My patience with this one grew thin years ago but seeing as Discovery News has put up a video claiming the ‘Lupercal’ (i.e. the grove where Romulus and Remus were raised by a that lupine thing) I figure I should say something. Ecce (I can’t embed it here … sorry):
… as I mentioned the second time this story came around, there really isn’t anything new here. There is a detail (this time enunciated by some engineer as opposed to a Carandini or LaRegina vel simm) about the shape of the structure which might be new and the detail about the structure being below the level of the river, which happens to match up vaguely with the legend. But in the past, I — and several others — have pointed out that the decorations really have nothing Lupercaliaish about them and the structure seems to be more likely some imperial nymphaeum. You can work your way through the previous coverage (presented in chronological order):
- Lupercal Found? (January 2007)
- Lupercal (re)(re)Discovered? (November 2007 … the claim returns to the press)
- Further Thoughts on the ‘Lupercal’ (November 2007 … this is when folks began doubting the claims)
- Lupercal Redux (November 2007)
- Lupercal Explanation? (December 2007 … weird explanation for the timing of the announcement)
- “Lupercal” Followup (January 2008 … more of the claims)
- ‘Lupercal’ Again (January 2008 … ditto)
- Rererethinking the Lupercal (February 2008 … more doubting)
- Another Take on the Lupercal (March 2008 … a letter to the editor suggests nymphaeum)
- Rutelli and the Lupercale (March 2008 … I cite some ancient sources in this one in regards to location of the Lupercal)
… just when I was starting to think good things about journalists in regards to skepticism about yetis and krakens …
