The Roman Myth of Origin The origins of the Roman Empire help explain the nature of what it was to be Roman, and the ideals behind their expansion. The epic heritage and foundation of Rome helped form an empire that was inclusive of all peoples under one name, regardless of their heritage. In Livy’s first book of The History of Rome, he tells the story of how the legendary demigod Aeneas escaped from the doomed city of Troy, and came to settle with his people in Laurentum. The merging of these Trojan exiles and native peoples became known as Latins, and Aeneas became their king (Liv. 1. 1). This idealized mutual fusing of cultures, while probably not fully accurate, is a key part of the story that helped lead to the equally important ideal