Return to Lupercalia

She-Wolf

"The tradition goes on to say that after the floating cradle in which the boys had been exposed had been left by the retreating water on dry land, a thirsty she-wolf from the surrounding hills, attracted by the crying of the children, came to them, gave them her teats to suck and was so gentle towards them that the king's flock-master found her licking the boys with her tongue. According to the story, his name was Faustulus. He took the children to his hut and gave them to his wife Larentia to bring up. Some writers think that Larentia, from her unchaste life, had got the nickname of "She-wolf" amongst the shepherds, and that this was the origin of the marvellous story."

Livy, History of Rome (I.4)


The bronze statue is in the Museo del Palazzo dei Conservatori (Conservators' Palace Museum) in Rome.


Reference: Livy: The History of Rome (1912) translated by Rev. Canon Roberts (Everyman's Library).

 Return to Top of Page

Email