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Rhea Silvia (also written as Rea Silvia), and also known as Ilia , was the mythical mother of the twins Romulus and Remus, who founded the city of Rome. Her story is told in the first book of ''Ab Urbe Condita'' of Livy and in fragments from Ennius, ''Annales''〔Ennius, ''Annales'', I, fr. 19, as well as Cicero, ''Divinatio in Caecilium'' 1.30,〕 and Fabius Pictor.〔In ''Fragmente der griechischen Historiker'' 809 f4a.〕 == The Legend == According to Livy's account of the legend she was the daughter of Numitor, king of Alba Longa, and descended from Aeneas. Numitor's younger brother Amulius seized the throne and killed Numitor's son, then forced Rhea Silvia to become a Vestal Virgin, a priestess of the goddess Vesta. As Vestal Virgins were sworn to celibacy for a period of thirty years, this would ensure the line of Numitor had no heirs. However, Rhea Silvia conceived and gave birth to the twins Romulus and Remus. She claimed that the god Mars was the father of the children. Livy says that she was raped by an unknown man, but "declared Mars to be the father of her illegitimate offspring, either because she really imagined it to be the case, or because it was less discreditable to have committed such an offence with a god."〔Livy, ''Ab Urbe Condita'', Book 1.〕 When Amulius learned of the birth he imprisoned Rhea Silvia and ordered a servant to kill the twins. But the servant showed mercy and set them adrift on the river Tiber, which, overflowing, left the infants in a pool by the bank. There a she-wolf (''lupa''), who had just lost her own cubs, suckled them.〔The she-wolf is memorialised in the Medieval bronze Capitoline Wolf, a symbol of Rome.〕 Subsequently Faustulus rescued the boys, to be raised by his wife Larentia.〔Some are of the opinion that Larentia was called Lupa among the shepherds from her being a common prostitute, and hence an opening was afforded for the marvellous story (Livy).〕 The god of the Tiber, Tiberinus, rescued Rhea Silvia and took her to be his bride. Romulus and Remus went on to found Rome, overthrow Amulius, and reinstate Numitor as King of Alba Longa. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Rhea Silvia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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