GoKawiilEstimated reading time: 6 minutes
Introduction
Legends and symbolism often bridge the stories of cities, and nowhere is this truer than between Rome and Siena. The Capitoline Wolf is the iconic statue depicting Romulus and Remus being nursed by a she-wolf. It shares a captivating narrative that unites these two cities through their mythology and symbols.
This story is part of our broader collection of Italy travel guides for curious and mature travelers. In them we explore culture through myth, history, and lived experience.
A Tale of Two Cities
Siena’s foundation story closely mirrors Rome’s in both mythology and symbolism. According to legend, Senius and Aschius—the twin sons of Remus and nephews of Romulus—founded Siena and adopted the she-wolf as their emblem.
In Rome, the tale of Romulus and Remus describes twin brothers raised by a she-wolf. The Capitoline Wolf (Lupa Capitolina) bronze in the Capitoline Museums on Capitoline Hill immortalizes that scene. For years, curators described the bronze as Etruscan. In any case, the she-wolf came to symbolize survival and protection, becoming a lasting emblem of Rome’s origin story.
Many Twins, Many Wolves
According to legend, after Romulus killed his brother Remus, the twins Aschius and Senius fled Rome. They took with them a statue of the Capitoline Wolf as a family heirloom. Eventually the twins founded Siena and chose the wolf as the symbol of this new city.
The original statue from Siena’s foundation disappeared long ago, but the Capitoline Wolf appears throughout the city. Siena’s coat of arms and the Duomo’s inlaid marble floors both showcase the wolf.
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