Translated by Aubrey Stewart and George Long
http://history-world.org/plut1.pdf
"On this day the Romans keep a festival which they call the birthday of the city. At this feast, originally, we are told, they sacrificed nothing that has life, but thought it right to keep the anniversary of the birth of the city pure and unpolluted by blood." (page 38, Chapter XII)
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Rama, Sita, & Lakshman right to left |
"The soul, being eternal, after death is like a caged bird that has been released. If it has been a long time in the body, and has become tame by many affairs and long habit, the soul will immediately take another body and once again become involved in the troubles of the world (i.e. Vedic samsara). The worst thing about old age is that the soul's memory of the other world grows dim, while at the same time its attachment to things of this world becomes so strong that the soul tends to retain the form that it had in the body. But that soul which remains only a short time within a body, until liberated by the higher powers, quickly recovers its fire and goes on to higher things." Plutarch (The Consolation, Moralia)
Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch
Plutarch cites Lucius Taroutius Firmanus, a Roman astrologer, in reference to the founding date of April 21st:
“Rome was founded by him on the ninth day of the month Pharmouthi, between the second and third hour; for it is supposed that the fortunes of cities, as well as those of men, have their certain periods which can be discovered by the position of the stars at their nativities.” (pg. 39, Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1, Chapter XII)
Much like the astrological/astronomical fixing of holy dates in the Hindu lunar calendar, ancient Europeans and Middle Eastern cultures (i.e. Egypt) used similar principles when describing and setting specific historical dates. They meticulously noted down the exact position of stars and other astronomical bodies in the sky, at least during special circumstances. One such time was the founding day of Roma, the eternal city whose fortunes were prefixed by the astrological arrangement on Rama's birthday. Pharmuthi in the Egyptian calendar corresponds to March-April in the Julian calendar and more importantly, Chaitra in the Vedic lunar calendar. It is common knowledge that according to tradition, Hindus celebrate the birth of Rama on the ninth day of Chaitra, the first month in their lunar calendar. Since scholars recognize that the oldest Egyptian calendar must have been lunar as well, one can clearly see these congruent dates in Pharmuthi and Chaitra are no mere coincidence.
Also telling is that the Romans and Greeks (Tarutius & Plutarch) used an Egyptian calendar month name for such an important date as opposed to their own names for that month. This points to the possibility that Rama’s birth was celebrated by the Egyptians and Rome/Greece were heavily influenced by such Near Eastern cultures (e.g. Judea) in both religious and astronomical matters. The second and third hour refer to Jewish time divisions where the first hour begins with dawn or sunrise (circa 6-7 am). This information tells us that Rome was officially founded early that morning and the ceremonial stone was laid shortly after daylight appeared. Today we inaugurate buildings, monuments, festivals, etc. in much the same way. Rama Navami, an international festival for at least a few decades now, must have been celebrated by the Etruscans in ancient times and passed on to the Latins, who decided to found their city on this sacred day.
Indians worship the Sun God at the beginning of this day, as King Rama appeared in the Solar Dynasty (Surya-vansha), meaning he claims direct descent within the Sun God’s lineage. Hindu devotees customarily fast on this day, much like the Romans abstained from eating flesh. Legend has it that Lord Rama took birth at midday, and Hindus perform special prayers and make offerings into a ceremonial fire (homa) in the evening. Whether the Romans conducted more elaborate rituals similar to this, remains to be uncovered but is unknown. Given that Italy is about 3-4 hours behind India in the time zones, if Rome was founded in the morning, then it must have been around noon time (12 p.m.) in India, thereby coinciding with Rama’s time of birth. The Sanskrit word Para-Murthi, meaning Supreme Idol, may be the origin of the Egyptian Pharmuthi.
The evidence cited above by itself should be taken as conclusive proof of the Rome-Rama historical connection. However, there are a multitude of documented facts, paintings, artifacts, legends etc. that point to the same conclusion, especially when we examine the Etruscans, whose culture and history were nearly erased by the Romans. Any unbiased, educated person can see the mythical story of Romulus and Remus is a cover-up by latter day Roman and Greek historians, but as there is no perfect crime, we will always find bread crumbs that lead us to the real story.
Plutarch himself essentially confirms this truth:
Romulus "consecrated his city, having fetched men from Etruria, who taught him how to perform it according to sacred rites and ceremonies, as though they were celebrating holy mysteries." (pg. 38, Plutarch's Lives, Volume 1, Chapter XI)
P.S. The picture I posted with this article is a photograph I took of a mural at the Museo Civico Archeologico in Bologna, Italy. Obviously any Indian will know there is only one interpretation of what this painting depicts - Rama (bow & arrow), Sita (holding Tulsi), and Lakshman (spear) walking in single file, dressed in European style clothing. Bologna is part of modern day Tuscany (Etruria).
