Famous Men of Rome · Ch. II · Unit 1: The kings of Rome

3. Numa Pompilius

Goal: Your child can say how Numa, the second king, made Rome peaceful, and can name several Roman gods and what each one ruled.

⏱ About 25 minutes · 7 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this chapter
  • Paper and colored pencils
  • Your timeline strip (see the tips at the top)

What's in the book

Chapter II: the Senate chooses Numa, a wise Sabine, as king. He gives small farms to the poor, makes good laws, keeps peace with every neighbor, marries the mysterious Egeria, and leads the Romans in worship. The chapter describes the Roman gods: Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Pluto, Mars, Mercury, Vulcan, Apollo, Diana, Janus and others.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Set the scene

    SayRomulus was a warrior king. The next king was very different. Listen for how.

  2. Read the chapter

    Read Chapter II aloud together. It begins:

    For a year after the disappearance of Romulus there was no king of Rome.

    Note for you: the book says the augurs laughed at the people they fooled. That is the authors' own opinion. Most Romans trusted the augurs.

  3. Tell it back

    Prompts:

    - How was Numa chosen?

    - What did Numa give to every poor Roman?

    - How long did Rome go without wars under Numa?

    - Who was Egeria?

  4. Meet the gods

    Make a quick chart with your child: the god's name and what the book says he or she ruled. Jupiter (sky and earth), Juno (his wife), Neptune (the sea), Pluto (the land of the dead), Mars (war), Mercury (messenger), Vulcan (metalwork), Apollo (day and the sun), Diana (the moon and hunting), Janus (beginnings, gates and doors).

    SaySome of our planets are named after these gods. Can you think of any? (Jupiter, Neptune, Mars, Mercury.)

  5. Talk it over

    Read this:

    The door of this temple was always open in time of war, as a sign that the god had gone out to help the Romans. In time of peace the door was shut.

    Ask: Was the door of the temple of Janus open or shut while Numa was king? Why?

  6. Remember it

    SayJanuary is named after Janus, the god of beginnings. He had two faces, one looking back at the old year and one looking forward to the new.

  7. Extra (optional)

    Draw Janus with two faces, or draw a god with the things the book says he carried (Mercury with wings on his head and feet and a golden staff with serpents).

Afterwards

Ask your child to name three Roman gods and what each ruled, then to tell why January has its name.

Tip

The Romans' gods are a big part of later stories (the geese of Juno, the temple of Jupiter). The chart is worth keeping.

Answers to the book's problems

The door was shut, because Rome had no wars while Numa was king.

Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.

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