• Rome, discovered in the hypogean environment forum with a sarcophagus of the 6th century BC: is it the tomb of Romulus?
  • A sarcophagus appears, is it the tomb of Romulus?

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February 21, 2020 "This is not Romulus' grave but it is a place of remembrance where the cult of Romulus was celebrated, a cenotaph", a sepulchral monument devoid of the mortal remains of the person in whose honor it was erected. So Alfonsina Russo, director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, explains to journalists the meaning of the discovery of a hypogeum at the Roman Forum with a sarcophagus of the 6th century BC "It is not the tomb - he reiterates with the reporters on the excavation site - also because some sources they say that Romulus was killed and torn to pieces, while other sources say that he was raised to heaven as the god Quirinus. So it is impossible that this is the tomb of Romulus. "

On the existence of Romolo the director adds: "All myths and legends have a fund of truth - he replies - and I am convinced that there was a founding hero. I think yes, that there is something true". Alfonsina Russo underlines the importance of the discovery: "It is an important place that had not been interpreted and whose memory had been lost. We will make all the data available to scholars. It was an emotion to find this place after 120 years". And he announces that "in April we will resume excavation". The visit of the hypogeum will be allowed to the public "in two years" says the director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, "hopefully" he adds.