by Andrea Carandini
Princeton University Press, #24.95, 172 pages
Rome, one of the most ancient and important cities in the world. It is the birthplace of one of the largest empires that the world has ever known. It has given the world Julius Caesar, Cicero, and many more. It is home to the first roads, some of them still in existence. Yet how did this city get its start? According to legend it was twins Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf. Is it a myth, or is it more fact? In this book, Andrea Carandini contends that there is more fact to be found in the ancient myth than many historians believe. That maybe the story of Romulus and Remus is not so farfetched. He uses both literary sources, and a very liberal reading of them; but he also uses latest archaeological diggings as evidence as well, which support his thesis better than ancient literary sources. Many people will not believe him, but he does some raise some interesting points that will have to be considered in the future.
Reviewed by Kevin Winter