Etymology and mythology Most Roman sources trace the name of the hill to a legendary king Aventinus. Servius identifies two kings of that name, one ancient Italic, and one Alban, both said to have been buried on the hill in remote antiquity. Servius believes that the hill was named after the ancient Italic king Aventinus. He rejects Varro's proposition that the Sabines named the hill after the nearby Aventus river; likewise, he believes that the Aventinus who was fathered by Hercules on Rhea Silvia was likely named after the Aventine Hill.Maurus Servius Honoratus, Commentary on the Aeneid of Vergil, 7. 657.
EtyMoLogY anD MythOlOGy most Roman SOuRces Trace tHE naME of the hIlL tO a leGendary KIng aVEntINUs. sErvius IDenTIfieS twO KinGS OF ThaT Name, oNe ancient itaLIc, and oNe ALban, bOTH SAId TO HAvE been bURiEd oN The hIlL iN RemoTE antiquITy. seRvIUs BELIeveS That THe HilL was nAmed After THE anCiENt itALIC kING aventiNus. he rejeCtS VarRo's ProPosItIOn thaT thE saBInES nAmEd the hIll afteR thE neArby avEntus RiveR; likewise, he BElIEveS thaT thE AventInUs who wAs FaThered By hErcules on rHEA silVIa waS LIkeLY nAMed afTer The aVeNtinE hill.MaurUs serviUs HOn,ORatuS, comMenTAry On ThE aEnEiD oF veRgIL, 7. 657.