Tiberinus - Revision history

Gaius Ambrosius Artorus Iustinus at 03:58, 14 May 2010

2010-05-14T03:58:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:58, 14 May 2010
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	Little is known about Tiberinus, although scholars have attempted to reconstruct his myth and role in the [[Cultus deorum Romanorum\|cultus deorum]].		Little is known about Tiberinus, although scholars have attempted to reconstruct his myth and role in the [[Cultus deorum Romanorum\|cultus deorum]].
−
−	Surviving fragments suggest the Tiberinus was honored under the name [[Volturnus]]. However, the identification encounters immediate difficulties. The tutelary God of the Tiber was almost certainly named ''Tiberinus'' by the Latins, while the Volturnus is a river in Campania. The prevailing view among scholars is that Volturnus was the cult name of the Tiber's God<ref>Cf. Einar Gjerstad, ''Early Rome''. Lund: C. W. K. Gleerup (1953), 25. This was the view of Theodor Mommsen, ''Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL)'', 327; but see Georges Dumézil, ''Archaic Roman Religion''. Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr. (1966, 1996), 388-89</ref>.
−
−	A minority view among scholars is that Volturnus was a generic God of rivers<ref>Cf. Shailer Mathews and Gerald Birney Smith, ''A Dictionary of Religion and Ethics'' sub ''Roman Religion''. Macmillan (1921), 384</ref>, and gave his name both to the Tiber and the Volturno.

	==Mythology==		==Mythology==

−	Under Greek influence, the Romans included Tiberinus as one of the Oceanids, the 3,000 children of [[Oceanus]] and [[Tethys]]. Each of these children was the patron of a particular river, spring or lake.	+	Under Greek influence, the Romans included Tiberinus as one of the [[Oceanids]], the 3,000 children of [[Oceanus]] and [[Tethys]]. Each of these children was the patron of a particular river, spring or lake.

	According to ancient authorities, the Tiber river was originally called ''Albula''. It it said to have been renamed ''Tiberis'', but details vary.		According to ancient authorities, the Tiber river was originally called ''Albula''. It it said to have been renamed ''Tiberis'', but details vary.
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	Its true and ancient name of Albula.<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 1.8</ref>		Its true and ancient name of Albula.<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 1.8</ref>

−	Another version says the river was renamed for [[Tiberinus Silvius]], the ninth legendary king of Alba Longa, who drowned there.	+	Another version says the river was renamed for [[Tiberinus Silvius]], the ninth legendary king of [[Alba Longa]], who drowned there.

−	~~Vergil identified Tiberinus with Turnus, and says he aided Aeneas on his journey advising him to settle in Latium<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 10.198 ff.</ref>.~~ Tiberinus found the twins Romulus and Remus, gave them to the she-wolf [[Lupa]] to suckle, then rescued and married their mother.	+	Tiberinus found the twins Romulus and Remus, gave them to the she-wolf [[Lupa]] to suckle, then rescued and married their mother.

	==Correspondences to Other Gods==		==Correspondences to Other Gods==

−	===~~Janus~~===	+	===Tiberinus===

−	~~Some scholars equate~~ Tiberinus ~~with~~ [[~~Janus~~]], the ~~Roman calendrical god, but~~ by the ~~time~~ of the ~~late Republic Tiberinus~~ was ~~conventionally regarded as father~~ of ~~Janus~~' ~~wife [[Juturna]]~~.	+	Surviving fragments suggest the Tiberinus might have been honored under the name [[Volturnus]]. However, the identification encounters immediate difficulties. The tutelary God of the Tiber was almost certainly named ''Tiberinus'' by the Latins, while the Volturnus is a river in Campania. The prevailing view among scholars is that Volturnus was the cult name of the Tiber's God<ref>Cf. Einar Gjerstad, ''Early Rome''. Lund: C. W. K. Gleerup (1953), 25. This was the view of Theodor Mommsen, ''Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL)'', 327; but see Georges Dumézil, ''Archaic Roman Religion''. Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr. (1966, 1996), 388-89</ref>.
		+
		+	A minority view among scholars is that Volturnus was a generic God of rivers<ref>Cf. Shailer Mathews and Gerald Birney Smith, ''A Dictionary of Religion and Ethics'' sub ''Roman Religion''. Macmillan (1921), 384</ref>, and gave his name both to the Tiber and the Volturno.

	===Portunus===		===Portunus===

−	Mommsen identified Tiberinus ~~with Volturnus, as well as~~ with [[Portunus]], on the basis of a late calendar where the Portinalia is also called the Tiberinalia.<ref>''CIL'' citing Fast. Philocal.'', 327</ref>. Further, the sacrifices on that day were held "in porto Tiberindo."<ref>Varro, ''Lingua Latine'' 6.19</ref>	+	Mommsen identified Tiberinus with [[Portunus]] as well as Volturnus, on the basis of a late calendar where the Portinalia is also called the Tiberinalia.<ref>''CIL'' citing Fast. Philocal.'', 327</ref>. Further, the sacrifices on that day were held "in porto Tiberindo."<ref>Varro, ''Lingua Latine'' 6.19</ref>

	===Turnus===		===Turnus===

−	By the time of the Late Republic, Tiberinus was identified with the Latin hero [[Turnus]], King of the Rutuli. In the Trojan legend, Vergil identified Iuturna, daughter of Tiberinus and wife of Janus, as the sister of Turnus<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 12; Amanda Claridge, ''Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide''. New York: Oxford University Press (1998), 95</ref>. Aeneas, on his journey to Rome, defeated Turnus.	+	By the time of the Late Republic, Tiberinus was identified with the Latin hero [[Turnus]], King of the Rutuli. In the Trojan legend, Vergil identified Tiberinus with Turnus, and says he aided Aeneas on his journey advising him to settle in Latium<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 10.198 ff.</ref>. Vergil identified Iuturna, daughter of Tiberinus and wife of Janus, as the sister of Turnus<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 12; Amanda Claridge, ''Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide''. New York: Oxford University Press (1998), 95</ref>. Aeneas, on his journey to Rome, defeated Turnus.
		+
		+	===Janus===
		+
		+	Some scholars equate Tiberinus with [[Janus]], the Roman calendrical god, but by the time of the late Republic Tiberinus (as Turnus) was conventionally regarded as father of Janus' wife [[Juturna]].

	==Consorts and Children==		==Consorts and Children==
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	===Rhea Silvia===		===Rhea Silvia===

−	[[Rhea Silvia]] was a [[Vestal ~~Virgin~~]], seduced by [[Mars]]. When she gave birth to the twins [[Romulus]] and [[Remus]], the twins were exposed and she was sentenced to death by her uncle. Tiberinus found the twins, gave them to the she-wolf Lupa to suckle, then rescued and married their mother.	+	[[Rhea Silvia]] was a [[Vestal Virgins\|vestal virgin]], seduced by [[Mars]]. When she gave birth to the twins [[Romulus]] and [[Remus]], the twins were exposed and she was sentenced to death by her uncle. Tiberinus found the twins, gave them to the she-wolf Lupa to suckle, then rescued and married their mother.

	===Ocnus===		===Ocnus===
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	Through Iuturna, Tiberinus was a grandfather of [[Fontus]]. Fontus (or Fons), was the god/dess of springs. The [[Fontinalia]], in her honor, was held {{Oct 13}} when springs in Rome begin to flow again after the summer heat.		Through Iuturna, Tiberinus was a grandfather of [[Fontus]]. Fontus (or Fons), was the god/dess of springs. The [[Fontinalia]], in her honor, was held {{Oct 13}} when springs in Rome begin to flow again after the summer heat.
		+
		+	===Gens Tiberius===

	==Cult==		==Cult==
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	===Argeia===		===Argeia===

−	~~There are hints that human sacrifice might have once honored Tiberinus.~~ Each May 15th, 24 rush puppets tied hand and foot, called ''Argei'' were taken in a procession of magistrates, pontifices and ~~Vestals~~ to the Sublician Bridge, where the Vestals cast the puppets into the Tiber. The puppets were believed by the common people of the time to be substitutes for old men, who had once been the victims. <ref>William Warde Fowler, ''The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic'' (Macmillan Co., 1898), 57, 112-113; Rodolfo Amedeo Lanciani, ''New Tales of Old Rome'' (Rome: Houghton Mifflin & Co., 1901), 16.</ref>	+	Each May 15th, 24 rush puppets tied hand and foot, called ''Argei'', were taken in a procession of magistrates, pontifices and [[Vestal Virgins\|Vestal virgins]] to the Sublician Bridge, where the Vestals cast the puppets into the Tiber. The puppets were believed by the common people of the time to be substitutes for old men, who had once been the victims.<ref>William Warde Fowler, ''The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic'' (Macmillan Co., 1898), 57, 112-113; Rodolfo Amedeo Lanciani, ''New Tales of Old Rome'' (Rome: Houghton Mifflin & Co., 1901), 16.</ref>

	==Epigraphy==		==Epigraphy==

Gaius Ambrosius Artorus Iustinus: New page: {{LanguageBar |Volturnus}} Volturnus. Tiberis Pater. The Roman god Tiberinus, or ''Tiberis Pater'', was one of...

2010-05-13T17:54:45Z

New page: {{LanguageBar |Volturnus}} Volturnus. Tiberis Pater. The Roman god Tiberinus, or ''Tiberis Pater'', was one of...

New page

{{LanguageBar |Volturnus}}

[[Image:Volturnus.jpg|frame|right|Volturnus.]]
[[Image:Tiberis_Pater.jpg|frame|right|Tiberis Pater.]]

The Roman god Tiberinus, or ''Tiberis Pater'', was one of the greatest Gods of ancient Rome. He was one of the [[Dii Indigetes]], but was not served by any known priest or flamen.

==Etymology==

The name Tiber is perhaps pre-Latin, a cognate of the Roman name of Tibur (modern Tivoli). It may be Etruscan or Italic in origin, possibly akin to the Celtic root-word dubr, "water". The same root is believed to be the source of the Latin praenomen Tiberius, and its Etruscan cognate, Thefarie.

==History==

Little is known about Tiberinus, although scholars have attempted to reconstruct his myth and role in the [[Cultus deorum Romanorum|cultus deorum]].

Surviving fragments suggest the Tiberinus was honored under the name [[Volturnus]]. However, the identification encounters immediate difficulties. The tutelary God of the Tiber was almost certainly named ''Tiberinus'' by the Latins, while the Volturnus is a river in Campania. The prevailing view among scholars is that Volturnus was the cult name of the Tiber's God<ref>Cf. Einar Gjerstad, ''Early Rome''. Lund: C. W. K. Gleerup (1953), 25. This was the view of Theodor Mommsen, ''Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL)'', 327; but see Georges Dumézil, ''Archaic Roman Religion''. Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr. (1966, 1996), 388-89</ref>.

A minority view among scholars is that Volturnus was a generic God of rivers<ref>Cf. Shailer Mathews and Gerald Birney Smith, ''A Dictionary of Religion and Ethics'' sub ''Roman Religion''. Macmillan (1921), 384</ref>, and gave his name both to the Tiber and the Volturno.

==Mythology==

Under Greek influence, the Romans included Tiberinus as one of the Oceanids, the 3,000 children of [[Oceanus]] and [[Tethys]]. Each of these children was the patron of a particular river, spring or lake.

According to ancient authorities, the Tiber river was originally called ''Albula''. It it said to have been renamed ''Tiberis'', but details vary.

Vergil says the river was re-named for Thybris, an ancient king. He has [[Evander]] recount the history of the area to [[Aeneas]], saying:

There were Kings, for instance Thybris with his vast
Body from whom in after times we Italians
Have named the river Tiber, and it lost
Its true and ancient name of Albula.<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 1.8</ref>

Another version says the river was renamed for [[Tiberinus Silvius]], the ninth legendary king of Alba Longa, who drowned there.

Vergil identified Tiberinus with Turnus, and says he aided Aeneas on his journey advising him to settle in Latium<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 10.198 ff.</ref>. Tiberinus found the twins Romulus and Remus, gave them to the she-wolf [[Lupa]] to suckle, then rescued and married their mother.

==Correspondences to Other Gods==

===Janus===

Some scholars equate Tiberinus with [[Janus]], the Roman calendrical god, but by the time of the late Republic Tiberinus was conventionally regarded as father of Janus' wife [[Juturna]].

===Portunus===

Mommsen identified Tiberinus with Volturnus, as well as with [[Portunus]], on the basis of a late calendar where the Portinalia is also called the Tiberinalia.<ref>''CIL'' citing Fast. Philocal.'', 327</ref>. Further, the sacrifices on that day were held "in porto Tiberindo."<ref>Varro, ''Lingua Latine'' 6.19</ref>

===Turnus===

By the time of the Late Republic, Tiberinus was identified with the Latin hero [[Turnus]], King of the Rutuli. In the Trojan legend, Vergil identified Iuturna, daughter of Tiberinus and wife of Janus, as the sister of Turnus<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 12; Amanda Claridge, ''Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide''. New York: Oxford University Press (1998), 95</ref>. Aeneas, on his journey to Rome, defeated Turnus.

==Consorts and Children==

===Albunea===

[[Albunea]] was probably the original cult partner, and perhaps the wife, of Albula, the ancient name of the Tiber river. Albunea was a nymph who resided near Tivoli (anc. Tibur) at a sulfuric spring on the Aniene (anc. Anio) river, where she had a small temple above the falls. She was the Tiburtine sibyl, the tenth in a series of famous [[sibyl|sibyls]]. From Etruscan times, it was the seat of the Tiburtine Sibyl. Originally a colony of [[Alba Longa]], Tivoli was conquered by the Sabines, and later defeated and absorbed by the Romans in 338 BCE.

"The Tiburtine Sibyl, by name Albunea, is worshiped at Tibur as a goddess, near the banks of the Anio, in which stream her image is said to have been found, holding a book in her hand. Her oracular responses the Senate transferred into the capitol."<ref>Lactantius, ''Divine Institutes'' 1.6, citing Varro.</ref>

===Manto===

Tiberinus was the husband of [[Manto]]. Her legend is Greek rather than Roman. She was a daughter of Tiresias, the blind prophet, who in turn was the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph Chariclo. Tiresias died after drinking water from a spring, and apparently became an oracular hero, for he was visited in the underworld by Odysseus. Manto is said to have been brought to Delphi as a war prize during the War of the Epigonoi. Apollo sent her to Colophon to found an oracle devoted to him. Instead, she went to Italy, where she married Tiberinus.<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 10.199</ref>

===Rhea Silvia===

[[Rhea Silvia]] was a [[Vestal Virgin]], seduced by [[Mars]]. When she gave birth to the twins [[Romulus]] and [[Remus]], the twins were exposed and she was sentenced to death by her uncle. Tiberinus found the twins, gave them to the she-wolf Lupa to suckle, then rescued and married their mother.

===Ocnus===

[[Ocnus]] is said to have been son of Tiberinus and [[Manto]]. Ocnus is said to have founded Mantua, which he named for his mother. Alternatively, Mantuaa was named after another Manto, who was a daughter of Heracles, or after Mantus, the Etruscan God of the Underworld.

However, other authorities make Ocnus a son or brother of [[Auletes]] and the founder of Bologna (anc. Felsina).<ref>Vergil, ''Aeneid'' 10.198</ref>

===Iuturna===

Tiberinus was the father (or lover) of [[Iuturna]], the [[Camenae|Camena]] who was wife (or daughter) of [[Janus]], the calendar god. [[Iuppiter]] turned her into a nymph and gave her a spring near Lavinium on the Numicus river. Iuturna was later associated with a pool near the temple of Vesta in the Forum Romanum.

===Fontus===

Through Iuturna, Tiberinus was a grandfather of [[Fontus]]. Fontus (or Fons), was the god/dess of springs. The [[Fontinalia]], in her honor, was held {{Oct 13}} when springs in Rome begin to flow again after the summer heat.

==Cult==

Tiberinus was able, when propitiated, to heal the diseases that his waters were supposed to bring.<ref>Walter Addison Jayne, ''Healing Gods of Ancient Civilizations''. (Kessinger Publishing Company, 1925, 2003), 440-41</ref>.

A common feature of Mediterranean river gods is the belief that crossing a river angers its tutelary spirit. We see this belief indirectly in connection with the Romans. One of the omens of Caesar's impending assassination: "Soon after this, news reached Caesar that the herd of horses which he dedicated to the spirit of the River Rubicon, after his crossing, who were allowed to roam freely in the valley, were showing disdain for the pasture, and crying copious amount of tears."

==Festivals==

===Argeia===

There are hints that human sacrifice might have once honored Tiberinus. Each May 15th, 24 rush puppets tied hand and foot, called ''Argei'' were taken in a procession of magistrates, pontifices and Vestals to the Sublician Bridge, where the Vestals cast the puppets into the Tiber. The puppets were believed by the common people of the time to be substitutes for old men, who had once been the victims. <ref>William Warde Fowler, ''The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic'' (Macmillan Co., 1898), 57, 112-113; Rodolfo Amedeo Lanciani, ''New Tales of Old Rome'' (Rome: Houghton Mifflin & Co., 1901), 16.</ref>

==Epigraphy==

There is an extensive body of epigraphy concerning Tiberinus and the Tiber river.

==Iconography==

The most famous representation of Father Tiber is a 17th century statue on the Capitoline.

==References==

<references/>

==Further Reading==

===Primary Sources===

''Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL)''.

Festus, ''ap. Paul. Diac.'' v. Volturnalia.

Lactantius, ''Divine Institutes''.

Lucretius, ''De Rerum Natura''.

''Prop.'' 6.2.

Varro, ''Lingua Latine''.

Vergil, ''Aeneid''.

===Secondary Sources===

Georges Dumézil, ''Archaic Roman Religion''. Johns Hopkins Univ. Pr. (1966, 1996).

Joel Le Gall, ''Recherches sur le culte du Tibre'' (Paris 1953), pp. 40-56, "Les prétendus dieux du Tibre".

==External Links==

This article incorporates the text of an article of the same name, originally published in 2004 at Gens Ambrosia, http://www.ambrosii.com.

[[Category:Roman Gods]]