The Legendary Origins of Siena

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A short distance from the Piazza del Campo, there is a circular bas-relief of two babies, one in the act of extracting the other's tooth. This curious sculpture once advertised the business of a local dentist, who was amusingly capitalising on the city's legendary origins. 

For centuries the citizens of Siena peddled the myth that their city was founded by Senius and Ascius, the sons of Remus, twin brother of Romulus (the legendary founder of Rome). Hence the prevalence throughout the city of the image of the she-wolf (lupa) suckling twins.

The story goes that one brother rode a white horse, the other a black horse, which gave rise to the Balzana, the city’s communal black and white shield.

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The Lupa Senese

The Balzana