INTRODUCTION First Thoughts 1 An Epochal Event 12 The Site of Rome before Rome 15 The Places of Rome 27 Remus and Romulus and the Kings of Alba Longa 33 THE PALATINE The Preliminary Rite on the Aventine 41 The Blessing of the Palatine and the Founding of Roma Quadrata 50 THE FOUNDING OF THE FORUM, THE CAPITOL, AND THE CITADEL The Forum 64 The Capitolium and the Arx 93 THE ORDERING OF THE REGNUM, OR THE CONSTITUTIO ROMULI The Ordering of Time 101 The Ordering of Space and Men 102 Enemies 110 CONCLUSION 116 Literary Sources 123 Index 165
Andrea Carandini is professor of archaeology at the University of Rome, La Sapienza, and the author of many books. For more than two decades, he has supervised some of the most important archaeological excavations in Rome, and he was instrumental in the discovery of the ancient Palatine Wall and the earliest phase of the Sanctuary of Vesta.
"Tradition assigns [the founding of Rome] to the year 753 B.C., when Romulus--who, according to legend, was rescued from infanticide with his twin brother Remus and suckled by a she-wolf--erected the first walls of the so-called Roma Quadrata, or 'square Rome.' It has been a very long time since anyone took this account as an accurate historical description, but Carandini provocatively suggests that it might be more or less true."--Adam Kirsch, New Yorker "It has been assumed generally that the traditional founding of Rome by twin brothers Romulus and Remus 28 centuries ago should be classified as myth. This provocative examination by a highly regarded but controversial archaeologist suggests, however, that the story contains more than a grain of truth ... he marshals considerable evidence, written and archaeological, to bolster his claims, and his conclusions certainly are startling and exciting."--Jay Freeman, Booklist "Carandini's gifts as an archaeologist are admired even by those who don't accept his interpretations and Rome: Day One is full of fascinating detail."--The Age "'It's a bold book, but will not persuade all readers,' said ancient Rome Professor Christopher Smith of the British School at Rome. '[Still] no one in recent years has done more than Carandini to challenge our perceptions.'"--New York Post "Researchers will be intrigued with Carandini's precise picture of early Rome and the fine illustrations ..."--Choice "What makes Rome: Day One such an extraordinary book is not the erudite descriptions but the energetic style of prose. For a volume so packed with detail, it remains an astonishingly easy read... This is a book written to bring those early days to the attention of anyone and everyone."--Caldrail, UNRV History "[T]he book is interesting because it discusses a topic that is much eschewed by the modern historians as it treads on controversial religious aspects."--Vaidehi Nathan, Organiser
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