Eve (Xena)
Encyclopedia
Eve | Livia is a fictional character
created by Robert Tapert
for the popular TV series Xena: Warrior Princess
. She is portrayed by Adrienne Wilkinson
.
She is a heavily fictionalized version of the First Empress of Rome – Livia Drusilla Julia Augusta
.
, born of a miraculous conception after Xena and Gabrielle
encounter a deity called the God of Light. When Xena chooses to save her former enemy, Callisto
, from eternal suffering, the redeemed spirit of Callisto allows her to conceive a child, who is then selected to be her reincarnation.
Before her birth, Xena's unborn daughter is prophesied by the Fates
to become the Bringer of Twilight, the human who will bring about the end of the rule of the Olympian gods
. Zeus
attempts to kill Xena and her child before this happens, but is thwarted by Hercules
, who kills him with a rib of Cronus
. Xena delivers the baby with Gabrielle's help in the shade of a tree, moments after Zeus's demise. Xena names the girl Eve, a name that her deceased son Solan
suggested upon seeing him in the underworld
. Meanwhile, Athena
becomes the leader of the Olympian gods, and they continue their ceaseless persecution of the infant Eve. Driven to desperation, Xena and Gabrielle fake their own deaths, and that of Eve, by staging a fatal crash, then taking a sleeping draught in a manner similar to the ploy in Romeo and Juliet
. They intend to awaken shortly afterwards, but the plan goes awry when Ares
, believing them to be dead, buries Xena and Gabrielle in an ice cave as great warriors and leaves Xena's sword and chakram. Eve remains in the custody of Xena's friend Octavius
, who proceeds to take her to Rome and sends her to the provinces
to be educated.
Twenty-five years later, Xena and Gabrielle awaken to discover that Octavius has become the Roman Emperor
Augustus Caesar, and Eve is now a brutal warrior known as Livia
, the Champion of Rome. She is the protégée and lover of Ares, but is intending to marry Augustus and thus become the empress. Xena sets about trying to stop her daughter from massacring innocent people, and in the process inadvertently exposes Livia's identity to the gods, who resume their persecution of her as the Bringer of Twilight.
Livia is reformed when Eli
's spirit shows her various moments of Xena taking care of her when she was a baby, and learns that her mother truly did care for her. The reformed Livia once again takes on the name of Eve, and intends to become the Messenger of Eli, who taught pacifism and independence from the Olympian gods. While Eve is initiated into the sect of Eli, the God of Eli gives Xena the power to kill gods as long as Eve is alive. This development causes the Olympians to redouble their efforts to kill Xena and her daughter, ironically bringing about their own demise when Xena goes up against them with her newly acquired power. Ares and Aphrodite
survive, having remained neutral during the ordeal. However, Ares gives up his powers and immortality
to save Eve and Gabrielle.
After the Twilight of the Gods, Eve travelled with Xena and Gabrielle. As such, she appears in the first four episodes of season six. According to an interview with Adrienne Wilkinson, the episode "Coming Home" took place a year after the events in "Motherhood".
After "Who's Gurkhan?" Eve apparently returned to Rome, though no explanation was provided for her absence. In fact, while Xena seemed to know where Eve was, Gabrielle didn't, as seen in "The God You Know" where Gabrielle seems surprised to learn Eve is in Rome.
Eve challenges the emperor, Caligula
, in "The God You Know" in regards to his slaughter of the Elijans. She is nearly killed by Caligula, but Xena arrives in time to defeat him and save Eve.
Eve is seen briefly in "You Are There" being interviewed by Nigel.
Eve's final appearance in the series was in the episode "Path of Vengeance" in which she returns to the land of Varia
's Amazon tribe in order to atone for her attack on them six years prior. Varia, now leading the multiple Amazon tribes that have gathered from around the known world, captures Eve in order to make her stand trial. Marga had apparently banished Eve after "Coming Home" with the threat of death if she returned. Varia, having lost her little sister at Livia's hand during the attack on her village, is after Eve's life.
It is revealed in this episode, that the Amazons she captured as slaves (as stated in "Coming Home"), she had tossed overboard with their shackles still on when she was unable to sell them to Gurkhan.
Gabrielle challenges Varia for leadership of the Amazons in order to save Eve's life when she is found guilty, but loses. Xena challenges Varia to a fight before she can execute Eve, and in doing so, she shows Varia that she has become like Livia, which leads Varia to stop her actions, and pardon Eve (stating Livia is dead).
At the end of the episode, Eve parts ways with Xena and Gabrielle, heading to Chin to continue to spread the message of Eli. Xena offers to go with her, but Eve states she needs to do it on her own, and departs.
Livia made two appearances in season six. One was as a vision seen by Eve, caused by the king of Hell, Mephistopheles, in order to torment Eve, hoping to get her to spill her blood in order to release him into the world in the episode " The Haunting of Amphipolis." Livia was also seen in flashbacks in " Path of Vengeance" when she attacked Varia's tribe.
from early childhood to fight in his name. (Hand-to-hand combat, all sorts of weapons but mostly swords) She is established as an extremely dangerous individual, and is more than capable of taking a stand against even the most skilled and dangerous of opponents, such as the God of War
and her mother
.
Chakram Skills: In the episode “Eve”, she was able to stop the Chakram when Xena threw it on her and cut it into two pieces. In the next episode “Motherhood”, Eve caught the Chakram.
Acrobatic Skills: Aside from other acrobatic skills almost all well-trained warriors have in the show, Eve (Livia) has her own trademark moves: in the episode “Coming Home” as well as in the episode “Path of Vengeance”, Eve (Livia) made a flip that only she knew how to do; this was revealed by Varia: '“I’ve seen only one warrior do that move...”' and which actually helped her to recognize the woman as being the former Livia—the Champion of Rome.
Commander: Being the former commander of the Roman Legions, Eve (Livia) holds her previously acquired knowledge of political and historical facts.
Heavenly Abilities: After Eve was initialized as the Messenger of the God of Light, she received a number of abilities that are channelled from Heaven. In the episodes “The Haunting of Amphipolis” and “Heart of Darkness”, Eve was shown casting evil spirits back to Hell and healing a human who was taken by demons.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by Robert Tapert
Robert Tapert
Robert Gerard Tapert , sometimes credited as Rob Tapert, Robert G. Tapert, or Rip Tapert, is an American film producer, best known for his co-founding of, and his subsequent work with, the Renaissance Pictures company....
for the popular TV series Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
. She is portrayed by Adrienne Wilkinson
Adrienne Wilkinson
Adrienne Marie Wilkinson is an American actress.- Biography :Adrienne Wilkinson was born in Memphis, Missouri. She is of Irish, Scottish, English, Cherokee, Danish and German heritage....
.
She is a heavily fictionalized version of the First Empress of Rome – Livia Drusilla Julia Augusta
Livia
Livia Drusilla, , after her formal adoption into the Julian family in AD 14 also known as Julia Augusta, was a Roman empress as the third wife of the Emperor Augustus and his adviser...
.
Character history
Eve is the daughter of XenaXena
Xena is a fictional character from Robert Tapert's Xena: Warrior Princess franchise. She first appeared in the 1995–1999 television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, before going on to appear in Xena: Warrior Princess TV show and subsequent comic book of the same name...
, born of a miraculous conception after Xena and Gabrielle
Gabrielle (Xena)
Gabrielle is a fictional character played by Renée O'Connor in Xena: Warrior Princess. She is referred to by fans as the Battling Bard of Potidaea. Her trademark weapons are the Amazon fighting staff and later, the sais...
encounter a deity called the God of Light. When Xena chooses to save her former enemy, Callisto
Callisto (Xena)
Callisto is a fictional character in the fantasy TV series Xena: Warrior Princess. She features as the most frequently recurring villainess on that show. She also makes appearances on three episodes of the parent show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys...
, from eternal suffering, the redeemed spirit of Callisto allows her to conceive a child, who is then selected to be her reincarnation.
Before her birth, Xena's unborn daughter is prophesied by the Fates
Moirae
The Moirae, Moerae or Moirai , in Greek mythology, were the white-robed incarnations of destiny . Their number became fixed at three...
to become the Bringer of Twilight, the human who will bring about the end of the rule of the Olympian gods
Twelve Olympians
The Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon , in Greek mythology, were the principal deities of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus. Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings. Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis were children of Zeus...
. Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
attempts to kill Xena and her child before this happens, but is thwarted by Hercules
Heracles
Heracles ,born Alcaeus or Alcides , was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus...
, who kills him with a rib of Cronus
Cronus
In Greek mythology, Cronus or Kronos was the leader and the youngest of the first generation of Titans, divine descendants of Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the sky...
. Xena delivers the baby with Gabrielle's help in the shade of a tree, moments after Zeus's demise. Xena names the girl Eve, a name that her deceased son Solan
Solan (Xena)
Solan is a fictional character in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, he is played by David Taylor, and later by Nicko Vella.-Biography:...
suggested upon seeing him in the underworld
Greek underworld
The Greek underworld was made up of various realms believed to lie beneath the earth or at its farthest reaches.This includes:* The great pit of Tartarus, originally the exclusive prison of the old Titan gods, it later came to be the dungeon home of damned souls.* The land of the dead ruled by the...
. Meanwhile, Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
becomes the leader of the Olympian gods, and they continue their ceaseless persecution of the infant Eve. Driven to desperation, Xena and Gabrielle fake their own deaths, and that of Eve, by staging a fatal crash, then taking a sleeping draught in a manner similar to the ploy in Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
. They intend to awaken shortly afterwards, but the plan goes awry when Ares
Ares (Hercules and Xena)
Ares is a character on the television shows Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Young Hercules. He was portrayed by New Zealand actor Kevin Tod Smith...
, believing them to be dead, buries Xena and Gabrielle in an ice cave as great warriors and leaves Xena's sword and chakram. Eve remains in the custody of Xena's friend Octavius
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
, who proceeds to take her to Rome and sends her to the provinces
Roman province
In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and, until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of Italy...
to be educated.
Twenty-five years later, Xena and Gabrielle awaken to discover that Octavius has become the Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Augustus Caesar, and Eve is now a brutal warrior known as Livia
Livia
Livia Drusilla, , after her formal adoption into the Julian family in AD 14 also known as Julia Augusta, was a Roman empress as the third wife of the Emperor Augustus and his adviser...
, the Champion of Rome. She is the protégée and lover of Ares, but is intending to marry Augustus and thus become the empress. Xena sets about trying to stop her daughter from massacring innocent people, and in the process inadvertently exposes Livia's identity to the gods, who resume their persecution of her as the Bringer of Twilight.
Livia is reformed when Eli
Eli (Xena)
Eli is a fictional character from the television series Xena: Warrior Princess. He is portrayed by American actor Timothy Omundson.-The Devi:...
's spirit shows her various moments of Xena taking care of her when she was a baby, and learns that her mother truly did care for her. The reformed Livia once again takes on the name of Eve, and intends to become the Messenger of Eli, who taught pacifism and independence from the Olympian gods. While Eve is initiated into the sect of Eli, the God of Eli gives Xena the power to kill gods as long as Eve is alive. This development causes the Olympians to redouble their efforts to kill Xena and her daughter, ironically bringing about their own demise when Xena goes up against them with her newly acquired power. Ares and Aphrodite
Aphrodite (Xena and Hercules)
Aphrodite is a fictional character played by Alexandra Tydings in Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.-Overview:...
survive, having remained neutral during the ordeal. However, Ares gives up his powers and immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
to save Eve and Gabrielle.
After the Twilight of the Gods, Eve travelled with Xena and Gabrielle. As such, she appears in the first four episodes of season six. According to an interview with Adrienne Wilkinson, the episode "Coming Home" took place a year after the events in "Motherhood".
After "Who's Gurkhan?" Eve apparently returned to Rome, though no explanation was provided for her absence. In fact, while Xena seemed to know where Eve was, Gabrielle didn't, as seen in "The God You Know" where Gabrielle seems surprised to learn Eve is in Rome.
Eve challenges the emperor, Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
, in "The God You Know" in regards to his slaughter of the Elijans. She is nearly killed by Caligula, but Xena arrives in time to defeat him and save Eve.
Eve is seen briefly in "You Are There" being interviewed by Nigel.
Eve's final appearance in the series was in the episode "Path of Vengeance" in which she returns to the land of Varia
Varia (Xena)
Varia is a fictional character in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess. She is portrayed by Tsianina Joelson.-Character history:...
's Amazon tribe in order to atone for her attack on them six years prior. Varia, now leading the multiple Amazon tribes that have gathered from around the known world, captures Eve in order to make her stand trial. Marga had apparently banished Eve after "Coming Home" with the threat of death if she returned. Varia, having lost her little sister at Livia's hand during the attack on her village, is after Eve's life.
It is revealed in this episode, that the Amazons she captured as slaves (as stated in "Coming Home"), she had tossed overboard with their shackles still on when she was unable to sell them to Gurkhan.
Gabrielle challenges Varia for leadership of the Amazons in order to save Eve's life when she is found guilty, but loses. Xena challenges Varia to a fight before she can execute Eve, and in doing so, she shows Varia that she has become like Livia, which leads Varia to stop her actions, and pardon Eve (stating Livia is dead).
At the end of the episode, Eve parts ways with Xena and Gabrielle, heading to Chin to continue to spread the message of Eli. Xena offers to go with her, but Eve states she needs to do it on her own, and departs.
Livia made two appearances in season six. One was as a vision seen by Eve, caused by the king of Hell, Mephistopheles, in order to torment Eve, hoping to get her to spill her blood in order to release him into the world in the episode " The Haunting of Amphipolis." Livia was also seen in flashbacks in " Path of Vengeance" when she attacked Varia's tribe.
Skills and Abilities
Eve possesses excellent combat prowess; comprehensively trained by AresAres (Hercules and Xena)
Ares is a character on the television shows Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Young Hercules. He was portrayed by New Zealand actor Kevin Tod Smith...
from early childhood to fight in his name. (Hand-to-hand combat, all sorts of weapons but mostly swords) She is established as an extremely dangerous individual, and is more than capable of taking a stand against even the most skilled and dangerous of opponents, such as the God of War
Ares (Hercules and Xena)
Ares is a character on the television shows Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Young Hercules. He was portrayed by New Zealand actor Kevin Tod Smith...
and her mother
Xena
Xena is a fictional character from Robert Tapert's Xena: Warrior Princess franchise. She first appeared in the 1995–1999 television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, before going on to appear in Xena: Warrior Princess TV show and subsequent comic book of the same name...
.
Chakram Skills: In the episode “Eve”, she was able to stop the Chakram when Xena threw it on her and cut it into two pieces. In the next episode “Motherhood”, Eve caught the Chakram.
Acrobatic Skills: Aside from other acrobatic skills almost all well-trained warriors have in the show, Eve (Livia) has her own trademark moves: in the episode “Coming Home” as well as in the episode “Path of Vengeance”, Eve (Livia) made a flip that only she knew how to do; this was revealed by Varia: '“I’ve seen only one warrior do that move...”' and which actually helped her to recognize the woman as being the former Livia—the Champion of Rome.
Commander: Being the former commander of the Roman Legions, Eve (Livia) holds her previously acquired knowledge of political and historical facts.
Heavenly Abilities: After Eve was initialized as the Messenger of the God of Light, she received a number of abilities that are channelled from Heaven. In the episodes “The Haunting of Amphipolis” and “Heart of Darkness”, Eve was shown casting evil spirits back to Hell and healing a human who was taken by demons.
The baby Eve
- God Fearing Child (the birth of Eve)
- Eternal Bonds
- Amphipolis under Siege
- Married with Fishsticks
- Lifeblood
- Kindred Spirits
- Antony and Cleopatra
- Looking Death in the Eye
The adult Eve
- Livia
- Eve
- Motherhood
- Coming Home
- The Haunting of Amphipolis
- Heart of Darkness
- Who's Gurkhan?
- The God You Know
- You Are There
- Path of Vengeance