Archaeologica.org

The New York Times (by John Noble Wilford) ran a story on June 12 about Romulus and Remus. Those are the orphan twins who, in legend, were suckled by a she-wolf in a cave on the banks of the Tiber. Romulus grew up to found Rome in 753 B. C.

Historians have long since dismissed the story as a charming legend.Yet the legend has been invigorated by recent archaeological finds.

ROME: Archaeologists said Thursday they have partially dug up a 2nd-century bath complex believed to be part of the vast, luxurious residence of a wealthy Roman.

The two-story complex, which extends for at least 5 acres (2 hectares), includes exceptionally well-preserved decorated hot rooms, vaults, changing rooms, marble latrines and an underground room where slaves lit the fire to warm the baths.

Archaeologists have uncovered a tycoon's mansion outside central Rome with its very own bath complex -- the ancient Roman equivalent of owning a fleet of Ferraris or a private jet as a way of showing off wealth.

"This is a very impressive, very well preserved bath complex that belonged to a certain Quintus Servilius Pudens who was a billionaire friend of Emperor Hadrian," said Darius Arya, an American archaeologist who is leading the dig.

Archaeologists excavating an ancient tannery believed to be the largest ever found in Rome said Tuesday they might need to move the entire work site, which is being threatened by railroad construction. The 1,255-square-yard complex includes a tannery dating to the second or third century, as well as burial sites and part of a Roman road.

Minimalist wrote:Archaeologists find major industrial site in Rome.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200707 ... RB980.html

Archaeologists excavating an ancient tannery believed to be the largest ever found in Rome said Tuesday they might need to move the entire work site, which is being threatened by railroad construction. The 1,255-square-yard complex includes a tannery dating to the second or third century, as well as burial sites and part of a Roman road.

ROME (Reuters) - Archaeologists have discovered a more than 2,000-year-old Etruscan tomb perfectly preserved in the hills of Tuscany with a treasure trove of artefacts inside, including urns that hold the remains of about 30 people.

ROME - Archaeologists on Tuesday unveiled an underground grotto believed to have been revered by ancient Romans as the place where a wolf nursed the city's legendary founder Romulus and his twin brother Remus.

ROME (Reuters) - A leading Italian archaeologist said Friday that the grotto whose discovery was announced this week in Rome is not the sacred cave linked to the myth of the city's foundation by Romulus and Remus.

The Culture Ministry and experts who presented the find said they were "reasonably certain" the cavern is the Lupercale -- a sanctuary worshipped for centuries by Romans because, according to legend, a wolf nursed the twin brothers there.

was a room in Nero's first palace on the Palatine Hill, which burnt down in 64 AD in the great fire of Rome.

Mr Carandini believes that Romulus actually existed, even if the details of his survival - washed up on the banks of the River Tiber along with his twin brother where they were discovered, suckled and saved by a female wolf - may be untrue.


"The legend of Rome contains complete fictions," he said. "I don't believe for a moment that Romulus was suckled by a she-wolf, it was a myth he created that corresponds to the typical myth of the rescued hero.


We know Augustus was crazy about Romulus - he wanted to be the new Romulus

Professor Andrea Carandini

"But the Lupercal exists, the wall of the Palatine exist, the centre of political life that is the forum, founded by Romulus - all these are true."

One element of the Romulus and Remus story, which has Remus defying his brother by leaping over the settlement's boundary walls - an act which cost him his life - has became the defining characteristic of the Roman town.

"In all myths there is a purpose and a rationale, even though the particular story may not be true," said archaeologist Miranda Aldhouse-Green, of Cardiff University.

The tradition goes on to say that after the floating cradle in which the boys had been exposed had been left by the retreating water on dry land, a thirsty she-wolf from the surrounding hills, attracted by the crying of the children, came to them, gave them her teats to suck and was so gentle towards them that the king's flock-master found her licking the boys with her tongue. According to the story, his name was Faustulus. He took the children to his hut and gave them to his wife Larentia to bring up. Some writers think that Larentia, from her unchaste life, had got the nickname of "She-wolf" amongst the shepherds, and that this was the origin of the marvellous story.