Legend has it that Diana's high priest at Nemi, known as the Rex Nemorensis, was always an escaped slave who could only obtain the position by defeating his predecessor in a fight to the death. Sir James George Frazer wrote of this sacred grove in The Golden Bough, basing his interpretation on brief remarks in Strabo (5.3.12), Pausanias (2,27.24) and Servius' commentary on the Aeneid (6.136). The legend tells of a tree that stood in the center of the grove and was heavily guarded. No one was allowed to break off its limbs, with the exception of a runaway slave, who was allowed, if he could, to break off one of the boughs. He was then in turn granted the privilege to engage the Rex Nemorensis, the current king and priest of Diana, in a fight to the death. If the slave prevailed, he became the next king for as long as he could defeat his challengers. However, Joseph Fontenrose criticised Frazer's assumption that a rite of this sort actually occurred at the sanctuary,Fontenrose, J. (1966). The Ritual Theory of Myth. University of California Press, ch. 3. and no contemporary records exist that support the historical existence of the Rex Nemorensis.Gordon, Arthur E., "On the Origin of Diana," 186; and Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911, "Nemorensis Lacus," 369, which cites Strabo, Pausanius, and Servius as the first sources for the rex N. legend.
Legend has it that Diana's high priest at Nemi known as the Rex Nemorensis was always an escaped slave who could only obtain the position by defeating his predecessor in a fight to the death Sir James George Frazer wrote of this sacred grove in The Golden Bough basing his interpretation on brief remarks in Strabo (5312) Pausanias (22724) and Servius' commentary on the Aeneid (6136) The legend tells of a tree that stood in the center of the grove and was heavily guarded No one was allowed to break off its limbs with the exception of a runaway slave who was allowed if he could to break off one of the boughs He was then in turn granted the privilege to engage the Rex Nemorensis the current king and priest of Diana in a fight to the death If the slave prevailed he became the next king for as long as he could defeat his challengers However Joseph Fontenrose criticised Frazer's assumption that a rite of this sort actually occurred at the sanctuaryFontenrose J (1966) The Ritual Theory of Myth University of California Press ch 3 and no contemporary records exist that support the historical existence of the Rex NemorensisGordon Arthur E "On the Origin of Diana" 186; and Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 "Nemorensis Lacus" 369 which cites Strabo Pausanius and Servius as the first sources for the rex N legend