Do you know the true story of the birth of Rome? More than that, were you aware of the existence of an alternative theory?

We all know the famous story of Romulus and Remus, two Roman twins, one of whom, Romulus, was the founder and first king of the eternal city. Their first depiction dates back to the famous statue of the Capitoline Wolf breastfeed the twins, considered one of the city’s main works of art as well as a historical legend.

But… what if a different truth lay behind the wolf?

The main Roman legend has relates that as a result of the animal’s care, the two babies were taken from her by a shepherd, Faustolo, he took them to his wife Acca Larenzia who took care of them.

The woman was known for her remarkable fecundity and her ‘red light’ past, being regarded as a prostitute.

Could it be that the legend we know originated from a simple play on words?

According to an ancient interpretation, the term ‘Lupa’ /wolf) refers not to an animal, but to a woman: Acca Larenzia.

In ancient Rome, in fact, ‘Lupa’ was a term used to refer to prostitutes, the origin of the word came from the verb “lupanare”, which indicated the place of meeting with these figures.

What if she was the mother of Romulus and Remus?

Romulus and Remus could then have been suckled by a she-wolf, but not by an animal as the legend goes, rather by a woman.

This alternative version of history teaches us how the double meaning of a word can have the power to transform a narrative that continues to remain shrouded in mystery even today.

Similarly, a story that might seem obvious at first glance can actually hide deep meanings behind it. These can only be revealed through careful research and in-depth study…

You never stop learning!