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The story goes that shortly after Romulus founded Rome, he and his fellow Romans (all male) had a problem. They needed wives to created families and thus ensure Rome's survival. Romulus pleaded with the neighboring Sabines, but they weren't accomadating and refused the Romans access to their women. So, Romulus invited them to a feast. The Sabines came (women included) and during this festival, Romulus gave a signal and his men abducted the Sabine women. According to Livy, none of the women were actually raped, rather Romulus offered to give them the full rights of Roman women (which included, share of property, civil rights, and any children beget would be free men). So the story goes that the women married the Romans, and actually resolved the conflict between Rome and the Sabines. This version of the Rape of the Sabine Women was inspired by Giambologna's sculpture, which is presently in Florence, Italy.
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Rape of Sabine Women ST2414
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