ABSTRACT
Mother of the sixth legendary king of Rome, Servius Tullius. She was believed to be a slave-woman who had been taken at the fall of the town of Corniculum. The story which grew around the origin of the king elevated his mother to royal birth. But the identity of his father was surrounded by a mystery suggesting divine origin. It was said that Ocrisia saw a phallus rise out of the hearth, and reported the phenomenon to her master King Tarquinius Priscus of Rome. After consulting his wife Tanaquil, the king made Ocrisia stand before the fire dressed in a bridal gown. She was mysteriously impregnated, and subsequently gave birth to Servius Tullius.
