Lapis+Niger+(Black+Stone)

=//Lapis Niger//=

Dates:
The //Lapis Niger// is thought to have been originally constructed in the 6th century B.C. It is thought to have been the tomb of Romulus, but was probably the tomb for Faustulus of Tullus Hostilius. It was destroyed on one occasion purposefully around 400 B.C., maybe during the sack of Rome by the Gauls in 390 B.C. The Roman Forum has always been subject to heavy erosion, and by the time of Julius and Augustus Caesar most of the old tomb had been buried. As such they built a new structure on top of the old at around the turn from B.C. into A.D.

Information:
The //Lapis Niger// is so old, that even those living in the later days of the Roman Empire didn't know what the purpose of the structure was for, only that the structure holds deep significance and reverence. Many Romans believed it to be the grave of Romulus, and it is situated on the edge of the //Comitium// (the forum for Ancient Rome before the Roman Forum was created) next to the //Umbilicus Urbis,// at the highest place of honor in the Forum. The old structure contained a //stella// burial structure and twin lion statues, as well as a plaque containing the oldest known written Latin text, dating to the 6th century B.C. The text resembles Greek and is written in alternating directions, first left to right and then right to left, common in the Ancient World. The new structure was white marble walls with black marble pavement, and contained an altar or symbolic table in the middle. Historians speculate that the structure tied in to the Vucanal, the temple of Vulcan, its remains buried next to and on the same layer as the old structure of the //Lapis Niger//.