Who were the Sabine women?
From Wikipedia: “Legend says that Romans abducted Sabine women to populate the newly built Rome, the first recorded example of bride kidnapping. The resultant conflict ended [years later] only by the women throwing themselves and their children between the armies of their fathers and their husbands.” You may have heard of paintings or sculptures called “The Rape of the Sabine Women.” The story has inspired artists including Rubens, David, and Picasso. The film “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” was also (indirectly) taken from this event. What you, as a teaching parent, need to know is that the meaning of the word “rape” has changed since it was first used. In this context, it means a kidnapping or taking away, in the same sense as Christians use the word “rapture”; although it described men stealing women to be their wives, it did not specifically refer to sexual assault. You can get through the entire Boys’ and Girls’ version of Romulus (the recommended version for this term, which yo
