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Octavia Thurina Minor: ( 69 - 11 BC.) The only daughter of her father's second marriage to Atia Balbus Minor, the niece of the Roman Dictator Julius Caesar and full blood sister of Caesar Augustus. She was born in Nola, Italy. Octavia Minor is one of the most prominent women in Roman history. She was respected and admired for the loyalty, nobility, humanity and maintaining her traditional feminine Roman virtues. This beautiful and remarkable woman lived at a time, where many succumbed to treachery and intrigue. Much of her childhood, she spent travelling with her parents. Before 54 B.C., her step-father, arranged for her to marry Gaius Claudius Marcellus. Marcellus was a man of consular rank, a member of the influential Claudian family and was a man worthy of her. They had three children: Claudia Marcella Major, Claudia Marcella Minor and Marcus Claudius Marcellus. All three were born in Italy. Marcellus died in May 40 B.C. By a Senatorial decree, Octavia married Mark Antony, in a political alliance, in October 40 B.C. Between 40-36 BC, Octavia lived with him in his Athenian mansion. She raised her children by Marcellus; Antony's two sons and their two daughters: Julia Antonia Major and Julia Antonia Minor, who were born there. She had travelled with him to various provinces. After 36 BC, Octavia returned to Rome with the children. On several occassions she acted as a political adviser and negotiator between her husband and brother. Despite Antony's rejection, divorce in 32 B.C and suicide in 30 B.C., Octavia was the sole caretaker of the children. She became guardian to Cleopatra Selene, Ptolemy Philadelphus and Iullus Antonius, her ex-husband's remaining children. Octavia never remarried. Augustus had adopted her son Marcus as his heir, but Marcus died of illness in 23 B.C. Octavia had opened the Library of Marcellus in his memory, while her brother built a threatre in Rome in his honor. She never recovered from his death and retired from public life. Her final years were spent hiding in the dark and dressing in mourning. She had woven clothes for her brother. Augustus built two monuments for his public works program, the Colonnades of Octavia and the Paragon of Virtue in her honor. She was one of the first Roman women to have coins minted in her image. She died in 11 B.C., sometime after her niece Julia Caesaris married Tiberius. Her beloved brother gave her the highest posthumous honours, built the Gate of Octavia in her memory, declared her as a goddess and built temples for her. Encyclopædia Britannica 2006 Ultimate Reference Suite.
William B.
