Abstract

In this study the foundation of Rome is investigated in order to identify the events which inspired the mythology. In particular, the peoples that inhabitated ancient Lazio at the time of the rise of Rome are studied to the aim of determining their contribution to the origin of the city. The names of these peoples are then recognised as hidden in the names of the heroes or the cities remembered in the foundation myths. Lastly, the events reported in the mythology are reinterpreted by using a recent diffusion model which was defined by analysing the time and space distributions of ancient and current geographical names, ethnonyms, and eponyms.