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Elizabeth A.Sackler Center for Feminist Art

Hersilia

Mythic, worshipped in ancient Rome, circa 753 B.C.E.–C.E. 476

Hersilia, the daughter of Titus Tatius, king of Sabine, was married to Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome. Under Romulus, the Romans abducted many of the Sabine women to populate their new colony and the Sabines attacked Rome in retaliation. Hersilia and the other Sabine women negotiated the conflict, convincing Romulus and Tatius to coexist peacefully as joint rulers of both territories. Tatius, however, died soon after the agreement was reached, a possible assassination.