The Capitoline Wolf Statue () is a statue located in I.C. Brătianu Boulevard in

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

. It is a historical monument, with the

National Register of Historic Monuments in Romania The National Register of Historic Monuments () is the official English name of the Romania government's list of national heritage sites known as Monumente istorice. In Romania, these include sites, buildings, structures, and objects considered wo ...

code B-III-m-B-20029.

History

In 1906, on the occasion of celebrating 40 years since

King Carol I Carol I or Charles I of Romania (born Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; 20 April 1839 – ), was the monarch of Romania from 1866 to his death in 1914, ruling as Prince (''Domnitor'') from 1866 to 1881, and as ...

's coronation as the ruler of

and 1800 years since the

Roman conquest of Dacia Trajan's Dacian Wars (101–102, 105–106) were two military campaigns fought between the Roman Empire and Dacia during Emperor Trajan's rule. The conflicts were triggered by the constant Dacian threat on the Danubian province of Moesia and al ...

, the municipality of

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

gifted a copy of the famous Roman monument "

Lupa Capitolina The Capitoline Wolf (Italian: ''Lupa Capitolina'') is a bronze sculpture depicting a scene from the legend of the founding of Rome. The sculpture shows a she-wolf suckling the mythical twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. According to the ...

" to the people of

. This statue depicted the legendary she-wolf that, according to

Roman mythology Roman mythology is the body of myths of ancient Rome as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans, and is a form of Roman folklore. "Roman mythology" may also refer to the modern study of these representations, and to th ...

, nursed

Romulus and Remus In Roman mythology, Romulus and (, ) are twins in mythology, twin brothers whose story tells of the events that led to the Founding of Rome, founding of the History of Rome, city of Rome and the Roman Kingdom by Romulus, following his frat ...

, the founders of Rome. The bronze copy was created by an anonymous Greek sculptor. Initially, the statue was placed on a stone pedestal bearing the acronym

SPQR SPQR or S.P.Q.R., an initialism for (; ), is an emblematic phrase referring to the government of the Roman Republic. It appears on documents made public by an inscription in stone or metal, in dedications of monuments and public works, and on ...

(Senatus Populus Que Romanus, meaning the Senate and the People of Rome). It was first installed within the "Arenas Romane" area of " Carol I Park" on September 7, 1906. Later, in 1908, it was moved to St. George Square (formerly known as Rome Square). In 1931, it was relocated to

Dealul Mitropoliei Dealul Mitropoliei (, ''Metropolitanate Hill''), also called Dealul Patriarhiei (, ''Patriarchate Hill''), is a small hill in Bucharest, Romania and an important historic, cultural, architectural, religious and touristic point in the national capi ...

, then in 1965 to a small park in Dorobanți Square. In 1997, it was placed in

Piața Romană Piața Romană (''The Roman Square'') is a major traffic intersection in Sector 1, central Bucharest. Two major boulevards intersect in Piața Romană: Lascăr Catargiu Boulevard (which runs northwest towards Piața Victoriei) and Magheru ...

, where it remained until 2009. During this time, it was stolen several times, either partially (Romulus or Remus) or entirely, but it was often recovered. It periodically disappeared for "maintenance." In 2010, it was moved once again following discussions between the

Mayor of Bucharest The mayor of Bucharest (), sometimes known as the general mayor, is the head of the Bucharest City Hall in Bucharest, Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast ...

Sorin Oprescu Sorin Mircea Oprescu (; born 7 November 1951) is a Romanian independent politician and medical doctor who previously served as Mayor of Bucharest between 2008 and 2015. Political activity Oprescu first ran for Mayor of Bucharest in 1998 backed ...

, and the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

Ambassador. They decided to place the statue on Bd. I.C. Brătianu.

References

{{reflist Monuments and memorials in Bucharest Outdoor sculptures in Bucharest Historic monuments in Bucharest Sculptures of wolves Animal sculptures in Romania 1906 sculptures She-wolf (Roman mythology)

History

See also

References