Tiberinus's Argument

Nature is also heavily featured in the scene when Tiberinus speaks to Aeneas. Tiberinus as the god of the Tiber is very relevant to Roman readers because the city depends on the river for transportation, trade, and more. Tiberinus as the personification of the Tiber river is a very natural god. He is described as “deus..loci” which means god of the place. Since book 8 happens near and at where Rome will be, place and locality are emphasized. In his actual speech he uses complex language and gives a prophecy both of which serve to raise his status.
An example of his complex speech is the indirect statement “ne vana putes haec fingere somnum” meaning lest you think that sleep creates these false things. Indirect statements, as their name suggests,