Sempronia 99

vol. II A p.1445

99) Sempronia

Sempronia is the only one of Ti. Gracchus nr. 53 and Cornelia’s six daughters who lived past their childhood. She was most likely the eldest, born not long after 590 = 164. In around 604 = 150 or 606 = 148, she was married to her cousin P. Scipio Aemilianus, who was more than twenty years older than her (Plut. Ti. Gr. 1, 3, cf. 4, 4. Cic. Lael. 101. Val. Max. VI 2, 3); the marriage was, however, not a happy one, on account of Sempronia’s ugliness and infertility (Appian. bell. civ. I 83). <40> This was the reason why, after Scipio’s death in 625 = 129, Sempronia was blamed along with her mother for his early and sudden end (Liv. ep. LIX. Oros. V 10, 10. Schol. Bob. Mil. 283 Or. = 118 Stangl. Appian.; see vol. IV p.1458f. 1594). She was still alive in 653 = 101, and she denied the false Gracchus, L. Equitius, public recognition as a relative, despite the dangerous pressure from the people (Val. Max. III 8, 6. Auct. de vir. ill. 73, 4; see vol. VI p.322, 58ff.). <50>

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