the kidnapping of the Sabines

Sculpture by Giambologna located in Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy, 2018.

The “Rape of the Sabines”, or the kidnapping of Sabine women, is one of the oldest stories in the history of Rome. Legend says that at the time of the foundation of Rome, Romulus had a big problem to solve: to populate the new city. Romulus then organized a great feast in honor of the god Neptune and invited the Sabines, a people who lived next door to Rome. During the festival between songs and dances, the young Romans armed took advantage of the moment when the Sabines were helpless to kidnap the Sabine women. The drunk and unarmed Sabines had to flee as they were not prepared for battle. No violence was used against women and Romulus offered women civil and property rights in the newly founded city of Rome.
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