| Lupercal | |
|---|---|
 First-century Roman sculpture in relief depicting the Roman foundation myth. Romulus and Remus are shown being suckled by a she-wolf in the Lupercal (bottom left). | |
 Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| Location | Palatine Hill in Rome |
| Coordinates | 41°53′17″N 12°29′4″E / 41.88806°N 12.48444°E |
| Depth | 15m |
| Discovery | January 2007 |
The Lupercal (from Latin lupa "female wolf") was a cave at the southwest foot of the Palatine Hill in Rome, located somewhere between the temple of Magna Mater and the Sant'Anastasia al Palatino.[1] In the legend of the founding of Rome, Romulus and Remus were found there by the she-wolf who suckled them until they were rescued by the shepherd Faustulus. Luperci, the priests of Faunus, celebrated certain ceremonies of the Lupercalia at the cave, from the earliest days of the City until at least 494 AD.
- ^ Vuković, Krešimir (2018). "The Topography of the Lupercalia". The Papers of the British School at Rome. 86: 37–60. doi:10.1017/S0068246217000381.