THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020
www.italoamericano.org
20
L'Italo-Americano
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Teaching Italian language and culture since 1932
zing discovery in the Roman
F o r u m , a n u n d e r g r o u n d
chamber containing a 6th
c e n t u r y B C s a r c o p h a g u s
experts immediately connec-
ted to the cult of Romulus.
While many began saying
we had finally found t h e
tomb of the legendary
founder of Rome, specia-
lists were quick to declare
that wasn't quite the case:
"This isn't Romulus' tomb —
s a y s A l f o n s i n a R u s s o ,
d i r e c t o r o f t h e P a r c o
Archeologico del Colosseo —
but a place dedicated to him,
where his cult was celebra-
ted." Not quite the same, but
yet another proof Romulus
was an essential figure in
Rome for centuries.
T h r e e m i l l e n n i a , c o u l d
you believe it? How much
b e a u t y R o m e s a w , h o w
m a n y w a r s s h e e n d u r e d ,
how many smiles she caused
and tears her soil absorbed.
Yet, there she stands, grace-
ful and magnificent in her
solitude of today, ready to
g r a c e t h e w o r l d w i t h h e r
v o i c e f o r a n o t h e r 3 . 0 0 0
years.
t h a t a h u t b e l i e v e d t o b e
where Romulus lived as a
child was still worshipped
and cared for in Augustan
times. In fact, the city had a
f u n d a m e n t a l r o l e i n t h e
growth and continuation of
the cult of its foundation,
which was honored across
its squares and streets in
several locations: there was
t h e c a v e w h e r e t h e t w i n s
were fed by the she-wolf,
j u s t a t t h e f e e t o f t h e
Palatine or, just above it, the
m y t h i c a l a l t a r w h e r e
Romulus was supposed to
have celebrated the founda-
tion of his city, which survi-
v e d u n t i l t h e f a l l o f t h e
Empire. And the list could
c o n t i n u e . W e r e a l l t h e s e
locations historical? We can-
not know for certain, but
they bear witness to a long
lasting tradition, which is
well supported in the litera-
ture.
At the end of February,
just before the coronavirus
pandemic hit us, archeologi-
sts made yet another ama-
Continued from page 18
The capitoline she-wolf with Romulus and Remus: the statue is the very symbol of the city of Rome (Photo: Dream-
stime)
