In Book Two, Dionysius recounts the reigns of the first two Roman kings - Romulus and Numa Pompilius, taking great care to praise Rome and her institutions along the way.
1 - 2 - Recap of Roman origins lined out in Book 1
3 - 4 - Establishment of the city and monarchy at the approval of the people
5 - 6 - Taking of the auspices for establishing the city
7 - 16 - Romulus establishes the government (cf. Livy 1.8, Plutarch Romulus 13, 22)
7 - 14 - Civil organization
7 - the curiae
8 - plebians and patricians
9 - civil magistrates
10 - 11- clientela system
12 - senators
13 - celeres
14 - honors and powers doled out to the king, the senate, and the people
15 - 16 - Issue of progeny and population increase
15 - Rules for infant preservation and the famous asylum (cf. Livy 1.8, Plutarch Romulus 14)
16 - Treatment for prisoners of war
17 - 29 - Dionysius admires Romulus' institutions and praises Roman religious practices above Greek ones
17 - Rome is #1
18 - Romulus is an amazing statesman
19 - 21 - Comparison of Greek and (superior) Roman myths and religious practices
22 - 29 - Romulus' foundational state and religious institutions
22 - Roman borrowings of Greek priesthood practices
23 - 25 - Marriage, confarreatio marriage, and adultery
26 -27 - children and parental regulations
28 - Romulus promotes virtuous citizenry through agriculture and warfare
29 - Trials and punishments
30 - 31 - The most positive version of the rape of the Sabine women I've ever read. (cf. Livy 1.9, Plutarch Romulus 14 - 15)
32 - 36 - War with Caenina, Antemnae, and Crustumerium (cf. Livy 1.10-11, Plutarch Romulus 16 - 17)
34 - First triumph
35 - The people of Caenina and Antemnae (who are of Greek origin of course!) are incorporated into Rome
36 - Crustumerium becomes a Roman colony too
37 - 47 - Romans and Sabines go to war (cf. Livy 1.12-13, Plutarch Romulus 17-19)
38 - 40 - Accounts of Tarpeia
41 - 42 - Mettius Curtius' battle achievements
43 - Romulus is injured and the Romans retreat
44 - 46 - The Sabine women save the day!
47 - The people are united and the women are honored
48 - 49 - History of the Sabine city, Cures, (from which Titus Tatius and his people came)
50 - Romulus and Titus Tatius expand the city
51 - 52 - Titus Tatius dies (cf. Livy 1.14, Plutarch Romulus 23)
53 - 55 - More wars with surrounding towns (Fidenae, Camerini, Veii)
56 - Death of Romulus (cf. Livy 1.16, Plutarch Romulus 27-28) (c. 716 BC)
57 - 58 - The Interregnum and election of Numa (c. 716 BC) (cf. Livy 1.17, Plutarch Numa 3)
59 - Dionysius refutes the relationship between Numa and Pythagoras (cf. Livy 1.18, Plutarch Numa 1, 8
60 - Numa becomes king (c. 715 BC) (cf. Livy 1.18, Plutarch Numa 5-7)
61 - Differing opinions on Egeria (cf. Livy 1.19, Plutarch Numa 4)
62 - 75 - Numa improves on the state (cf. Livy 1.19-21)
62 - State of disarray upon his ascension
63 - Deification of Romulus/Quirinus
64 - 73 - Establishment of priesthoods (cf. Plutarch Numa 9-14)
64 - Curiones, Flamines, Celeres, and Augers
64 - 69 - Founding of the order of the Vestal Virgins
68 - 69 - Stories of various notable Vestals
70 - 71 - Establishment of the Salii
72 - Establishment of the Fetiales
73 - Establishment of the Pontifices
74 - Interpersonal and property laws (cf. Plutarch Numa 17)
75 - Contract laws
76 - The state thrives under his kingship, the death and burial of Numa (c. 673 BC) (cf. Livy 1.21, Plutarch Numa 22)
Header: The Intervention of the Sabine Women, by Jacques-Louis David, 1799