Octavia the Elder | |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Sextus Appuleius |
| Children | Sextus Appuleius Marcus Appuleius |
| Parents |
|
Octavia the Elder[a] (before 69 BC – after 29 BC) was the daughter of the Roman governor and senator Gaius Octavius by his first wife, Ancharia. She was the elder half-sister to Octavia the Younger and Roman Emperor Augustus.[1]
Octavia was born to Ancharia and Octavius likely some time before 69 BC.[2]
Octavia the Elder was married to Sextus Appuleius (I). They had a son, who was also named Sextus Appuleius, he served as ordinary consul in 29 BC with his half-uncle, Augustus.[3] It is postulated that they had a second son, Marcus Appuleius, the consul of 20 BC.[4] Through Sextus Appuleius, the consul, she had a grandson named Sextus Appuleius, consul in AD 14, and a granddaughter Appuleia Varilla. Octavia the Elder's last known descendants were her great-grandson, also named Sextus Appuleius, through her grandson and Fabia Numantina.[5]
Plutarch was only aware of one daughter of Gaius Octavius and confused Octavia the Elder with Octavia the Younger.[6]
Octavia's existence as wife of Appuleius was first discovered due to a dedication from when her husband was proconsul of Asia.[7]
Octavia and her husband, as well as their two sons, may be depicted on the Ara Pacis.[8]