Tiberinus

One of the mythical kings of Alba, son of Capetus and father of Agrippa. He is said to have been drowned in crossing the river Albula (Alba), which was hence called Tiberis (Tiber) after him, and of which he became the guardian god. According to tradition, he rescued Rhea Silvia when she was thrown in the river and made her his consort.

A shrine dedicated to him was situated on the island of the Tiber, Insula Tiberina, and here offerings were made to him on December 8. Fishermen celebrated special games in his honor, the ludi piscatorii, on June 7. Tiberus was regularly invoked by the augurs in their prayers.1

Tiberinus is also mentioned as the father of Ocnus by Manto.2 When Aeneas and his Trojan exiles arrived in Latium and sailed upstream the river, the god is said to have helped them. Later Tiberinus appeared to Aeneas to advise him.3

❧

Iconography

A large statue in the Louvre represents Tiberinus in a reclining position, as a victor crowned with bay, holding in one hand a rudder and in the other a cornucopia. A she-wolf and Romulus and Remus stand by his side.

References

Notes

  1. Cicero. On the Nature of the Gods iii, 20.
  2. Aeneid x, 199.
  3. ibid. viii, 36, 86.

Sources

  • Dionysius, i, 71.
  • Livy. The History of Rome i, 3.
  • Ovid. Metamorphoses xiv, 609-622; xv, 622-745.
  • Smith, William. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Taylor, Walton, and Maberly.
  • Varro. On the Latin Language v, 29, 71.