THE SCENE: Everyone knows that Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus, but only one of them actually gave his name to the city. What happened to Remus? According to Diodorus Siculus, his untimely death came when he criticized the work of a lowly ditch digger.
THE TEXT: Romulus, in connection with his founding of Rome, was hastily throwing a ditch around it, to prevent any of his neighbours from attempting to hinder his undertaking. Remus, angered at his failure to gain the chief place and jealous of the good fortune of his brother, came up to the labourers and belittled their work; for he declared that the ditch was too narrow and that the city would easily fall, since enemies would have no difficulty in getting over it, but Romulus replied in anger, “I give ordered to all citizens to extract vengeance of any man who attempts to get over the ditch.” A second time Remus cast insults at the labourers, and said they were making the ditch too narrow. “Why, enemies will get over it with no trouble; see, I can do it myself, easily.” And with these words he leaped over it. A certain Celer, one of the labourers, answered him, “I will exact vengeance of the man who jumps over the ditch, even as the king commanded;” and with these words he raised his spade, and striking Remus on the head, slew him.
– Bibliotheca Historica, Diodorus Siculus, 1st Century BC
