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New Italian TV show to tell story of Rome’s birth… in Latin

Work has begun on Romulus, a new TV drama that will tell the story of Rome's legendary founder – in an early form of Latin.

New Italian TV show to tell story of Rome's birth... in Latin
People dress up every April to reenact the legendary founding of Rome. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

The series, which is being produced by the same studio responsible for modern-day Italian hits Gomorrah and Suburra, will air on Sky Italia with an international release likely to follow.

READ ALSO: Three new Italian original series are coming to Netflix

It will be directed by Matteo Rovere, an Italian film director who has already told the Romulus story once before in his movie epic The First King, which was also scripted in archaic Latin.

He described the new show as “a story about feelings, war, brotherhood, courage and fear”.

Watch a preview of the shoot here:

The ten-part series will present “a highly realistic reconstruction of the events that led to the foundation of Rome”, Rovere promised in the press release, “but above all, it is an investigation into the origins and the profound meaning of power in the West”.

The world-changing events will be seen through the eyes of three minor characters, including a vestal virgin, who decide not to follow the fates expected of them.

Shooting is due to begin in Lazio – the region around Rome where the original Romulus is supposed to have hailed from – in June. Filming is expected to involve full recreations of two cities, 700 stunt performers and thousands of extras.


A sketch of the set design, courtesy of Sky Italia.

According to legend, Romulus and his twin brother Remus were cast out at birth by their great-uncle, who had usurped the rightful king, their grandfather, and was wary of the newborns' claim to the throne. Suckled by a she-wolf and raised by shepherds, they grew up to be natural leaders, helped restore their grandfather to the throne and, upon discovering their true identity, set out to found a city of their own.

After a disagreement over which of the seven hills to settle on and disputed omens from the gods, Romulus murdered his brother (or had someone else do it) and built his city on the Palatine Hill. His name, along with the wolf that nursed him, has represented the city ever since.

The all-Italian series will capitalize on “the most recognizable brand of our country, Rome, which is once again set to attract worldwide attention with a great story to tell – that of the founding of the Eternal City and its myth,” said Nicola Maccanico, Sky Italia's executive vice president of programming.

“Our history, the most proudly local of all.”

READ ALSO: Six Italian series worth watching beyond My Brilliant Friend

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ROME

Did you know: Rome wasn’t Italy’s first capital city?

With its prestigious history, famous landmarks and breathtaking art, Rome is known all over the world as Italy's capital. But was it always that way?

Did you know: Rome wasn't Italy's first capital city?

Rome is often one of the first cities to crop up when thinking of European capitals, and it’s easy to see why: its multiple treasures, including the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona, make it one of the most instantly recognisable cities in Europe, if not in the world.

But Rome hasn’t always been Italy’s capital.

In fact, there have been two Italian capitals other than the Eternal City since Italy’s Unification in 1861: Turin and Florence.

Currently the capital of Italy’s northwestern Piedmont region, Turin’s tenure as the country’s capital was fairly short-lived.

The northern city first became capital of the Kingdom of Savoy in 1559, it then became the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1713 and eventually it became capital of the Kingdom of Italy on March 17th 1861, the day that marked the country’s unification.

Turin, Italy

A view of the Mole Antonelliana, one of Turin’s most recognisable landmarks. Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP

By 1865 however, Turin had already lost its capital status to Florence. 

The transition wasn’t exactly smooth though as the local population took to the streets to rebel against the decision on September 21st 1864. What followed is now known as the Turin massacre, in which around 60 civilians were killed.

Florence’s capital status was not long-lived either as in February 1871 – just six years after the transfer to the Tuscan city – Rome formally became the new capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

That’s not all however: a small town in southwestern Sicily claims to have been the first Italian capital as it was supposedly proclaimed so by Giuseppe Garibaldi – an Italian general that was among the leading contributors to Italy’s unification and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy – on May 14th 1860. The Sicilian town claims to have held the title for a day.

That said, according to history books, there have only been three capital cities in Italy: Turin, Florence and Rome.

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