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| Romulus and Remus cave may have been found: experts |
| 2007-11-21 |
| Italian archaeologists believe they have found the cave where, according to legend, a she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of Rome. An underground cavity decorated with seashells, colored marble mosaics and pumice stones was discovered near the ruins of the palace of Emperor Augustus on the Palatine hill. Experts say they are "reasonably certain" it is the long-lost place of worship sacred to ancient Romans and known as Lupercale, from the Latin word for wolf. "This could reasonably be the place bearing witness to the myth of Rome, one of the most well-known in the world, the legendary cave where the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus," Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli told a news conference on Tuesday. The cave was found 16 meters (52 feet) underground in a previously unexplored area during restoration work on the palace of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Archaeologists investigating Renaissance descriptions of the sanctuary used a camera probe and the images suggest the vault, which has a white eagle at the centre, is well-preserved. "You can imagine our amazement, we almost screamed," said Giorgio Croci, head of the archaeological team working on the restoration of the Palatine hill overlooking the Roman forum. According to the myth, Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of the god Mars, were abandoned in a cradle by the banks of the river Tiber where a wolf found them and fed them with her milk. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 Another issue was demographics among the senatorial class. Whether due to lead poisoning from the aquaducts and villa reservoirs or for other reasons, by the time of Julius Cesar it was already the case that many leading senators had few suitable offspring to succeed them. That's one reason for adoption of adults as heirs (another was political alliances). |
| Posted by: lotp 2007-11-21 18:36 |
| #7 swksvolFF, that's a very good analysis. Overtaxing to pay for the "Entitlements" and trying to micro-manage the economy were probably the two biggest things that brought down the Roman Empire. The high taxes were also needed to maintain the army. They had a large army in the field to provide security. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2007-11-21 18:22 |
| #6 wxjames, I think my Representative Jerry Moran is good, but is part of a handful - he was actually at Greensburg within hours of that tornado and his voting record (as far as I know) is good/what I agree with. But without Rantburg or popular vote us Kansans can do little to influence on the national level. As best as I can put it together, and if there are any lifeguards on duty let me know if I am swimming over my head, there was a decline in what it meant to be 'Roman'. The politicians made it so there was a succession of families to rule. To increase their wealth they made citizens of all inhabitants to tax them. Suddenly a person didn't have to earn citizenship (by military service or otherwise). Eventually because the the tax burdon I would suspect that many tried to not be citizens. The culture stagnated, that is literature and art became sequals or re-dos instead of original works. I think if it were not for the Christian movement the whole thing would have just whisped away - but all it did was delay the inevitable as the system was so much in place it couldn't be effectively changed. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2007-11-21 14:56 |
| #5 Tell us more, SwksvolFF. What happened when the over taxed citizens began to shoot the elite politicians ? |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-11-21 14:04 |
| #4 it caved from within by an unchecked population migration who were given citizenship by a blanket amnesty, a horrible overburdening tax system, and a political entitlement system And history never repeats itself either. Nope, nope, never ever. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-11-21 12:45 |
| #3 Maybe their mom was a real bitch. Carthago Delinda Est. Because it is easy and I am nursing a whiskey morning, and am giving thanks for the many freedoms forged by our ancestors - on the shoulders of giants - I believe there are many good lessons to learn from Roman (all) history. The Punic wars are where I am going. Time after time Hazdribal Hannibal kicked the Romans right in the teeth from Trasimano to Canne and the Romans got right back up. Changing commanders was necessary, from 'the delayer' to Scipio - It was Scipio who figured out that taking out Hispania would cut off Carthage's silver funding and took the unusual approach of taking on (from what I understand the equivilant of) a master sergeant as an advisor - instead of the normal politico method - since he knew the mentality of the locals (alterveridais (sp?)) as well as the terrain. Then, with Hannibal contained, reconquered strategic Sicaly and forced Hannibal's withdrawl from southern Italy into into Scipio's fight in, ironically, Africa utilizing troops who were at odds with Carthage (cite Harold Lamb's Hannibal). Following up with the king of sod's statement about the tribal ethos I would like to point towards someone more articulate and knowledgable person about such stuff in Gaius Caesar's chronicals concerning the Celts. Substituing/updating certain words and the pattern fits the sod's claim to fame. "I go to to fight an army without a general, then I go to fight a general without an army." is the (mis)quote I think of when contemplating current military operations. Last, from Thomas Cahill, and I know it is fashionable to compare current USA situation to the fall of Rome, it is pointed out that the Roman Empire did not fall in a day. As I understand it caved from within by an unchecked population migration who were given citizenship by a blanket amnisty, a horrible overburdening tax system, and a political entitlement system - something to think about come election time. With all these lessons available why are so many working so hard for the demise of the greatest experiment ever conceived? It would be incredibaly naive of me to think that they do it for anything other than simply selfish reasons. The culteral tradition of resisting unreasonable taxation, gone to war to abolish inheireted slavery, the concept that women and all are equals and all have a chance for greatness...sure there have been struggles and hiccups but in this profoundly brief history of this nation we, the people, have forged a new way for people to think. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2007-11-21 12:31 |
| #2 They know its just a myth, right? That there probably weren't two kids that were raised by a wolf, I'm not sure they understand that. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-11-21 11:14 |
| #1 A friend of mine was having trouble collecting from a certain telecom company. I told him, "Rolm wasn't billed in a day." |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-11-21 06:34 |