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BBC NEWS | World | Europe | 'Mythical Roman cave' unearthed: "The cave believed to be the Lupercal was found near the ruins of Emperor Augustus' palace on the Palatine hill."

A camera probe sent into the cave revealed a ceiling covered in shells, mosaics and coloured marble and with a white eagle at the centre.

The Palatine hill is covered in palaces and other ancient monuments, from the 8th Century BC remains of Rome's first buildings to a mediaeval fortress and Renaissance villas.

After being closed for decades due to risk of collapse, parts of the hill will re-open to the public in February after a 12m-euro ($17.7m) restoration programme.