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NEWSCAN

Photo: AP

The symbol of the ancient Roman Empire: On the vault of an underground grotto.

Legend has it that Rome’s founder Romulus, and his twin Remus, were brought up by a female wolf in a cave. And now archaeologists say they may have found the cave, which ancient Romans revered as the site where the twins were raised. According to ancient texts, the grotto was known as Lupercale (lupa means she-wolf in Latin). The Roman Emperor Augustus, who used religious traditions to hold on to his power, had it restored and decorated with a white eagle. The sanctuary was also close to the Emperor Augustus’ palace. Andrea Carandini, a professor of archaeology at La Sapienza University, told AP that the grotto was almost certainly the “Lupercale”. Archaeologists are now working to find out the grotto’s original entrance.

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