Rhea Silvia

1 9.9

A Vestal virgin in Roman myth who became mother of Romulus and Remus by Mars

proper noun

Literature

: Rea Silvia

In many retellings, Rhea Silvia was fated to give birth to Rome's legendary founders.

Examples

The myth describes how Rhea Silvia was visited by Mars in her sacred grove.
According to legend, Rhea Silvia was a vestal virgin.
Historians debate whether Rhea Silvia's story is based on a real person or is purely legend.
Was Rhea Silvia really the mother of Romulus and Remus?
In many retellings, Rhea Silvia was fated to give birth to Rome's legendary founders.
The myth describes how Rhea Silvia was visited by Mars in her sacred grove.
Historians debate whether Rhea Silvia's story is based on a real person or is purely legend.

Synonyms

Rea Silvia

vsRhea Silvia

Literature

9.9

A Roman priestess said to be the mother of Romulus and Remus by Mars

is the same vestal mother but presented in the alternative spelling form

Surface Forms

Rhea Silvia main

Morphology

Rhea + Silvia

This is a lexicalized proper name for a specific mythological person; the meaning 'a vestal virgin and mother of Romulus and Remus' cannot be derived from the constituent words. Even knowing or guessing 'Rhea' (a goddess) and the unattested 'Silvia' does not transparently indicate this cultural, referential information, so the expression is opaque to learners.

Etymology

Rhea Silvia is a figure from Roman myth: she was a sacred priestess who became pregnant by the god Mars and became the 'mother' of the twins Romulus and Remus. The babies were left by the river, saved by a she-wolf, and later became the 'founders of Rome', so the name now brings to mind that famous origin story.