The 10 most important Roman legends

Greco-Roman culture and its heirs have generated a large number of interesting stories.

Roman legends are characterized by combining human beings with mythical animals and fantastic elements of nature. Many of them aim to tell the story of the founding of Rome, others allow us to understand the history and worldview of one of the greatest civilizations of Western culture. Here are 10 of the most popular Roman legends..

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10 popular Roman legends (and the meaning of each one).

Among other things, Roman legends relate imaginary events, with immortal idols performing great deeds. Many of these narratives have to do with the main points of the city and with fantastic elements that surround them; whereas others have more to do with Greco-Roman myths.. The latter are understood as fabulous narratives that explain reality in a non-rational way, but with great symbolic and cultural content.

Following this description, we will see 10 important legends of Roman culture.

Hercules and Cacus

"Hercules and Cacus" is the name of a sculpture located in Piazza della Signoria in Florence. It represents one of the episodes narrated by Virgil, where Hercules defeats the evil of the giant half-man half satyr, Cacus.. It is said that Cacus had stolen some red oxen that were grazing in the Tiber valley.

Hercules soon discovered the theft, but was unable to find the oxen or the man responsible. It was not until he entered Cacus' cave that he finally found them, and as punishment he butchered him. Historical and anthropological explanations of this legend are said to be key to understanding the commercial evolution of the area as well as the beginnings of the cult of Hercules.

2. The she-wolf

This legend is part of the multiple explanations about the foundation of Rome, since it represents the union of people from different civilizations, in constant link with mythical animals. It comes from the mother of the twins Romulus and Remus, saved from assassination by a servant who gave them a chance to escape through the gave them a chance to escape through the waters of the Tiber river.. At the foot of the river was a she-wolf, who heard the crying of the little ones and dragged them to a cave where she took care of them for a while.

It was until the shepherd Faustulus approached, when the children were taken to Acca Larentia (shepherd's wife). Thus, Romulus and Remus would grow up among humans and with their children. Since then, the symbol of the she-wolf has represented the sacred animal of different ethnic groups.Sacred God of the Manners, God of the Sabines, defending animal of the Latins and purifying and fertilizing God of the Etruscans. He is also the founder of the cult of the Mother Goddess, representative of the genesis of life and the quality of protection.

3. Circe and King Pico

Pico is remembered as a prophet son of Saturn and father of Faunus, as well as husband of Canente the nymph.. As Faunus was the father of King Latinus, Pico is considered by some to be the first Latium king. It is said that he was a fortune teller, of primitive appearance, always accompanied by a woodpecker (hence the name "Pico"). From Pico the soothsayer onwards, the woodpecker is recognized as a prophetic bird.

It is also said that when he did not return the love of Circe, sorceress of the island of Eea, the latter turned Pico into a woodpecker, keeping the same divinatory and prophetic powers he had always had.

4. The Passetto di Borgo

Also known as "The Passetto", this walled road linking the Vatican to the Castel Sant'Angelo has even been the subject of science fiction movies. Originally, this 800-meter-long road, built in 1277, served as an escape route for many popes. That is to say, was essential for the escape of clergymen who were in danger from wars, looting and invasions..

In fact, in some movies, novels and video games this is represented by its direct access to the Vatican. Legend has it that he who crosses this road about 70 times, will have good luck and will be able to escape from his problems.

5. The alley of the Mazzamurelli family

Legend has it that there are capricious, elf-like spirits that inhabit a narrow street in Trastevere. They are known as the "Mazzamurelli" and there are different versions about the powers of these spirits..

Some tell that they have the function of protecting the individual and the people. They say that they could give the Romans archangel qualities, and at other times turn their soul into a little devil. It is also said that they inhabit the alley because there is a haunted house from the 19th century, where a man lived who pretended to be a magician who saw demons.

6. The Castle of Sant'Angelo (Castel de Sant'Angelo)

On one side of the Tiber river, the third longest in Italy, there is a great monument that began as the mausoleum of Hadrian, Roman emperor from 117 to 138. The castle is named after a legend of salvation from the plague epidemic in the 590s.

It is said that in the same year, during a procession a procession commanded by Pope Gregory the Great, an archangel appeared above the castlean archangel appeared above the castle, holding a sword in his hands. Shortly thereafter, the plague disappeared completely, a miracle that was attributed to the archangel. Since then, a statue was placed over the mausoleum to commemorate the event. Today the statue itself has undergone several restorations.

7. Nero's Tomb and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo

After being declared a "public enemy" of Rome for his period of tyranny and the mass executions he had carried out, Emperor Nero was forced to leave the city. It is said that when he arrived at the Piazza di Poppolo (People's Square) he was ready to commit suicide with the help of Epaphroditus, his secretary. The latter stabbed him just before a Roman soldier reached his location. He was buried in the same square, and soon after, the Roman dynasty took care of the disappearance of his works, writings, and other objects that remembered his existence.

It is said that since then the ghost of Nero has appeared in the place where he was buried.. It is also said that some people, practitioners of black magic, performed numerous rituals around his tomb. They say that in the same place grew a walnut tree that marked the exact place where the emperor's remains lay. For the same reason the walnut tree was considered cursed, and in the year 1099 an exorcism was performed on Nero's tomb.

The latter after Pope Paschal II claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary indicating to cut down the walnut tree, dig up the remains of Nero, burn them and finally throw them into the Tiber River. So it happened and immediately after a chapel dedicated to the Virgin was built to thank for the exorcism. In 1472 a basilica (the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo) was built on the site of Nero's tomb.

8. Dumb Tacita

It is said that there was a water nymph named Lara. After having offended Jupiter, the main god of Roman mythology, the latter took away Lara's tongue. On her return to earth, Jupiter commissioned Mercury to accompany and protect her. However, Mercury took advantage of the fact that Lara no longer had a tongue and raped her.

As a product of this, Lara gave birth to a pair of twins (the gods Lares), who were in charge of protecting and guarding the borders of the city afterwards. From then on Lara was known as Tacita Muda, the goddess of silence.. Nowadays, festivals and rituals are celebrated in honor of Lara, which not only remember the value of silence and prudence, but also denounce the association of these values with women and question the rape culture.

9. The Dioscuri

The Dioscuri (term meaning "sons of Zeus" in Greek), are mythical twin heroes, named Castor and Pollux, with great fighting and riding skills. They are remembered for having rescued maidens, as well as for having avenged offenses and numerous deaths. These heroes are found in the constellation Gemini and have also been entrusted with the care of seafarers, as they are believed to appear as a kind of fireball. appear as a kind of fireball produced during thunderstorms..

The Roman legend about the Dioscuri tells that the latter fought in the Battle of Lake Regilus, in which the Romans defeated the Latins. It is said that they appeared above the spring in the forum of Rome, where a temple was built in their honor. Since then, the fountain next door was considered sacred and this spring was the main venue for many festivities celebrating the Dioscuri.

10. The Tiber Island

Located on one side of the Tiber River, the Tiber Island is famous for housing the temple to Aesculapius, the Roman god of medicine. Legend has it that this island was formed after the fall of the last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius the Superb. As punishment for his tyrannical and despotic rule, the Romans threw his body into the Tiber River. Soon after, the Tiber Island was formed and the explanation was that, on the king's body, sediments and even the grains of wheat that Tarquin had accumulated had accumulated.

Because of its obscure origin, this island provoked fear in the Romans, who saw it as a sign of a bad omen.. Soon after, an epidemic of plague was stopped just after a snake (symbol of the god of medicine) was harbored on the island. It was then that the monument to Aesculapius was built and when the inhabitants began to visit the Tiber Island without fear.