A Sabine, he was born on the same day as Romulus founded the city of Rome in 753 BC. Numa, one of four siblings, was of a humble and virtuous nature. He was intellectually curious and, in contrast to Romulus, inclined toward peace rather than violence.
Numa was married to Tatia, the daughter of the coregent of Rome, the Sabine Tatius. Although connected to a prestigious family by marriage, he preferred a quiet life away from the city and its politics. His wife died in the 13th year of their marriage. Numa is said not to have taken another wife. Instead he spent his time communing with Egeria, a goddess with attributes similar to those of Artemis. It was with her that Numa developed his ideas about the centrality of religion and religious ritual in the life of a city state.