Comparison of Theseus and Romulus

Who wrote the comparison of Theseus and Romulus?

Plutarch, in his ‘Lives’

What are the ‘Parallel Lives’

Books which compare the lives of the greatest Greeks and Romans

What does Plutarch compare between Romulus and Theseus?

The greatness of their deeds, leadership, reasons for their misfortunes, achievements, relationship with their family, and their relationship with women and the gods

What are the main comparisons between Theseus and Romulus?

They were both considered to be great men in Roman and Greek history - Theseus was a great reformer as he united Athens and allowed it to become the great city that it was. Romulu founded Rome after a troubled childhood and war with his brother

How is Theseus different to Romulus?

Theseus chose to do his labours, while Romulus was forced into some in order to escape slavery

Theseus fought many tyrants, while Romulus fought one

Both treated their families poorly (Theseus forgot to change his sail, causing the death of his father, Romulus killed his brother)

Both didn’t rule the city well

Romulus was more impressive as he built Rome from nothing, while Theseus combined many small villages from before to form Attica

Romulus saved his mother and grandfather from an unjust king, while Theseus was negligent

Theseus was a womaniser and rapist, while Romulus only ordered the rape of the Sabine women to populate the otherwise male majority Rome