Great discovery in the palatine hill

**The Celt** · 11-20-2007, 23:02

Wow amazing find! I'm sure that whole "founding" myth is a full bag of chips and this cave has about the same chance to be R. & R.'s Daycare but hey! So is believing some guy who got the "Persian Treatment" came back to life three days later and was the son of a God.....(Sorry, I'm an old testament fan.)

Anyway I hope they manage to save the cave from collapsing because that mosaic roof is beautiful and it would be a crime to art if they let it all come down.

Also, I wonder what period those mosaics were done? Judging by the detailed iconoclastic patterns, and the "eastern" imaging, I'd take a guess at the Imperial era some time in the 4th century. However as I'm no expert and it could be from way back I'd love to see Zak or somebody else with experience to take a look.

EDIT: Nevermind, they say it's part of Octavianus' Augustus palace so I think he had it built. ;) Serves me right for not reading it through.

**CaesarAugustus** · 11-20-2007, 23:07

Amazing discovery. Even more amazing that they are making new discoveries at the very heart of Rome itself, even after all these years.

**Pharnakes** · 11-20-2007, 23:41

The thing is, most of it is buried, in well, Rome, you know.

**beatoangelico** · 11-21-2007, 01:48

some other images

http://www.corriere.it/cronache/07_n...upercale.shtml

(italian site, just click on 1 picture and the gallery pops up)

a short video and another gallery
http://tv.repubblica.it/home_page.ph...&cont_id=14595
http://www.repubblica.it/2006/08/gal...-e-remo/1.html

**I of the Storm** · 11-21-2007, 11:23

As long as they keep working on that Metro line (I think it's line C), there will be discoveries on a daily basis. They're literally digging through ancient Rome.

**Sakkura** · 11-21-2007, 12:46

Originally Posted by The Celt

EDIT: Nevermind, they say it's part of Octavianus' Augustus palace so I think he had it built. ;) Serves me right for not reading it through.

Nah, they just say it is close to his palace, and that he had his palace built in an area considered sacred (perhaps primarily because of this cave).

**Zaknafien** · 11-21-2007, 15:38

i wonder if this potentially could have been the location of the Casa Romuli? the Lupercalia's traditional starting point was at the Casa Romuli, if I recall correctly.

**Sakkura** · 11-21-2007, 15:45

Originally Posted by Zaknafien

i wonder if this potentially could have been the location of the Casa Romuli? the Lupercalia's traditional starting point was at the Casa Romuli, if I recall correctly.

Well, I checked wikipedia (for what it's worth). It says it was centered around the lupercal cave, which was rebuilt by Augustus. So that could definitely be a good candidate for what this cave could be.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupercalia

**Zaknafien** · 11-21-2007, 15:47

Yep, and I think the original Casa Romuli, which was restored every year up until around Augustus' time, may have been paved over and this 'shrine' could have been built in its place by the Princeps.

**Sakkura** · 11-21-2007, 15:52

Originally Posted by Zaknafien

Yep, and I think the original Casa Romuli, which was restored every year up until around Augustus' time, may have been paved over and this 'shrine' could have been built in its place by the Princeps.

Oh. That kind of sucks

**antisocialmunky** · 11-21-2007, 20:14

Though hardly rare -> Saddam Hussein bulldozing the ruins of the Hanging Gardens to rebuild it.

**Labrat** · 11-21-2007, 21:52

Originally Posted by Zaknafien

Yep, and I think the original Casa Romuli, which was restored every year up until around Augustus' time, may have been paved over and this 'shrine' could have been built in its place by the Princeps.

Wouldn't the destruction of such an important artifact have caused an uproar amongst the conservative Romans? Especially if it was done by Augustus, who was not exactly popular in his early years if my memory serves me correctly?

**Zaknafien** · 11-21-2007, 22:00

well the Romans werent idiots--the people knew it wasnt the 'original' casa romuli, it was simply rebuilt ever season of thatch and reeds/mud or whatnot as a place to venerate Romulus. Augustus apparently built it into an actual shrine or memorial, renovating the place it seems. Not to mention he had a scary army and other henchmen..