Rome unveils tomb linked to founder
ROME: An ancient tomb thought to belong to Rome’s founder Romulus was presented to the world on Friday, after months of investigation by history sleuths.
The 6th century BC stone sarcophagus, with an accompanying circular altar, was discovered under the Forum in the heart of Italy’s capital over a century ago - but experts could not agree on whether or not it belonged to the fabled figure.
According to legend, Romulus founded the city after killing his twin brother Remus.
The brothers had been raised by a she-wolf - the symbol of Rome shows them sucking at her teats but later fell out over where to build the new metropolis.
Historians have long been divided not only over whether the pair actually existed, but if so where Romulus’ body - which was reportedly dismembered after his death by angry senators - may have been buried.
The tomb was found in the 19th century and was known to specialists at the time but was forgotten until new digs over the last one year.
The Colosseum Archaeological Park, which manages the Forum where the sarcophagus lies, said recent clues all pointed to it being the founder’s tomb, in what it labelled an “extraordinary discovery”.
Still, archaeologists called for caution, saying it was impossible to confirm - and no bones were found inside the sarcophagus. “It’s only a suggestion based on ancient sources, all of which speak of the presence of the tomb of Romulus in this area,” Patrizia Fortini, who was charged with the dig, told AFP. “It’s certainly an important monument.”