When Numa died at over the age of 80 he left a daughter, Pompilia, who was married to Marcius, the son of the Marcius who had persuaded Numa to accept the throne. Their son, Ancus Marcius, was five years old when Numa died, and later became the fourth king of Rome. Numa was buried under the Janiculum together with religious books. In 181 BC his grave was uncovered in a flood but his coffin was found to be empty. Only the books, which had been buried in a second coffin remained. They were burnt on the recommendation of the praetor.
And how much of all this is true? It seems likely that there was a monarchical period in early Rome, with the kings coming from different groups: Romans, Sabines, and Etruscans. It is rather less likely that there were seven kings who reigned in a monarchical period of approximately 250 years. One of the kings may have been a Sabine called Numa Pompilius, though we may doubt that he instituted so many features of the Roman religion and calendar or that his reign was a golden age free from strife and warfare. But that the Romans believed that it was so is a historical fact.
The above article was originally published at Suite101.com
