Rome founders' sanctuary discovered

[Marulus]

Rome founders' sanctuary discovered

Peter Walker and agencies

Tuesday November 20, 2007

Guardian Unlimited



'She-Wolf' bronze sculpture of Romulus and Remus. Photograph: Ron Chapple Stock/Corbis

Italian archaeologists said today they believe they have found one of the ancient city's holiest sites, the cave venerated as the place where, according to myth, a female wolf nursed the city's founders, twin brothers Romulus and Remus.

Decorated with seashells and marble, the vaulted space lies buried 16 metres inside the Palatine hill, the centre of power in imperial Rome. Archaeologists said they were convinced the site was the long lost site of worship known as Lupercale, a name taken from lupa, the Latin for a female wolf.

Ancient Romans believed the site was where the wolf suckled Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of the god of war, Mars, who according to the city's founding legend were abandoned in a basket and left adrift on the river Tiber.

Over the past two years experts have been investigating the space using endoscopes and laser scanners, fearing that the fragile space, already partially caved-in, would not survive a full-scale dig, said an engineer who worked on the site.

Texts from the period say the site was near the palace of Rome's first emperor, Augustus, who was said to have restored it, and was decorated with a white eagle, the symbol of the Roman empire.

Such an insignia was found on top of the sanctuary's vault, which lies just below the ruins of the palace built by Augustus, who ruled from the late 1st century BC to his death in the year 14, said Irene Iacopi, another archaeologist.

"The Lupercale must have had an important role in Augustus' policies," she told reporters. "He saw himself as a new Romulus."

Andrea Carandini, a professor of archaeology at Rome's La Sapienza University said the grotto is almost certainly the Lupercale.

"The chances that it's not are minimal," Carandini said. "It's one of the greatest discoveries ever made."

Most of the sanctuary is filled with earth, but laser scans allowed experts to estimate that the circular structure has a height of 8 metres and a diameter of 7.5 metres.

Archaeologists were divided on how to gain fuller access to the site. Iacopi said a new dig would start soon to find the grotto's original entrance at the bottom of the hill.
Carandini, however, suggested enlarging the hole at the top through which probes have been lowered so far, saying that burrowing at the base of the hill could disturb the foundations of other ruins.

[source]

[Menydh]

More information about the origins of Rome and of Romans should prove very enlightening. Before becoming an independent structure of power, Latium was under the direct influence of Tarquinia and the Etruscan Civilization. It is only fair to assume that what we know as Roman Civilization borrowed heavily from Etruria.

[Marulus]

It is only fair to assume that what we know as Roman Civilization borrowed heavily from Etruria.

It has been a well known and accepted assumption for a long time.

[Errigal]

When I read the headline I thought "Oh, another archeologist who's good at self-promotion", but this sound genuine. Interesting. I hope they find documents too.

[Kernunnos]

Originally Posted by Plethon

[source]

Lupa meant she wolf but was also a widespread substitute for prostitute.

From that you have lupanar, brothel.

[Truth-Finder]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

More information about the origins of Rome and of Romans should prove very enlightening. Before becoming an independent structure of power, Latium was under the direct influence of Tarquinia and the Etruscan Civilization. It is only fair to assume that what we know as Roman Civilization borrowed heavily from Etruria.

It is ttrue in spite of all the attemps of Karl Earlson's followers (who co-wite the white story site) to deny it.
what is almost agreed by unanimity is that the roman roads and all their knowledges on hydralic engineering were borrowed from the Etruscan civilization

Etruscan Engineering and Agricultural Achievements

[Marulus]

Originally Posted by Breha

Lupa meant she wolf but was also a widespread substitute for prostitute.

From that you have lupanar, brothel.

Lupanar, ie. brothel, is one thing.

Lupercalia is something different. It survived until the fifth century. The Catholic feast of the Candlemas was allegedly introduced to counter this heathen festivity.

[Ikutiera]

YouTube - Italy Romulus caves unearthed