Lupercal

Lupercal

The Lupercal ("lupa", Latin for she-wolf) is a cave at the foot of the Palatine Hill in Rome, between the Temple of Apollo Palatinus and the Basilica of Santa Anastasia. In the legend of Rome's foundation, Romulus and Remus were found there by the lactating female wolf who suckled them until they were found by Faustulus. The priests of Lupercus later celebrated certain ceremonies of the Lupercalia there; from the late years of the Republic till A.D. 494, when the practice was ended by Pope Gelasius I.

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. cite news
first = Maria Cristina
last = Valsecchi
url = http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070126-rome-palatine.html
title = Sacred Cave of Rome's Founders Discovered, Archaeologists Say
work = National Geographic News
publisher = National Geographic
date = January 26, 2007
accessdate = 2007-11-20]

On 20 November 2007 the first set of photos were released showing the vault of the cave 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 during the reign of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Archaeologists are still searching for the entrance of the grotto.cite news
first = Victoria
last = Jaggard
authorlink =
url = http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/11/071120-rome-grotto.html
title = Photo in the News: Grotto of Rome's Founders Revealed
work = National Geographic News
publisher = National Geographic
date = 20 November 2007
accessdate = 2007-11-21]

Its location below Augustus' residence is thought to be significant; Octavian, before he became Augustus, had considered taking the name Romulus to indicate that he intended to found Rome anew [The New York Times", 22 October, 2007.

* Opposite opinions (it's a "nymphaeum" or "triclinium" of the Neronian times): - Dr. Adriano La Regina (former Rome’s archaeological superintendent 1976-2004, professor of Etruscology at Rome’s La Sapienza University) [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22813219-12377,00.html]

- Prof. Fausto Zevi (professor of Roman Archaeology at Rome's La Sapienza University) [http://roma.repubblica.it/dettaglio/%C3%88-uno-splendido-ninfeo-ma-il-Lupercale-non-era-li/1392770]

- Prof. Henner von Hesberg (head of the German Archaeological Institute, Rome) [http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,520440,00.html] ] .

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • lupercal — ⇒LUPERCAL, ALE, AUX, adj. et subst. ANTIQ. ROMAINE I. Adj. Relatif aux lupercales. Jeux lupercaux (GUÉRIN 1892). ♦ Antre lupercal. Grotte où, selon la légende, Remus et Romulus auraient été allaités par la louve. Il [le guide] s arrêta devant une …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • LUPERCAL — locus sub Palatino, Ferrar. habet Aventino, monte Pani pastorum Deo consecratus, in quo sollennia quaedam sacra quotannis fiebant, mense Februatio, quibus Panos sacerdotes, qui Luperci dicebantur, in Fabios Quintilianos, Iulianosque tandem divisi …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • Lupercal — Lu*per cal, a. Of or pertaining to the Lupercalia. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lupercal — Lu*per cal, n. A grotto on the Palatine Hill sacred to Lupercus, the Lycean Pan. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lupercal — /lūˈ or looˈpər kal or kl/ noun The grotto, or the festival (15 February) of Lupercus, Roman god of fertility and flocks (also (pl) Lupercāˈlia) ORIGIN: Perh L lupus wolf, and arcēre to ward off • • • Lupercāˈlian adjective …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lupercal — Die Wölfin säugt Romulus und Remus Das Lupercal war eine Höhle am Hügel Palatin und eine der wichtigsten Kultstätten der antiken Stadt Rom. Laut dem Gründungsmythos Roms wurden dort die Zwillinge Romulus und Remus von einer Wölfin gesäugt, bevor… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lupercale — Die Wölfin säugt Romulus und Remus Das Lupercal war eine Höhle am Hügel Palatin und eine der wichtigsten Kultstätten der antiken Stadt Rom. Laut dem Gründungsmythos Roms wurden dort die Zwillinge Romulus und Remus von einer Wölfin gesäugt, bevor… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lupercalia — For the saint by the name Lupercus , see Marcellus of Tangier. Infobox Holiday holiday name = Lupercalia type = Pagan longtype = Pagan, Historical caption = observedby = Roman, Pre Roman Civilizations date = February 13 ndash; February 15… …   Wikipedia

  • Palatine Hill — This article covers a subject of Ancient Rome The Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome …   Wikipedia

  • LUPERCALES — Le 15 février à l’aube, à Rome, deux groupes de jeunes gens, appartenant respectivement aux gentes des Fabii et des Quinctii, se réunissaient au Lupercal, cette grotte au pied du Palatin, où la louve de la légende avait allaité les jumeaux… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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