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The Cave of Romulus and Remus: Lupercale discovered

Lazarus_Long — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:47:36 GMT

This is so cool if confirmed. It will be exciting to also what hi tech archeology at work and observe how many remote exploration methods are used. Has anyone noticed a real upsurge of late with significant finds of antiquities?

Some is the result of years of effort finally yielding fruition but I wonder how much is also do to new approaches like the use of Google Earth to study sites remotely by more interested parties?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071120/sc_nm/italy_archaeology_cave_dc_4

Romulus and Remus cave may have been found: experts

By Silvia Aloisi Tue Nov 20, 12:19 PM ET

ROME (Reuters) - Italian archaeologists believe they have found the cave where, according to legend, a she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of Rome.

An underground cavity decorated with seashells, colored marble mosaics and pumice stones was discovered near the ruins of the palace of Emperor Augustus on the Palatine hill.

Experts say they are "reasonably certain" it is the long-lost place of worship sacred to ancient Romans and known as Lupercale, from the Latin word for wolf.

"This could reasonably be the place bearing witness to the myth of Rome, one of the most well-known in the world, the legendary cave where the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus," Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli told a news conference on Tuesday.

The cave was found 16 meters (52 feet) underground in a previously unexplored area during restoration work on the palace of Augustus, the first Roman emperor.

Archaeologists investigating Renaissance descriptions of the sanctuary used a camera probe and the images suggest the vault, which has a white eagle at the centre, is well-preserved.

"You can imagine our amazement, we almost screamed," said Giorgio Croci, head of the archaeological team working on the restoration of the Palatine hill overlooking the Roman forum.

According to the myth, Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of the god Mars, were abandoned in a cradle by the banks of the river Tiber where a wolf found them and fed them with her milk.

The brothers are said to have founded Rome at the site on April 21, 753 B.C. and ended up fighting over who should be in charge. Romulus killed Remus and became the first king of Rome.

SACRED SITE

Archaeologists said the location of the cave reinforced their belief that it was the Lupercale.

"It is clear that Augustus... wanted his residence to be built in a place which was sacred for the city of Rome," said Croci. The emperor restored the sanctuary and probably connected it to his own palace, he said.

Finding out more about the cave without damaging it or the foundations of the surrounding ruins will not be easy. More than two-thirds of the cavity, which is about 8 meters high and 7 meters wide, is filled with debris and earth after part of it collapsed, and it is not clear where the entrance is.

"We have to investigate with extreme caution... This is a precious thing which is certainly more than 2,000 years old," said Croci.

Andrea Carandini, an archaeologist specializing in ancient Rome, said he was stunned by the find and called it "one of the most significant discoveries ever made."

The pagan cult of the Lupercale, which involved men whipping women around the Palatine in a fertility rite, continued until the fifth century, when Pope Gelasius I banned it.

Long accused of neglecting its ancient treasures, the Italian government is spending 12 million euros ($17.7 million) to restore the Palatine ruins. After being closed for decades due to the risk of collapse, Augustus's palace will reopen to the public in February 2008.

(Reporting by Silvia Aloisi; Editing by Michael Winfrey)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071120/ap_on_re_eu/birth_of_rome_1;_ylt=Aj21V.pBW53dSajJi5EACIQiANEA

posted in Roman History - 0 replies

Opinions of Cicero

CV — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:55:12 GMT

Hi all,

I studied ancient history in college, and my girlfriend (a nurse) has taken up the interest. Right now, we're reading Anthony Everitt's biography of Cicero.

It seems like most people either lionize him or think he's a vacillating windbag. Everitt's subtitle is "Rome's Greatest Politician", so it's pretty clear that Everitt admires him, but I remember well how we all rolled our eyes in Latin, when we translated something of his that seemed ridiculously boastful. His portrayal in HBO's Rome seemed pretty balanced.

We'd like to know -- what are your thoughts?

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History of Rome

Achbar — Tue, 08 May 2007 10:17:03 GMT

My love of Roman history
began at an early age. Maybe it was the movies I enjoyed as a child. The Series " Rome" on HBO was not too bad.

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A Dream of Eagles

Sat, 27 Mar 2004 06:39:13 GMT

Has anyone read the series? It's written by Jack Whyte and is classified as historical fiction. It's what really peaked my interest in Roman history even though sometimes it does get a little tedious. Well... that and The Life of Brian. "What did the Romans ever do for us?" and all that, lol.

posted in Roman History - 2 replies

Great Civilization or Great Destroyer of Cultures?

SprocketRun — Wed, 14 Jan 2004 00:07:53 GMT

Having grown up overseas, I have many memories of the fantastic achievements yet visible of Roman architecture and have a fair basic knowledge of some of their social structure & history. In reseaching some basics of their conquest on Gaul and Britain, I have started to form a much different picture.

It's fascinating to dwell upon the similarities between ancient Rome and the United States in both symbolism and actions. For certain, many key differences exist.
I have found a real kinship with those of Native American origins and my own forefathers of Friesland. The horrors inflicted upon the American Indian over the past 500 years by europeans mirror what was done to the Northern Europeans by the Romans and their political heirs under the guise of theology.
Any culture that slaughters women and children with "advanced" military precision needs to look deep in the mirror and reconcile it's collective conscience before delaring itself great. (yeah, yeah .. the victors get to write the history, etc.)

Just here to cause trouble with a dignified smirk of respect to all.

posted in Roman History - 4 replies