The capitoline she-wolf who nurtured the twins Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, became a symbol of the Eternal City in ancient times. The famous bronze sculpture, almost life-size (height - 75 cm), today can be seen in one of the halls of the Capitoline Museum - in the palace of the Palazzo dei Conservatory.
... According to legend, the mother of Rem and Romulus was Rhea Sylvia - the priestess of the Temple of Vesta, who gave birth to boys from the god Mars.
Mythological aspect
Rhea became a Vestal not of her own free will, but as a result of banal betrayal: her father Numitor, who was at the head of the ancient city of Alba Long, was removed from the throne by his younger brother Amuli. Having seized power, he did not stand on ceremony with his nephews either: the son of Numitor disappeared in an unknown place, and Ray's daughter became a priestess of the temple, having made a vow of celibacy for 30 years.
For disobedience, the vestal girl was severely punished, and on the orders of the king, the babies were put in a basket and thrown into the Tiber River. However, fate spared the kids: the basket with the brothers did not drown, but landed on the shore near Palatinsky Hill. Finding a wolf and Romulus and Remus, she fed them with her own milk.
The sculpture of the she-wolf was placed at the Palazzo dei Conservatory in 1473
After some time, the local shepherd found the brothers and raised them as their own children. And over the years, justice was restored: the brothers returned home and won the throne for their grandfather Numitor.
This was followed by a long search for free land for a new city, the brothers quarreled, and in a fever Romulus killed Rem. Having repented, Romulus founded the Eternal City (April 21, 753 BC) and became the first king of Rome.
The statue of the capitoline she-wolf with twins
The statue of the Capitoline Wolf was mentioned in ancient times. The ancient Roman politician Mark Cicero, who lived in the 1st century BC, and Pliny the eldest in his writings, which saw the light in 77 BC, wrote about her.
The evidence of the ancients is also confirmed by archaeological excavations. Among the coins of the Roman Empire, illustrating the history and life of Ancient Rome, there are those that reflect the legend of the founding of the city. So, the she-wolf, who nourished Romulus and Remus with her milk, is depicted on ancient Roman coins denarius dating from 129 BC. e.
Ancient Roman denarius coin with the image of a she-wolf (129 BC)
The statue that we see today was placed in the Palazzo dei Conservatory by order of Pope Sixtus IV in 1473. Then the sculpture of the she-wolf was supplemented by the boys Rem and Romulus. The bronze figures of the twins were made by Antonio del Pollayolo, a Florentine sculptor and painter.
By the way, during the time of Mussolini, the sculpture of the she-wolf was given a special role. For the Italian Duce, it was not only a symbol, but also an obsession with the revival of the Roman Empire. The dictator dreamed of this, sending out copies of the statue of the Capitoline she-wolf around the world.
Today, copies of the famous she-wolf with human children can be seen in America, Japan, Brazil, Spain, Romania, France, Sweden, Macedonia and other countries.
Bronze figures of Remus and Romulus
Date of creation
For a long time it was believed that the sculpture of the she-wolf was created by the Etruscans who lived in the Apennines long before the founding of Ancient Rome. It was assumed that the statue appeared in the V century. BC.
But during restoration work and research carried out in 2006, it turned out that the statue was created much later - in 1021-1153. As the scientists explained, the statue was created not in parts and welded, as was practiced in ancient times, but immediately and entirely, which became possible only during the Middle Ages.
The height of the bronze sculpture is 75 cm
Opening hours and directions
The original bronze sculpture of the Capitoline Wolf can be seen in one of the halls of the Capitoline Museum located at Capitol Square, 1 in Rome (Piazza del Campidoglio).
The museum is located on Capitol Hill in the building of the Palazzo dei Conservatory - a stone's throw from the Roman Forum and Piazza Venezia. Walking from the Coliseum takes about 20 minutes.
To get to the Palazzo dei Conservatory by metro, you need to get off at Colosseo Station. An article on the Roman Metro with a map and all its features can be found here.
Palazzo dei Conservatory
To get to the Palazzo dei Conservatory by bus, you should use the routes No. 30, 51, 81, 83, 85, 87, 118, 160, 170, 628, 810. The necessary stop is Ara Coeli-Piazza Venezia. Tram number 8 also goes here, you need to get off at the Venezia terminus.
Opening hours:
The museum is open daily from 9:30 to 19:30; exceptions - December 24 and 31: 9:30 - 14:00. Visitors stop being allowed an hour before closing time.
Also January 1, May 1 and December 25 at the Museum Official weekend.
Ticket price:
Complex ticket - 15 euros, preferential - 13 euros.
Capitoline Square on Capitol Hill in Rome
In the end
Leaving the museums, be sure to stroll along the Palace Square (Piazza del Campidoglio), located in the center of Capitol Hill. It’s not for nothing that Michelangelo himself was engaged in its arrangement and design. Walk along the stairs of Cordonate and feel its grandeur, which is emphasized by the huge statues of Castor, Pollux and granite Egyptian lions. Well, if you want to take more from Rome, be sure to use our TOP-5 of the most popular excursions in the Eternal City. Enjoy your trip.
Cordonata Staircase Leading to Capitoline Square
