The Rhine River God is Rhenus Pater or Father Rhine, an ageless water deity. The mystic Rhine captures the imagination of artists, poets, entrepreneurs, travelers and dreamers.
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From the Swiss Alps to North Sea, the Rhine flows past ancient towns, castles, pastoral lands and rocky bluff. At c. 1230 km (760 mi) long the Rhine flows through Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Netherlands and Liechtenstein.
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Father Rhine is patron of the Rhine and all fresh water. Recorded in early Roman sources, he's comparable to Greek and Roman gods of the sea. In the 19th century bronze below he's with wine god Bacchus, his daughters and a sword and shield at his feet.
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Father Rhine River God
In German folklore the Rhine God rules all fresh waters. In 1 AD Roman poet Martial calls him "father of nymphs and rivers". A crown of leaves adorns his flowing hair and his long beard ripples like water. He appears as a muscular man, sometimes with a fish tail.
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In modern myth Rhenus is father of the Rhine Daughters. These three nixies tease the dwarf Alberich without mercy in the heavy 19th century opera series, Ring of the Nibelungs, by German composer Richard Wagner.
The Rhine God often holds or leans on an urn. Water gushes from the urn as fresh water rises from its source ... or perhaps he turns water to wine. A fertility god, he also relates to grapes and wine, sharing this trait with Greek Dionysus and Roman Bacchus.
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Fine Rhine Wine
Sunny Rhine wine regions produce some of the best wine in the world. At Koblenz, Father Rhine meets Mother Moselle. The Moselle river flows from France and into Germany as the Mosel. Terraced vineyards there are also among the thirteen major wine regions in Germany.
The Rhine River runs through Germany and Alsace, France to form the fertile Rhine Valley. The wines created here are medium dry white. These days the phrase “Rhine wine” is also used for similar white blends and wine inspired by the Rhine.
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Riesling grapes originate in the Rhine region. Characteristics of Riesling wines include light body and heady aromas of flora and citrus. The grapes make dry, semi-sweet, sweet, and sparkling wines.
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Rhinestones - Treasures of the Rhine
Rhinestones originally come from the Rhine, gathered as shimmering clear quartz or rock crystal. Clear quartz is a favorite of river spirits. In gem lore, clear quartz is a powerful healing stone and enhances mental clarity.
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Quartz also appears in beautiful colors including purple (amethyst), yellow (citrine) and pink (rose quartz). Coloration happens due to inclusions, treatments which change molecular structure, for instance when amethyst is heated it becomes yellow citrine.
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Symbols of Father Rhine
The most prevalent symbol of Rhenus Pater is the urn, to represent the the everlasting flow of fresh water, the Rhine and the elixir of life. He might also have a crown of leaves, bunch of grapes, a fish and/or a paddle.
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A fish signifies natural abundance. Since prehistory the river is the life force of many, providing nourishment and sustenance from its waters. People hold it sacred as water is not only the essence of life, it's a portal to the Underworld or realms of mystery.
In the 1765 terracotta above, Rhenus holds his hand at the edge of the urn, separating the waters. These are estuaries Waal and Lek which flow into the North Sea, from which Rhine Father received the Latin name Rhenus bicornus (two-horned Rhenus).
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Sometimes his paddle suggests a trident, symbol of Neptune, merging with freshwater imagery just as the Rhine merges with the North Sea. It can also be a two-pronged fork representing the Waal and Lek estuaries. Rhenus protects those who travel the waterways.
Nixies
His mischievous daughters might cause trouble. Based on the 1801 legend of the Loreley and subsequent interpretations, the Rhine Daughters of Wagner's majestic opera have deep elemental influence from the nixies or Nyx of nature mythology.
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Seductive sirens in appearance, Nyx are known for luring sailors, fisherman and travelers to their doom. The Loreley spirit is a nixie who sings from the Loreley rock at the narrowest part of the Rhine.
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In early history, evidence strongly suggests some cultures make living sacrifices to the Rhine, other rivers and the seas. The spirituality of water, like caves, brings the prayers of the people closer to the gods. Burial site or shrines are located near water.
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Rhine treasure is associated with nixies, especially the mythical Rheingold. The Rheingold can be made into a ring giving the wearer limitless power, but the person must renounce love. Today's treasure hunters come to the Rhine seeking barbarian hoards.
Rhine Name Origin
The river's name comes from the Gaulish Rēnos, based on an earlier Indo-European term meaning 'to flow'. In the 1st century BC the name was adapted to Greek Rhēnos and Latin Rhenus.
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The god and the river itself are known as Father Rhine or Rhine Father (Ger. Vater Rhein, Lat. Rhenus Pater). Because of its two estuaries at the North Sea, the Waal and Lek, the Romans call the river "two-horned Rhenus" or Rhenus bicornus as described by Virgil.
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The poet Ovid refer to Rhenus cornibus fractis or Rhenus of the broken horns as an allegory for subjugation of German tribes by the Romans. Later, the Rhine Father is a favorite theme of German Romantic artists and writers in the early 19th century.