Ficus Ruminalis
Encyclopedia
The Ficus Ruminalis was a wild fig
tree on the Palatine Hill
in ancient Rome
near the Lupercal
on the Palatine
. This tree was said to be sacred to the goddess Rumina
. It is also the spot where tradition said the trough containing Romulus and Remus
landed on the banks of the Tiber and were reared by a she-wolf.
Tradition said that this tree was removed by the augur
Attus Navius
and thenceforth stood on the Comitium
. Ovid
states that only vestigia remained on the original spot in his day, but Livy
, in telling the story of the twins, says that the Ogulnii, aediles in 296 B.C., erected a monument that represented the twins and wolf, ad ficum ruminalem. It has also been suggested that the Plutei of Trajan
are from a small enclosure wall built around the Ficus Ruminalis and a statue of Marsyas
.
It is possible that the site continued to be called Ficus Ruminalis, after the tree itself had disappeared. Ruminalis, according to one view, is to be connected with Ruma the Etruscan, the name from which Rome
and Romulus
are derived.
The Romans
themselves, however, derived it from ruma
, rumis
, breast; and Herbig has put forward the view that "Roma" is the Latinised form, and as a proper name means "large-breasted," i.e. strong or powerful.
When the tree began to droop in 58AD it was seen as a bad portent
for Rome.
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
tree on the Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
in ancient Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
near the Lupercal
Lupercal
The Lupercal is a cave at the foot of the Palatine Hill in Rome, between the Temple of Apollo Palatinus and the Basilica of Santa Anastasia. In the legend of Rome's foundation, Romulus and Remus were found there by the lactating female wolf who suckled them until they were found by Faustulus...
on the Palatine
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
. This tree was said to be sacred to the goddess Rumina
Rumina
In ancient Roman religion, Rumina, also known as Diva Rumina, was a goddess who protected breastfeeding mothers, and possibly nursing infants. Her domain extended to protecting animal mothers, not just human ones...
. It is also the spot where tradition said the trough containing Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus are Rome's twin founders in its traditional foundation myth, although the former is sometimes said to be the sole founder...
landed on the banks of the Tiber and were reared by a she-wolf.
Tradition said that this tree was removed by the augur
Augur
The augur was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome and Etruria. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of birds: whether they are flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of...
Attus Navius
Attus Navius
In the legendary history of ancient Rome, Attus Navius was a famous augur during the reign of Tarquinius Priscus.When the latter desired to increase the number of the equestrian centuries, and to name them in his own honour, Navius opposed him, declaring that it must not be done unless the omens...
and thenceforth stood on the Comitium
Comitium
The Comitium in Rome is the location of the original founding of the city. The area is marked by a number of shrines, temples, altars and churches today from throughout its history. The location was lost due to the cities growth and development over a thousand years, but was excavated at the turn...
. Ovid
Ovid
Publius Ovidius Naso , known as Ovid in the English-speaking world, was a Roman poet who is best known as the author of the three major collections of erotic poetry: Heroides, Amores, and Ars Amatoria...
states that only vestigia remained on the original spot in his day, but Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
, in telling the story of the twins, says that the Ogulnii, aediles in 296 B.C., erected a monument that represented the twins and wolf, ad ficum ruminalem. It has also been suggested that the Plutei of Trajan
Plutei of Trajan
Also called the Plutei Traiani, these carved stone balustrades were built by Trajan. They are on display inside the Curia Julia on the Forum Romanum today, but are not part of the original structure.It is unknown exactly where Trajan erected them...
are from a small enclosure wall built around the Ficus Ruminalis and a statue of Marsyas
Marsyas
In Greek mythology, the satyr Marsyas is a central figure in two stories involving music: in one, he picked up the double flute that had been abandoned by Athena and played it; in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of music and lost his hide and life...
.
It is possible that the site continued to be called Ficus Ruminalis, after the tree itself had disappeared. Ruminalis, according to one view, is to be connected with Ruma the Etruscan, the name from which Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Romulus
Romulus
- People:* Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome* Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor* Valerius Romulus , deified son of the Roman emperor Maxentius* Romulus , son of the Western Roman emperor Anthemius...
are derived.
The Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
themselves, however, derived it from ruma
Ruma
Ruma is a town and municipality located in Vojvodina, Serbia at . In 2002 the town had a total population of 34,229, while Ruma municipality had a population of 60,006.-History:...
, rumis
Rumis
Rumis is a game about optimal placement of blocks of various shapes within a confined space. The name means "stones" in the language of Quechua. The theme and artwork are inspired by the Inca architecture. Rumis has also been published under the name Blokus 3-D....
, breast; and Herbig has put forward the view that "Roma" is the Latinised form, and as a proper name means "large-breasted," i.e. strong or powerful.
When the tree began to droop in 58AD it was seen as a bad portent
Omen
An omen is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change...
for Rome.