Numa Pompilius was the legendary second king of Rome who is praised for his wisdom and religious devotion. Born April 21 in the early kingdom of Rome, circa 753–673 BC, Pompilius is known for impacting not only the religious practices in Rome, but also establishing the Roman calendar, creating political and religious offices, and forming laws that were ahead of their time. With a reign that lasted from 715–673 BC, he is celebrated as a patient-man who brought peace and order to Rome, and one of the few kings who did not deem it necessary to wage war to achieve greatness. Romans regard Numa Pompilius not as a warrior-king, unlike his predecessor, Romulus, but rather as a contemplative leader who espoused virtues of peace. According to the Roman tradition, he formed the religious practices that shaped the base of Roman religious practices for centuries. He established various priestly colleges and orders, assigned specific duties to the priests, and declared divine entities as protectors of the Roman mass. Pompilius consulted a nymph Egeria, who, according to the ancients, guided him to establish rites, laws, and rituals. His contributions to the expansion of the sanctity and jurisdiction of Rome would go on to impact the future generations heavily.
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