Myth and Folklore Wiki
(rhea silvae's brothers)
mNo edit summary
(14 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{Stub}}[[File:501px-'Mars_and_the_Vestal_Virgin',_oil_on_canvas_painting_by_Jacques_Blanchard,_ca._1630,_Art_Gallery_of_New_South_Wales.jpg|thumb|Rhea Silvia visited by Mars]]
Hey bryn...
 
Rhea Silvia is best known for being the mother of [[Romulus]] and [[Remus]]. Also known as Ilia, she was a priestess in Alba Longa, pre-Roman Italy. She was fathered by Numitor, king of Alba Longa, and an undocumented mother. Numitor's brother, Amulius, stole the throne from Numitor and killed Rhea Silvia's brother. Her surviving brother who would later become to be known as Deirdre of the Walsh men escaped, but was no threat to Amulius, so he was allowed to live.
+
'''Rhea Silvia''' is the mother of [[Romulus]] and [[Remus]]. Also known as Ilia, she was a priestess of [[Vesta]] in [[Alba Longa]], Italy. She was fathered by [[Numitor]], king of Alba Longa, and an undocumented mother. She was a 14th generation descendant of [[Aeneas]] in the direct male line.
   
The story really begins when [[Mars]], the god of war, was "attracted" to Rhea Silvia. Taking a drastic first step, he swooped down in the night and raped her. She bore him two surprisingly large sons, Romulus and Remus.
+
Numitor's brother, [[Amulius]], stole the throne from Numitor and killed Rhea Silvia's brother. He forced her to become a [[Vestal Virgins|Vestal Virgin]] and take a vow of celibacy. [[Mars]], the god of war, was attracted to Rhea Silvia. He swooped down in the night and raped her. She bore him two sons, Romulus and Remus.
   
When Amulius found out about this, he ordered Rhea Silvia buried alive for breaking her vow of celibacy. He also ordered the twins to be executed by exposure, but the servant ordered to do it took mercy and set the twins adrift in a basket down the Tiber River.
+
[[File:Rubens_-_Mars_et_Rhea_Silvia.jpg|thumb]]When Amulius found out about this, he ordered Rhea Silvia buried alive for breaking her vow of celibacy. He also ordered the twins to be executed by exposure, but the servant ordered to do it took mercy and set the twins adrift in a basket down the Tiber River, however, they were rescued and raised by a she-wolf. They eventually restored their grandfather to the throne of Alba Longa and went on to found Rome.
   
Rhea Silvia may only have been named because of her deeds. Rea means "guilty," and Silvia means "of the forest," so that her name might mean "guilty woman of the forest," or guilty of breaking her vow of celibacy while in the forest. This connection was made by Niebuhr.
+
Rhea Silvia may only have been named because of her deeds. Rea means "guilty," and Silvia means "of the forest," so that her name might mean "guilty woman of the forest," or guilty of breaking her vow of celibacy while in the forest. This connection was made by Niebuhr. In some myths, the [[Potamoi| river-god]] [[Tiber ]] takes pity on her and she becomes a minor river-goddes and his wife.
   
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_Silvia Wikipedia]
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_Silvia Wikipedia]
  +
[[Category:Humans]]
 
  +
[[Category:House of Dardanus]]
  +
[[Category:Water Spirits]]
  +
[[Category:Gods of Water]]
 
[[Category:Roman mythology]]
 
[[Category:Roman mythology]]

Revision as of 19:19, 29 November 2017

501px-'Mars and the Vestal Virgin', oil on canvas painting by Jacques Blanchard, ca

Rhea Silvia visited by Mars

Rhea Silvia is the mother of Romulus and Remus. Also known as Ilia, she was a priestess of Vesta in Alba Longa, Italy. She was fathered by Numitor, king of Alba Longa, and an undocumented mother. She was a 14th generation descendant of Aeneas in the direct male line.

Numitor's brother, Amulius, stole the throne from Numitor and killed Rhea Silvia's brother. He forced her to become a Vestal Virgin and take a vow of celibacy. Mars, the god of war, was attracted to Rhea Silvia. He swooped down in the night and raped her. She bore him two sons, Romulus and Remus.

Rubens - Mars et Rhea Silvia

When Amulius found out about this, he ordered Rhea Silvia buried alive for breaking her vow of celibacy. He also ordered the twins to be executed by exposure, but the servant ordered to do it took mercy and set the twins adrift in a basket down the Tiber River, however, they were rescued and raised by a she-wolf. They eventually restored their grandfather to the throne of Alba Longa and went on to found Rome.

Rhea Silvia may only have been named because of her deeds. Rea means "guilty," and Silvia means "of the forest," so that her name might mean "guilty woman of the forest," or guilty of breaking her vow of celibacy while in the forest. This connection was made by Niebuhr. In some myths, the river-god Tiber takes pity on her and she becomes a minor river-goddes and his wife.

References