Lupercal
First-century Roman sculpture in relief depicting the Roman foundation myth. Romulus and Remus are shown being suckled by a she-wolf in the Lupercal (bottom left).
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
LocationPalatine Hill in Rome
Coordinates41°53′17″N 12°29′4″E / 41.88806°N 12.48444°E / 41.88806; 12.48444
Depth15m
DiscoveryJanuary 2007

The Lupercal (from Latin lupa "female wolf") was a cave at the southwest foot of the Palatine Hill in Rome, located somewhere between the temple of Magna Mater and the Sant'Anastasia al Palatino.[1] In the legend of the founding of Rome, Romulus and Remus were found there by the she-wolf who suckled them until they were rescued by the shepherd Faustulus. Luperci, the priests of Faunus, celebrated certain ceremonies of the Lupercalia at the cave, from the earliest days of the City until at least 494 AD.

Modern discovery

Lupa Capitolina ("The Capitoline Wolf"): the she-wolf is of unknown origin, the suckling twins were added c. 1500.

In January 2007, Italian archaeologist Irene Iacopi announced that she had probably found the legendary cave beneath the remains of Emperor Augustus's house, the Domus Livia, on the Palatine. Archaeologists came across the 15-meter-deep cavity while working to restore the decaying palace.[2][3]

On 20 November 2007, the first set of photos were released showing the vault of the grotto which is encrusted with colourful mosaics, pumice stones and seashells. The center of the ceiling features a depiction of a white eagle, the symbol of the Roman Empire. Archaeologists had not yet found the grotto's entrance, so they continued looking.[4]

The cave beneath the Domus Livia on the Palatine Hill. The photo was taken with a probe.

Its location below Augustus' residence was thought to be significant; Octavian, before he became Augustus, had considered taking the name Romulus to indicate that he intended to found Rome anew.[5][6]

Opposing opinions

Adriano La Regina (formerly Rome's archaeological superintendent 1976–2004, professor of Etruscology at Sapienza University of Rome),[7] Professor Fausto Zevi (professor of Roman Archaeology at Rome's La Sapienza University)[8] and Professor Henner von Hesberg (head of the German Archaeological Institute, Rome)[9] denied the identification of the grotto with Lupercal on topographic and stylistic grounds. They concluded that the grotto is actually a nymphaeum or underground triclinium from Neronian times. The current scholarly consensus is that the grotto is not the Lupercal and that the cave was located lower southwest, closer to piazza Sant'Anastasia al Palatino.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Vuković, Krešimir (2018). "The Topography of the Lupercalia". The Papers of the British School at Rome. 86: 37–60. doi:10.1017/S0068246217000381.
  2. ↑ Valsecchi, Maria Cristina (26 January 2007). "Sacred Cave of Rome's Founders Discovered, Archaeologists Say". National Geographic News. National Geographic. Archived from the original on 30 January 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  3. ↑ "Descubren la cueva donde Rómulo y Remo fueron amamantados por la loba" Archived 16 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Jaggard, Victoria (20 November 2007). "Photo in the News: Grotto of Rome's Founders Revealed". National Geographic News. National Geographic. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
  5. ↑ Kiefer, Peter (20 November 2007). "Cave May Hold Secrets to Legend of Ancient Rome". New York Times. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Suetonius, Vita Divi Augusti, I.7
  7. ↑ Aloisi, Silvia. "Expert doubts Lupercale 'find'" Archived 24 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Australian, 24 November 2007.
  8. ↑ "È uno splendido ninfeo, ma il Lupercale non era lì", la Repubblica, 23 November 2007.
  9. ↑ Schulz, Matthia. "Is Italy's Spectacular Find Authentic?" Spiegel Online, 29 November 2007.
  10. ↑ Coarelli, Filippo (2012). Palatium. Rome: Quasar. pp. 132–9.
  11. ↑ Vuković, Krešimir (10 November 2017). "The Topography of the Lupercalia". Papers of the British School at Rome. 86: 37–60. doi:10.1017/S0068246217000381.

Media related to Lupercal at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Largo di Torre Argentina		 Landmarks of Rome
Lupercal		 Succeeded by
Pantheon
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