The founding of Rome is very much embroiled in myth. Ancient Romans explained the earliest histories of their cities in terms of legend and myth. The most familiar of these myths, and perhaps the most famous of all Roman myths, is the story of Romulus and Remus, the twins who were suckled by a she-wolf.
Traces found by archaeologists of early settlements of the Palatine Hill date back to around 750 B.C. This typically leads to the Etruscans, who settled along the Tiber and in what is today the Italian regions Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria.
This archaeological date ties back to the established legend that Rome was founded on 21 April 753 B.C., which is traditionally celebrated in Rome with the festival of the Parilia.
The founding legends exists
- Romulus and Remus founded Rome
- Aeneas founded Rome.
Instead of being contradictory, the tale of Aeneas fleeing a burning Troy adds to that of Romulus and Remus.
Romulus and Remus
The Capitoline Wolf, Lupa Capitolina in Italian, is the bronze sculpture of a she-wolf suckling twin infants, inspired by the legend of Romulus and Remus founding of Rome. It is located in the Capitoline Museums in Rome.
According to the legend, when Numitor, grandfather of the twins Romulus and Remus, was overthrown by his brother Amulius, the usurper ordered the twins to be cast into the Tiber River. They were rescued by a she-wolf who cared for them until a herdsman, Faustulus, found and raised them. The Capitoline Wolf has been housed since 1471 in the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the Campidoglio (the ancient Capitoline Hill), Rome, Italy. For more about Rome sightseeing click here.
