The Wolf Suckling Romulus and Remus, 5th Century B.C.E.

Chapter 5: The Rise of Rome and Its Republic (753-44 B.C.E.)

"This bronze statue relates to the myth that a she-wolf nursed two brothers Romulus and Remus, the offspring of the god Mars and the future founders of Rome. Romans treasured this story because it meant that Mars loved their city so dearly that he sent a wild animal to nurse its founders after a cruel tyrant had forced their mother to abandon the infants. The myth also taught Romans that their state had been born in violence: Romulus killed Remus in an argument over who would lead their new settlement. The wolf is an Etruscan sculpture from the fifth century B.C.E.; the babies were added in the Renaissance." - Pg. 142

This may be one of the most important Roman art pieces, because of the significance of the history of this piece. Romulus and Remus, who were actually added during the Renaissance period, were the foretold founders of Rome. The wolf was made to nurse these two brothers, by their father Mars (The main Roman god), after their mother was forced to abandon the infants. Rome hadn't originated as an empire of peace, there had been a lot of violence present in its conception. This is explained in the backstory of the piece through Romulus slaying Remus over the control of their shared Roman territory.

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