Rhea Silvia
Roman · mortal · pre urban · Recorded classification
Mortal princess of Alba Longa; daughter of the deposed king Numitor; forced into Vestal virginity by her usurping uncle Amulius to prevent her bearing heirs to the Alban throne. Conceived Romulus and Remus by Mars during the rites. Imprisoned (or drowned in the Tiber per Horace and Ovid) after the twins' birth; tradition has her becoming the bride of the river-god Tiberinus or Anio after death — preserving her in deified form. Mythic ancestress of Rome.
Parentage
- parent: Numitor
Children
Epithets
- Ilia the Trojan woman (the older Ennian name)Ennius, Annales; Horace, Odes 1 (primary)
Relations
- lover: MarsMars came to her in the sacred grove while she was drawing water for the Vestal rites; she conceived the twins.Liv. 1.4.2; Ov. Fast. 3.11-44 (primary)
- spouse: TiberinusReciprocal of roman_tiberinus.spouse (alphabetical family sweep). (auto reciprocal)