Amulius

In Roman mythology, Amulius was the brother of Numitor and son of Procas. He was the hostile uncle of Romulus and Remus' mother.

Myth

His brother, Numitor, was the King of Alba Longa. Amulius overthrew him and took the throne. Amulius forced Rhea Silvia, Numitor's daughter, to become a Vestal Virgin, a priestess of Vesta, so that she would never bear any sons that might overthrow him. However, she was raped by the god Mars, resulting in the birth of Romulus and Remus.

Amulius buried Rhea Silvia alive and threw her sons into the river Tiber because he thought she violated her oaths of chastity. The river-god, Tiberinus found the twins and gave them to a she-wolf to suckle and then saved and married Rhea Silvia. Romulus and Remus went on to found Rome and overthrow Amulius, reinstating their grandfather Numitor as King of Alba Longa.

References

Livy I, 3-5.