Tiberinus

Amulius seized the throne of Alba Longa from his older brother, Numitor, who had inherited it from King Proca. Numitor descended from Aeneas and had been the rightful successor. Amulius sent him to live on a small farm nearby. He then ordered the deaths of Numitor’s two sons, fearing that they would reclaim the throne. He banished Numitor’s daughter, Rhea Silvia, to the temple of Vesta. There she became a Vestal Virgin and vowed to remain chaste for thirty years. Amulius believed that this would prevent her from bearing heirs. Rhea Silvia nevertheless gave birth to twin boys, Romulus and Remus. In one telling, Mars took her against her will in his sacred grove and fathered the children. In another, the river god Tiberinus rescued Rhea Silvia and became her consort. Amulius grew furious when he heard of the births. He ordered that Rhea Silvia and the infants be drowned in the Tiber, because he feared that they threatened his throne. The babies were placed in the river and drifted away. In one telling, they floated in a tub until it struck a stone and overturned, casting them into the river mud. A she-wolf heard their cries, carried them to her cave, and suckled them. A woodpecker flew above them, guarded them, and brought them food. Local shepherds eventually found the twins. They took Romulus and Remus in and raised them, while the brothers remained connected to the royal line of Alba Longa.