Plot summary

In Old Latium in 753 BC, a flash flood causes the two shepherd brothers Romulus (Alessio Lapice) and Remus (Alessandro Borghi) to be stranded and captured as slaves in Alba Longa. They are able to rebel and free the other Latin and Sabine prisoners and take the Vesta priestess Satnei (Tania Garribba), who carries with her the sacred fire, as hostage. during the escape, Romulus is severely injured. In a conflict concerning the injured Romulus, Remus ends up killing the Latin leader (who thinks Romulus is cursed and is bringing them bad luck on their journey to safety) and becomes the new leader of the tribe.But it is an uneasy truce as the tribe still believes Romulus is bad luck. But the Princess Satnei protects ROmulus by cursing anyone who plots to kill him, thereby scaring them enough to behave well. Meanwhile Remus is able to hunt and bring food, thereby strengthening his position in the tribe. Remus tells Romulus about his vision to create a shelter by the side of the Tiber river, so they are not ravaged by nature at night.The group face and defeat a warrior clan and Remus is appointed king by the surviving old men and women of their Pagus. During a sacrifice, Satnei predicts that one of the two brothers will become a great king and build an empire larger than what can be imagined, but to do so he will have to kill the other brother. The tribe assume that the prophecy means that Romulus will end up dead for the sake of his brother's greatness.Remus refuses to accept a divine order that requires him to kill his brother. He extinguishes the sacred fire of Vesta, kills an old priest and leaves Satnei helpless in the middle of a forest. Returning to the Pagus, Remus degrades all the inhabitants into slaves. Romulus regains his health and confronts Remus about his actions. Remus starts displaying his ruthless streak by burning the entire village, until challenged by ROmulus for his actions. Remus, regretful, goes to find Satnei, who while dying from having been attacked by wild animals tells him that sparing Romulus now means that it is Remus who will end up dead at the hands of Romulus.Romulus is able to rekindle the sacred fire and becomes the new leader of the Pagus. He appoints a young woman to watch over the fire so it remains lit, thereby establishing the first Vestal. Remus, trying to escape the prophecy, heads for the Tiber with a group of men, but is attacked by Alban cavalry and only saved by the tribe of Romulus. Remus then claims the tribe for himself, and threatening to extinguish the sacred flame is confronted by his brother. Remus induces his brother to kill him so that the prophecy can be fulfilled. On his deathbed he makes peace with his brother, recognizes him as his king, and tells him to establish a city on the other side of the river.The tribe cross the Tiber and burn Remus' body on a pyre. Romulus swears to build the world's largest and most powerful city on his brother's ashes. He gives the city the name of Rome. During the end credits, an animated map shows the expansion of the territory subject to Rome up to its peak under the emperor Trajan in 117 AD.