When Romulus dies, the city of Rome is riven by ethnic conflict between Romans and Sabines, and class conflict between senators and plebeians. The city cannot agree on its next king; an interregnum ensues. The stalemate is eventually resolved in favor of Numa Pompilius, who is crowned king of Rome in a mysterious, mystical ceremony which almost seems like a human sacrifice. This is the fourth episode of "No Republic Was Ever Greater," a podcast series examining the rise of the Roman Empire through the work of Livy and Machiavelli. 

Livy's Ab Urbe Condita: https://amzn.to/3gYwtbh

Machiavelli's Discourses on Livy: https://amzn.to/3NtNBSj

René Girard's Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World: https://bookshop.org/a/25626/9780804722155

Plato's Republic: https://amzn.to/3H2XOU1

New Humanists is brought to you by the Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/

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Music: Save Us Now by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com