8. Romulus and Remus

In ancient Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus were the twin brothers born to Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia and Mars, the god of war. As a common practice in Rome at the time, the two boys were abandoned in a remote location as they were unwanted. In time, the two were found by a she-wolf, who looked after them as if she was the boys’ mother. After growing up, the pair founded the great City of Rome, which soon became a flourishing empire. However, the twin boys would soon dispute the land, and in the end Remus is killed by Romulus, possibly providing for the reason why Rome is named as it is.