Biography.guide
Home › People › Writer › Celer
Portrait of Celer

Celer

Legendary ancient builder associated with fortification of Rome

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Celer

Celer was a Roman writer.

According to Ovid's description of the founding of Rome by Romulus (Fasti IV.809 ff.), Celer was the name of an otherwise unknown foreman, appointed by Romulus to oversee the building of Rome's first walls. Ovid, perhaps in part to exonerate the emperor Augustus' great forefather, relates how it was actually this foreman Celer (not Romulus) who struck down Remus for jumping over the wall in its early stages in an act of mockery towards his brother's attempt to fortify the new city. Romulus is portrayed by the poet as putting on a brave front at Remus' funeral, stoically suppressing his tears and grief in order to be a role model for his people. Ovid relates the account in connection with his description of the Roman festival of Parilia (April 21). Ovid also provides additional allusions to Celer's killing of Remus further on in the Fasti, in connection with the festival of Lemuria (Fasti V - May 9).

This may also be the same "Celer" who Valerius Antias claims served as the first head of the Celeres bodyguard during Romulus' reign as king, which would have likely provided the group its name, though Ovid does not mention this.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Occupation
Nationality

Frequently asked questions

Who was Celer?

legendary ancient builder associated with fortification of Rome

What was Celer's occupation?

Celer was a writer.

What nationality was Celer?

Celer was Roman.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Celer

· Wikidata: Q5057808

· DBpedia: Celer (builder)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Celer. https://biography.guide/celer/

MLA: "Celer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/celer/.

Chicago: "Celer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/celer/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:06 UTC