Julia Balbilla - Family & Early Life

Family & Early Life

Balbilla was a woman who came aristocratic and well-connected origins. She was a princess and a member of the exiled Royal Family who were from the Kingdom of Commagene. She was the daughter, second child and youngest one born to Greek prince of Commagene, Gaius Julius Archelaus Antiochus Epiphanes and an Egyptian Greek woman called Claudia Capitolina. The eldest brother and only sibling was the prominent Athenian Citizen and consul Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos.

Balbilla’s parents were distantly related. The paternal grandmother of Claudia Capitolina was Greek Princess Aka II of Commagene, who was a granddaughter or great, granddaughter of King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene. While her father, was the first born son to King Antiochus IV of Commagene and his wife Queen Julia Iotapa of Commagene. Antiochus IV and Iotapa were direct descendants of Antiochus I Theos.

Her maternal grandparents were Tiberius Claudius Balbilus and an unnamed Greek woman. Balbilla was named in honor and was the namesake of her maternal grandfather. Balbilus was an Egyptian Greek and was one of the highest magistrates of Equestrian rank that served in Rome. Balbilus was an astrologer and a learned scholar, who was later Prefect of Egypt. Balbilus and his father, Egyptian Greek Grammarian and Astrologer called Thrasyllus of Mendes or Tiberius Claudius Thrasyllus, were friends to the first Roman Emperors, which included Tiberius, Claudius and Vespasian.

Her paternal grandparents were Roman Client Monarchs, King Antiochus IV of Commagene and Queen Julia Iotapa. Antiochus IV and Iotapa were husband, wife and full blooded-siblings. Balbilla was of Armenian, Greek and Medes descent. Through her both sets of grandparents, she was a direct descendant from the ruling Monarchs of the Greek Syrian Seleucid Empire and the Greek Egyptian Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Balbilla was born and raised in Rome. Before Balbilla was born the Roman Emperor Vespasian, had given orders to Antiochus IV to terminate his rule over Commagene, because there were accusations made that Antiochus IV; her father and her paternal uncle prince Callinicus of disloyalty to the Emperor. They were planning to ally themselves to the Kingdom of Parthia and revolt against the Roman Empire. It is unknown whether these accusations were true or false.

While Balbilla lived in Rome, she was raised in the household of her paternal grandfather, Antiochus IV. In the household of the paternal grandfather lived Antiochus IV; prince Callinicus; her parents and her brother. Vespasian had given Antiochus IV, sufficient revenue for him and his family to live on. Her and her family had a glamorous life in Rome and were treated with great respect. With her brother, they had a traditional Greek education of the Wealthy Class.

After the deaths of her grandfathers, Epiphanes; Capitolina; Philopappos and Balbilla left Rome. The family moved and settled in Athens, Greece. Balbilla’s father Epiphanes died in Athens in 92 of unknown causes. After the death of Epiphanes, Capitolina returned to her birth city of Alexandria, Egypt where she married for the second time to the Roman Politician Marcus Junius Rufus. Capitolina spent her remaining years in her birth city and for a period of time Balbilla was with her mother and later returned to Philopappos in Athens. There is a possibility that Balbilla had an interest in astrology.

Although Balbilla belonged to the Roman Aristocracy, there is a possibility that she didn’t inherit any dignity from the Roman Senate. Her late father, was not of Senatorial Rank, but was brother became a Roman Senator, who served as a consul in 109. In 116 Philopappos died and as a dedicated to his memory, Balbilla bequeathed a splendid burial moment known as The Philopappos Monument, which is situated on the Musaios Hill, south west of the Acropolis in Athens. Through the influence, political and religious activity of Philopappos, she had met the Roman Emperor Trajan, Trajan’s heir and paternal second cousin Hadrian and also their families.

At some date in Athens, Balbilla married an unnamed Roman aristocrat. There is a possibility that her husband could have been of Senatorial Rank and through this marriage she inherited Senatorial Rank. Unfortunately there is no record of any children nor any descendants from this marriage, however her husband most probably died before 129.