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LUPERCAL

the cave or grotto at the foot of the Palatine, in which the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus; from it issued a spring (Dionys. i. 32, 79; Serv. Aen. viii. 90, 343; Vell. i. 15; Ov. Fasti ii. 380 ff.; Cic. ad fam. vii. 20). This cave, with the FICUS RUMINALIS (q.v.), was undoubtedly at the south-west corner of the hill, very near the point where the clivus Victoriae joins the vicus Tuscus. It seems to have been a sanctuary of some sort, and at least it had a monumental entrance, for its restoration by Augustus is recorded (Mon. Anc. iv. 2), as well as the erection of a statue to Drusus by decree of the senate (CIL vi. 912 b =31200; WR 561), and it is mentioned as existing in the late empire (Clem. Alex. Strom. i. 21. 108. 3; Not. Reg. X). It gave its name to the Luperci and the Lupercalia (Liv. i. 5; Ov. Fast. ii. 421); for the latter, see A. M. Franklin, The Lupercalia, New York 1921; cf. also DuP 76).

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