Tiberinus (god)

This article is about the Roman deity. For the legendary king ofAlba Longa,seeTiberinus Silvius.

Tiberinus (statue from theCampidoglio, Rome).

Tiberinusis a figure inRoman mythology.He was the god of theTiber River.He was added to the 3,000 rivers (sons ofOceanusandTethys), as thegeniusof the Tiber.

Mythology

According to Book VIII ofVirgil's epicAeneid,Tiberinus helpedAeneasafter his arrival in Italy fromTroy,suggesting to him that he seek an alliance withEvander of Pallenein the war againstTurnusand his allies (seefounding of Rome). Tiberinus appeared to Aeneas in a dream, telling him he had arrived at his true home. Tiberinus also calmed the water so that Aeneas' boat was able to reach the city safely.WithManto,Tiberinus was the father ofOcnus.

According toLivy,author ofAb Urbe Condita,the first name of the river Tiber was Albula, and Tiberinus was one of thekingsofAlba Longa,who drowned in crossing this river, and gave the river his name.

Tiberinus is also known as the river god who found the twinsRomulus and Remusand gave them to the she-wolfLupa(who had just lost her own cubs) to suckle. He later rescued and marriedRhea Silvia,the mother of the twins and aVestal Virginwho had been sentenced to death.

Worship

Tiberinus was considered to be one of the most important river-gods and people made sure to put offerings in the Tiber River every May. Tiberinus was honored with twenty-seven straw dummies which were calledArgei.

Gallery

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  Aeneasand TiberinusbyBartolomeo Pinelli
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  Altar, showing Tiberinus (bottom right) revealing the twins