Overview
Publius Cornelius Scipio (c. 195 – c. 170 BC) was a priest of the Roman Republic, who belonged to the prominent family of the Cornelii Scipiones. He was the grandson of Scipio Africanus and son of P. Cornelius Scipio. He is only known from an inscription found in the Tomb of the Scipios, which tells that he was flamen Dialis, the prestigious priest of Jupiter.
Family background
In the second century BC, the patrician Cornelii Scipiones were the leading family of the Roman Republic, thanks to the large victories won by its members, such as that of Scipio Africanus against Hannibal, Scipio Asiaticus against Antiochus III, Scipio Hispallus against the Spaniards, or Scipio Nasica against the Boii. Scipio Africanus had two sons, Publius and Lucius, who however did not have the same prestigious career as their father; Lucius was embroiled in a corruption scandal, and Publius, the elder, had a weak health. The latter was nonetheless a noted historian and scholar.
Scipio the historian had only one son, the flamine, who however died before him. His early death left his father childless and prompted the adoption of a son of Aemilius Paullus, then known as Scipio Aemilianus. As Aemilianus had already been adopted by the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC, Scipio's death must have taken place just before. As his death is not recorded in Livy's History of Rome, Jörg Rüpke has suggested that it took place in 170, because there is a lacuna in Livy's manuscript at the place where he should have given the names of the new priests.
Scipio still had the time to marry, as it was a requirement to become flamine, but his wife is unknown.
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