| 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 | |
| Location | Palatine Hill in Rome |
| Coordinates | 41°53′17″N12°29′4″E / 41.88806°N 12.48444°E /41.88806; 12.48444 |
| Depth | 15m |
| Discovery | January 2007 |
TheLupercal (from Latinlupa "femalewolf") was acave at the southwest foot of thePalatine Hill inRome, located somewhere between the temple ofMagna Mater and theSant'Anastasia al Palatino.[1] In the legend of thefounding of Rome,Romulus and Remus were found there by theshe-wolf who suckled them until they were rescued by the shepherdFaustulus. Luperci, the priests ofFaunus, celebrated certain ceremonies of theLupercalia at the cave, from the earliest days of the City until at least 494 AD.
In January 2007, Italian archaeologistIrene Iacopi announced that she had probably found the legendary cave beneath the remains of EmperorAugustus's house, theDomusLivia, 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]
Its location below Augustus' residence was thought to be significant; Octavian, before he becameAugustus, had considered taking the nameRomulus to indicate that he intended to found Rome anew.[5][6]
Adriano La Regina (formerly Rome's archaeological superintendent 1976–2004, professor ofEtruscology atSapienza University of Rome),[7] ProfessorFausto 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 anymphaeum or undergroundtriclinium fromNeronian times. The current scholarly consensus is that the grotto is not the Lupercal and that the cave was located lower southwest, closer to piazzaSant'Anastasia al Palatino.[10][11]
Media related toLupercal at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by Largo di Torre Argentina | Landmarks of Rome Lupercal | Succeeded by Pantheon |
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Authority control databases: Geographic |
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