Rome has walls, laws, and a king—but without families, its future is already in doubt.
As neighboring cities reject Romulus' pleas for alliance, the young kingdom faces a crisis that threatens its very survival. Refusing to let Rome fade before it has truly begun, Romulus devises a bold and controversial plan. Under the guise of a grand festival honoring the god Consus, the gates of Rome are opened to thousands of unsuspecting guests.
As music fills the valleys and rival peoples gather in celebration, few realize they stand on the edge of one of the most consequential moments in Roman tradition. By the day's end, the future of Rome—and its relationship with every neighboring people—will be changed forever.
Drawing from the accounts of Livy, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Plutarch, and other Roman traditions, this episode follows the events that led to the Festival of Consus, setting the stage for one of the defining episodes in the legendary history of Rome.
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