matt 17:2; Mark 9:3; Luke 9:29; Acts 9:3; Rev 1:16 |
38. Dress | |
SHINING ARMOUR
he had seen Romulus coming to meet him, looking taller and comelier than ever, dressed in shining and flaming armour
Plutarch, |
BRIGHT LIGHT
As he [Paul] journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven ... Then the Lord said 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
|
39. Great Commission | |
NONE
There was no 'great commission' given by Romulus to go out into the world and make disciples etc. Just a brief explanation of what happened to him and farewell.
Livy 1.16.7; Ovid, Metam. 14.811, 815; Ovid, Fasti 2.475-511; Plutarch, Rom. 28.2; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.63.4; |
NONE
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
The reliability of the above verse is disputed. It cannot be used to support the 'Great Commission' claim.
is-matthew-28-19-a-later-addition
|
40. Ascension | |
HEAVEN
The poet Ovid, in his Metamorphoses left us the most artistic account on the most fantastic version of Romulus' end mentioned by the historians. According to this story, Romulus didn't die a natural death but was brought to heaven by his divine father Mars. romaoptima.com The people concluded that Romulus had become a god and ascended to heaven, and began to worship him. Livy 1.16.6; Plutarch, 27.7-8; Ovid, Metamorphoses, 14.808-28; 14.820-24; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.56.2-6; Litwa, p.168 |
HEAVEN
While he [Jesus] was blessing them [disciples], he left them and was taken up into heaven
Mt. 28:17; Luke 24:45-53; Acts 1:1-8; Rom. 27.7; |
41. Fled, run away | |
POPULATION
The general population fled because of the sudden darkness, thunder, and rain.
Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.56.5; Plutarch, |
DISCIPLES
But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Rom. 27.7; Matt 26:56;Â 28:8; Mark 14:50 or 15:50; 16:8 |
42. Peace | |
SOCIAL
This witness [Proculus Julius] obviously did the job and instead of a civil war, a peaceful period of interregnum followed.
romaoptima.com
|
PERSONAL
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
Following his Jesus' vision, Paul ceased persecuting Jesus' followers, and was baptized by Ananias of Damascus and his eyesight recovered.Paul travelled extensively preaching the gospel and establishing Christian Churches. |
43. Sorrow & Belief | |
YES
Ovid, Fasti 2.475-511; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.63.3-4; Plutarch, |
YES, WOMEN
And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him
Matt 28:9, 17; Luke 24:41, 52; John 20:27 |
44. God/Son of God | |
GOD
The people concluded that Romulus had become a god and ascended to heaven, after his death and resurrection, and began to worship him; calling him the son of God (of Mars in Romulus’s case).
Romulus didn't die a natural death but was brought to heaven by his divine father Mars, where he became a god named Quirinus. romaoptima.com Litwa, pp. 164, 166-67; Livy, 1:16; Livy 1.16.3; Cicero, Resp. 2.10.20b; Ovid, Fasti 2.475-511; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Ant. rom. 2.56.5-6; Plutarch, |
GOD
And when the centurion, which stood over against him, usaw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
Mark 15:39; Matthew 27:54; Rom. 27.7;Â 28.3; 1:4 |
45. Eternal God | |
YES, ETERNAL
Romulus told Proculus on the road that he had been a god all along but had come down to earth and become incarnate to establish a great kingdom (Rome), and now had to return to his home in heaven. |
YES, TRINITY
Christian doctrine evolved until Jesus Christ was acknowledged as eternally divine. The 4 stages of Jesus' divinity follow:
1 After his crucifixion and resurrection [Rom 1:4; Acts 13:33] 2 Pushed back to, at his baptism 3 Pushed back to, at his conception in virgin Mary’s womb 4 Finally it was decided, Jesus was fully divine, existed before creation, with the Father in Heaven [Jn 1:1-3]. Matt 28:9, 17; Luke 24:41, 52; John 20:27 |
46. King | |
KING OF ROME
Romulus was the legendary founder and first king of Rome. |
KING OF JEWS
They placed above his head the charge against him. It read, 'This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.'
Pilate declared Jesus as king of the Jews. |
47. Founder | |
ROME
Romulus is believed to be the founder of Rome. |
CHRISTIANITY
Jesus is held as the founder of Christianity (Roman Catholicism). |
48. Divine & Preexistent | |
Romulus ... was brought to heaven by his divine father Mars, where he became a god named Quirinus.
romaoptima.com
Litwa, p.166 |
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus (as the Word) in the Gospel of John, was preexistant and divine.
Mt. 28:17; Luke 24:45-53; Acts 1:1-8
|
49. 'Prince' | |
GOOD PRINCE
[After Romulus' ascended to heaven] ... to honour and worship Romulus as one taken up to the gods, and about to be to them in the place of a good prince, now a propitious god.
Plutarch |
PRINCE OF PEACE
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace
|
50. Goddess | |
HERSILIA
His wife Hersilia followed him soon after and also became a goddess – Hora.
romaoptima.com
|
VIRGIN MARY
In the Catholic Church, the veneration of Mary, mother of Jesus, encompasses various Marian devotions which include prayer, pious acts, visual arts, poetry, and music devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.The Catholic Church holds distinctive Marian dogmas, namely her status as the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her perpetual virginity, and her Assumption into heaven. |
Background | |
The Romans regarded some of their emperors as divine. Sometimes emperors were considered divine while they were still alive, but more commonly they were deified (made into Gods) after their death. At other times, emperors were afforded divine ancestry. Therefore, the emperor was called the "Son of God". i.e. Emperor Augustus put this title on coinage bearing his image. The practice of deifying emperors presented a theological challenge for Christians. |
After Christians decided Jesus Christ was the divine "Son of God", he was in direct competition with Rome's emperors. For Christians, Jesus Christ was simply the greatest, most divine "Son of God", over and above all emperors. |
12010 views · 6 hrs ago | Author: Guest • Updated: 20 May 2019 |