Numa Pompilius

d. 674 BC

Numa Pompilius was a well-respected Sabine who was elected by the citizens of Rome to be their king after Romulus died with no heir. He was a peace-loving king who at first hesitated to accept the throne of such a war-loving nation. His reign, however, was peaceful and prosperous. He set the foundations for regular religious observances and festivals; he reformed the calendar, and set a precedent for wise and just leadership.

Key events during the life of Numa Pomilius:

Year	Event
716 BC	Beginning of reign.
	Built Temple of Janus.
	Updated calendar, assigned holidays.
	Established priests and vestal virgins.
674 BC	Died.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Romulus and Numa  in	Stories From Livy  by  Alfred J. Church
Beginnings of a State in	Stories from Ancient Rome  by  Alfred J. Church
What the Forest Lady Said  in	Tales of the Romans: The Children's Plutarch  by  F. J. Gould
Strange Signs of the Romans  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
Numa Pompilius  in	Famous Men of Rome  by  John H. Haaren & A. B. Poland
Numa Pompilius  in	Our Young Folks' Plutarch  by  Rosalie Kaufman
Peace-Loving King  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor

Image Links
Numa and the Nymph  in Tales of the Romans: The Children's Plutarch

Contemporary	Short Biography
Egeria	Water nymph, wife and advisor to Numa.