The 10 most important Roman legends

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

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10 popular Roman legends (and the meaning of each)

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

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

1. Hercules and caco

"Hercules and Caco" is the name of a sculpture found in the Piazza della Signoria, in Florence. Represents one of the episodes narrated by Virgilio,

where Hercules defeats the evil of the giant half man half satyr, Caco. They say that Caco had stolen some red oxen that were grazing in the Tiber valley.

Soon, Hercules discovered the theft, but could not find the oxen or the person responsible. It was until he entered Caco's cave that he finally found them, and as punishment he dismembered him. Historical and anthropological explanations of this legend say that it is key to understanding the commercial evolution of the area as well as the beginnings of the Hercules cult.

2. The wolf

This legend is part of the multiple explanations about the founding of Rome, since it represents the union of people from different civilizations, in constant bond with mythical animals. It comes from the mother of the twins Romulus and Remus, saved from murder by a servant who gave them a chance of escape through the waters of the river Tiber. On the slopes of the river there was a she-wolf, who heard the cry of the little ones and dragged them to a cave where she took care of them for a time.

It was until Pastor Faustulo approached, when the children were taken to Acca Larentia (pastor's wife). Thus, Romulus and Remus would grow up among humans and with their children. The symbol of the She-wolf, represents since then the sacred animal of different ethnic groups: Sacred God of the Manners, God of the Sabines, animal defender of the Latins and purifying and fertilizing God of the Etruscans. In addition, he is the founder of the cult of the Mother Goddess, representative of the genesis of life and the quality of protection.

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3. Circe and the Peak King

Peak is remembered as a prophet son of Saturn and father of Faun, as well as husband of Canente the nymph. Faun being the father of the Latin king, Pico is considered by some to be the first Lazio king. It is said that he was a diviner, primitive in appearance, always accompanied by a woodpecker (hence the name "Pico"). Beginning with Pico the Diviner, the woodpecker is recognized as a prophetic bird.

They also say that since the love of Circe, a sorceress from the island of Eea, did not return, the latter became definitely to Pico in a woodpecker, retaining the same divinatory and prophetic powers as always had had.

4. The Passetto di Borgo

Also known as “El passetto”, this walled path that connects the Vatican with the castle of Sant'angelo, has even been the site of science fiction films. Originally, this 800-meter-long path, erected in 1277, served many popes as a means of escape. Namely, It was essential for the flight of clerics who were in danger from wars, looting and invasions.

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

5. The alley of the Mazzamurelli

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

Some say that they have the function of protecting the individual and the people. They say they could give the Romans the qualities of an archangel, and at other times turn his soul into a little devil. It is also said that they live in the alley because there is a haunted house from the 19th century, where a man lived who posed as 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 gets its name from a legend of salvation from the plague epidemic in the 590s.

They say that in the same year, during a procession led by Pope Gregory the Great, an archangel appeared above the castle holding a sword in his hands. A short time later, the plague disappeared completely; miracle that was attributed to the archangel. Since then a statue has been placed on the mausoleum, in commemoration of this event. To this day the same statue has received different restorations.

7. The tomb of Nero and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pueblo

After being declared a "public enemy" of Rome, due to the period of tyranny and the mass executions that he had carried out, Emperor Nero was forced to leave the city. They say that when he arrived at 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. In the same square he was buried, and soon after, the Roman dynasty was in charge of disappearing his works, writings, and other objects that remembered his existence.

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

The latter after Pope Paschal II claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary indicating to cut down the walnut tree, unearth the remains of Nero, burn them and finally thrown into the Tiber River. This happened and immediately afterwards a chapel dedicated to the Virgin was built, to thank the exorcism. In the year 1472 a basilica (the Basilica of Santa Maria del Pueblo) was built, in the place where Nero's tomb used to be.

8. Mute cup

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

As a result of this, Lara gave birth to a pair of twins (the Lares gods), who were in charge of protecting and guarding the city's borders later. Since then Lara was known as Tacita Muda, the goddess of silence. Currently, festivals and rituals are celebrated in honor of Lara, which not only remember the value of silence and prudence, but denounce the association of these values ​​with women and question the culture of violation.

9. The Dioscuri

The Dioscuri (a term that means “sons of Zeus” in Greek), are two mythical twin heroes, named Castor and Pollux, with great skills for fighting and riding horses. 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 caring for sailors, as they are believed to be appear as a kind of fireball produced during electrical storms.

The Roman legend about the Dioscuri tells that the latter fought in the Battle of Lake Regilo, in which the Romans defeated the Latins. They say that they appeared on the source of the forum of Rome, place where a temple was built in their honor. Since then, the source next door was considered sacred and, this spring, was the main venue for multiple festivities that celebrated the Dioscuri.

10. The Tiber Island

Located on one side of the Tiber River, the Tiberian island is famous for hosting the temple to Aesculapius, the Roman god of medicine. Legend has it that this island was formed after the last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius the Proud, had fallen. As punishment for his despotic and tyrant government, the Roman settlers threw his body into the Tiber River. Soon after, the Tiber Island was formed and the explanation was that sediments had accumulated on the body of the king and even the grains of wheat that Tarquinus had accumulated.

Due to its dark origin, This island caused fear to the Romans, who saw it as a sign of bad omen. Soon after, a plague epidemic stopped just after a snake (symbol of the god of medicine) took shelter on the island. It was then that the monument to Aesculapius was built and when the inhabitants began to visit the Tiberian island without fear.