Ovid tells a similar tale of the departure of Romulus, founder of Rome, from the earth: The Omnipotent One [Zeus/Jupiter] . . . hid the sky with dark clouds, and he terrified the earth with thunder and lightning. Gliding down through the air, he [Mars] came to rest on top of the wooded Palatine hill. There, Romulus was giving his friendly laws to the citizens, and Mars caught Ilia’s son up. His mortal body became thin, dissolving in the air, as a lead pellet shot by a broad sling will melt away in the sky. Suddenly he had such a beautiful form more worthy of the high couches [gods who dwell in
...more
