Rome character
Atia of the Julii
Name	Atia of the Julii
Portrayed by	Polly Walker
Class	Patrician
Family	Gaius Octavian (son) Octavia of the Julii (daughter) Gaius Julius Caesar (uncle)
Allies	Gaius Julius Caesar Mark Antony Timon
Enemies	Servilia of the Junii
Appearances	The Stolen Eagle How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic An Owl in a Thornbush Stealing from Saturn The Ram has Touched the Wall Egeria Pharsalus Utica Triumph The Spoils Kalends of February Passover Son of Hades These Being the Words of Marcus Tullius Cicero Testudo et Lepus (The Tortoise and the Hare) Heroes of the Republic Philippi Death Mask A Necessary Fiction Deus Impeditio Esuritori Nullus (No God Can Stop A Hungry Man) De Patre Vostro (About Your Father)
Fate	Alive at series end

Atia of the Julii is a character from the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by Polly Walker. The niece of Julius Caesar and mother of Octavian/Augustus and Octavia, she is depicted as a cheerfully amoral and opportunistic manipulator. Her family connections and sexual liaisons have brought her into contact with some of the most powerful individuals in Rome, making her a highly influential figure in Roman society. Atia is very loosely based on the historical personage of Atia Balba Caesonia about whom little detail is known. Rome Historical Consultant Jonathan Stamp [1] identifies the historical figure Clodia as the primary basis for the character of Atia. Rome is a multiple Emmy Award-winning historical drama, produced in Italy for television by the BBC (UK), HBO (USA), and RAI (Italy). ... Image File history File links Atia_rom. ... Polly Walker (born 19 May 1966 in Warrington, Lancashire, England) is an English actress. ... This article is about the social and political class in ancient Rome. ... Gaius Octavian is a character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by Max Pirkis, in the second season he will eventually be played by Simon Woods. ... Octavia of the Julii is a fictional character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by Kerry Condon. ... Gaius Julius Caesar is a fictional character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series, Rome, played by by Ciarán Hinds. ... Gaius Julius Caesar is a fictional character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series, Rome, played by by Ciarán Hinds. ... This page is a about a character from the television series Rome, produced as a joint project of HBO and the BBC. You may wish to refer to the index of the shows Characters and Cast as well. ... This page is a about a character from the television series Rome, produced as a joint project of HBO and the BBC. You may wish to refer to the index of the shows Characters and Cast as well. ... Servilia of the Junii is a character from the HBO/BBC2 original television series, Rome, played by Lindsay Duncan. ... The Stolen Eagle is the pilot episode of the television series Rome. ... How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic is the second episode of the first season of the television series Rome. ... An Owl in a Thornbush is the third episode of the first season of the television series Rome. ... Stealing from Saturn is the fourth episode of the first season of the television series Rome. ... This page is a about an episode of the television series Rome, produced as a joint project of HBO and the BBC. You may wish to refer to the index of the shows episodes as well. ... Egeria, see Egeria. ... Pharsalus is the seventh episode of the first season of the television series Rome. ... Utica, see Utica. ... Triumph is the tenth episode of the first season of the television series Rome. ... The Spoils is the eleventh episode of the first season of the television series Rome. ... Kalends of February is the twelfth episode of the first season of the television series Rome. ... Spoiler warning: The second season begins shortly after Caesars murder and Niobes suicide. ... Son of Hades is the second episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... These Being the Words of Marcus Tullius Cicero is the third episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... Testudo et Lepus gazsdggrasdgerlajle4wjnhm;b,aerfthbgadfb afgb (The Tortoise and the Hare) is the fourth episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... Heroes of the Republic is the fifth episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... Philippi is the sixth episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... Death Mask is the seventh episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... A Necessary Fiction is the eighth episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... Deus Impeditio Esuritori Nullus (translation No God Can Stop a Hungry Man) is the ninth episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... De Patre Vostro is the tenth and final episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... HBO (Home Box Office) is a premium cable television network with headquarters in New York City. ... BBC Two (or BBC2 as it was formerly styled) was the second UK television station to be aired by the BBC. History The channel was scheduled to begin at 7:20pm on April 20, 1964 and show an evening of light entertainment, starting with the comedy show The Alberts and... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... Rome is a multiple Emmy Award-winning historical drama, produced in Italy for television by the BBC (UK), HBO (USA), and RAI (Italy). ... Polly Walker (born 19 May 1966 in Warrington, Lancashire, England) is an English actress. ... Gaius Julius Caesar is a fictional character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series, Rome, played by by Ciarán Hinds. ... Gaius Octavian is a character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by Max Pirkis, in the second season he will eventually be played by Simon Woods. ... Octavia of the Julii is a fictional character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by Kerry Condon. ... Julia Caesaris and her husband, the praetor and commissioner Marcus Atius Balbus, had 3 daughters, all named Atia Balba. ... Clodia, born Claudia Pulchra Tertulla in circa 95 BC, was the third daughter of the patrician Appius Claudius Pulcher and Caecilia Metella Balearica. ...

De Patre Vostro is the tenth and final episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ...

Personality

The HBO website provides the following character description:

Niece of Caesar, Atia of the Julii is snobbish, willful, cunning, and sexually voracious. In a culture in which women lack formal power and men leave for years on military campaigns, the wives, daughters, and mothers have built powerful networks and alliances completely independent of the men's worlds. Atia is among the women who serve as the shadow rulers of Rome.^[1]

Portrayed as the anti-heroine and femme fatale of the series, Atia is greedy and ambitious, and will do virtually anything to get what she wants. Seduction, humiliation and violence (including murder) are all tools acceptable to her; Atia's occasional hypocrisy is overshadowed by her general acceptance of her own fairly corrupt and unethical nature. In literature and film, an anti-hero is a central or supporting character that has some of the personality flaws and ultimate fortune traditionally assigned to villains but nonetheless also have enough heroic qualities or intentions to gain the sympathy of readers or viewers. ... Convicted spy Mata Hari made her name synonymous with femme fatale during WWI. A femme fatale (plural: femmes fatales) is an alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous and deadly situations. ...

Fiercely protective of her family and their social status, Atia's motives usually involve advancement or self-preservation for the Julii. Her manipulations often extend to her own relatives; feeling that she knows best, Atia will not let even her children thwart her plans. Seeing a more advantageous match, Atia forcibly divorces her daughter Octavia from her first husband (and later has him eliminated).

Atia has a vicious rivalry with the mother of Brutus, Servilia of the Junii, who is having an affair with Atia's uncle, Julius Caesar. Atia's machinations end the affair but incite Servilia to scheme against both Caesar and Atia for vengeance. Marcus Junius Brutus is a historical figure who features as a character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series, Rome, played by Tobias Menzies. ... Servilia of the Junii is a character from the HBO/BBC2 original television series, Rome, played by Lindsay Duncan. ...

Atia occasionally shows moments of weakness and more sympathetic traits. Her romantic feelings for Mark Antony sometimes cloud her judgement and make her vulnerable to his whims, and as much as she seeks to control her children, she will humble herself if necessary to assure their love for her. When Atia's schemes or attempts at seduction fail, she is often unable to maintain her composure and shows genuine distress. This page is a about a character from the television series Rome, produced as a joint project of HBO and the BBC. You may wish to refer to the index of the shows Characters and Cast as well. ...

Character history

Season One

Atia's first scene in the series sees her using her sexuality to bribe Timon, her freedman, into giving her a white horse he intended to sell at the market. Successful, she informs her twelve-year-old son Octavian that she intends him to take the horse to Gaul as a gift to their uncle Julius Caesar. When Octavian goes missing after being kidnapped by Gauls, Atia partakes in a special ritual in which a bull is sacrificed on a platform above her, drenching her in its sacred blood; she asks the gods to protect Octavian and see him safely to Caesar. This page is a about a character from the television series Rome, produced as a joint project of HBO and the BBC. You may wish to refer to the index of the shows Characters and Cast as well. ...

Taking her rivalry with Servilia to a new level in The Ram has Touched the Wall, Atia pays to have graphic sexual depictions of Servilia and Caesar drawn on every street corner, humiliating Caesar's wife Calpurnia. This ends the affair, but causes Servilia to curse both Caesar and Atia. This page is a about an episode of the television series Rome, produced as a joint project of HBO and the BBC. You may wish to refer to the index of the shows episodes as well. ... Rome title design There are several minor but significant characters featured in the HBO television series Rome. ...

In the episode Egeria, Atia is concerned about her son Octavian and his apparent lack of virility and masculinity; she hires Titus Pullo to train him as a fighter and to take him to a brothel for his first penetration. Upon Octavian putting on the toga virilis and observing how his fighting skills have improved, Atia suggests that he join a military academy. Egeria, see Egeria. ... Virility is part of the traditional idealized male gender role. ... Look up masculine in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Titus Pullo is a fictional character from the HBO/BBC original television series Rome, played by Ray Stevenson. ... Roman clad in toga The toga was the distinctive garb of Ancient Rome. ...

Though a widow, Atia is by no means resigned to celibacy and spinsterhood. She suggests to her lover Mark Antony that if they married, his social status would be elevated enough to seize control over Rome in Caesar's absence; however, Antony rejects her aggressively. Nonetheless, he later confides in Octavia that he finds himself wretched without Atia and they quickly make up their differences.

When Atia learns her daughter Octavia has seduced her brother Octavian into committing incest (under Servilia's influence) in Utica, Atia loses control and furiously confronts Octavia with a whip. When Octavian intervenes, snatching the whip from her and declaring, "I am your son, not your child. You will not strike me anymore!", Atia replies, "Will I not?" and strikes him to the floor with a blow to the face. Following this event, Octavia runs away and Octavian leaves to convince her to come back. Atia takes revenge on Servilia by having Timon and her slaves publicly humiliate her: they pull Servilia from her litter, strip and beat her in the forum and cut her hair. Utica, see Utica. ...

When Caesar is assassinated by the Senate, Servilia invites Atia to her villa to tell her the news in person. Worried what Servilia may be planning, Atia insists her son accompany her. Atia is devastated by the news, and somewhat shaken by Servilia's vow to make Atia suffer, "Slowly and deeply, as you made me suffer." Octavian remains composed and calm, eyeing Servilia coldly.

Season Two

With Octavian's input, Mark Antony manages to broker a peace between Caesar's supporters and the conspirators, ensuring the safety of himself and Atia's family. Soon Antony is welcoming Caesar's former mistress Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, to Rome; he dismisses her request for public acknowledgement of Caesar's son Caesarion with derision. He assures a jealous Atia that Cleopatra is unappealing. Later, at a party for the Egyptians, Atia plans to have guest Servilia kidnapped and murdered; Octavian and Antony put an end to the plot as Cleopatra arrives with fanfare. Atia is unimpressed with the Egyptian Queen, whom she feels is beneath her; as Cleopatra is leaving, Atia whispers in her ear, "Die screaming you pigspawn trollop." Cleopatra is a fictional character from the HBO/BBC original television series Rome, played by Lyndsey Marshal. ... Rome title design There are several minor but significant characters featured in the HBO television series Rome. ...

When an attempt by Servilia to poison Atia fails, Atia has her rival kidnapped and tortured horribly. Finally Timon, disgusted by Atia's cruely and overcome by an attack of conscience, sets Servilia free, throttles Atia and leaves her gasping for breath.

The growing rivalry between Mark Antony and Octavian puts them literally at war with each other; seeing the need for them to unite against the powerful armies of Brutus and Cassius, Atia goes to Mark Antony in Cisalpine Gaul to secure an alliance. This page is a about a character from the television series Rome, produced as a joint project of HBO and the BBC. You may wish to refer to the index of the shows Characters and Cast as well. ...

In Death Mask, both Brutus and Cassius have been killed in the Battle of Philippi, and Atia has one final encounter with Servilia. Broken and alone, Servilia curses her rival before publicly killing herself; despite their animosity, Atia is clearly unnerved by Servilia's death. Soon, Atia suggests that the marriage between her and Mark Antony finally occur as a show of unity between Antony and Octavian. The men agree that such an arrangement is necessary, but to Atia's surprise it is her daughter Octavia who is betrothed to Antony. Understanding that Octavia's childbearing age makes her more suitable for the match, Atia goes along with the marriage — but is furious. Death Mask is the seventh episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

In A Necessary Fiction, Atia and Mark Antony have resumed their affair, and Octavian's darker side emerges further when discovers this betrayal (and that fact that Octavia is involved with his friend, Marcus Agrippa). He commands Antony to leave Rome indefinitely, or be publicly shamed with Octavia's adultery, and sends Atia and Octavia into seclusion (under armed guard) at Atia's villa. Antony manages a goodbye at Atia's doorstep with guards keeping them from embracing, and promises that when the time is right he will send for her. This never happens, and these are the last words he ever says to her. A Necessary Fiction is the eighth episode of the second season of the television series Rome. ... Marcus Agrippa is a character in the HBO/BBC2 original television series Rome, played by Allen Leech. ...

Comparison with the historical Atia Balba Caesonia

Atia Balba Caesonia (born 85 BC) was the second daughter of Julius Caesar's elder sister Julia and Marcus Atius Balbus, son of a Senator from Aricia. Atia herself had two sisters, not mentioned in the series, and was a cousin to Pompey through her father. Julia Caesaris and her husband, the praetor and commissioner Marcus Atius Balbus, had 3 daughters, all named Atia Balba. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC - 80s BC - 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC Years: 90 BC 89 BC 88 BC 87 BC 86 BC - 85 BC - 84 BC 83 BC 82... Gaius Julius Caesar [1] (Latin pronunciation ; English pronunciation ; July 12 or July 13, 100 BC or 102 BC – March 15, 44 BC), was a Roman military and political leader and one of the most influential men in classical antiquity. ... Julia Caesaris is the name of two daughters of Gaius Julius Caesar III and Aurelia Cotta, who were also the parents of Julius Caesar. ... Julia Caesaris is the name of all women in the Julii Caesares patrician family (to which, for instance Julius Caesar and Caesar Augustus belonged), since feminine names were their fathers gens and cognomen declined in the female form. ... The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire. ... Pompey, Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir [1] (Classical Latin abbreviation: CN·POMPEIVS·CN·F·SEX·N·MAGNVS[2], Gnaeus or Cnaeus Pompeius Magnus) (September 29, 106 BC–September 29, 48 BC), was a distinguished military and political leader of the late Roman republic. ...

Atia's first husband was Gaius Octavius, a Senator of obscure provincial origins. By him she had a daughter, Octavia Minor (Octavius already had a daughter, Octavia Major, from a previous marriage), and a son, Gaius Octavius (Octavian). After Octavius died in 59 BC, Atia married another Senator, Lucius Marcius Philippus, who was a devoted step-father to her children. He would have been present throughout the period covered by Rome, however the character in the series is known to be unmarried. Gaius Octavius (d. ... Octavia Minor (69 - 11 BC), also known as Octavia the Younger or simply Octavia, was the sister of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus, and half sister of Octavia Thurina Major. ... For other Roman noble women of this name see Octavia Octavia Thurina Major or Octavia Major was a daughter of the Roman governor and senator Gaius Octavius from his first wife, Ancharia. ... The famous statue of Octavian at the Prima Porta Caesar Augustus (Latin:IMP·CAESAR·DIVI·F·AVGVSTVS) ¹ (23 September 63 BC–19 August AD 14), known to modern historians as Octavian for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, is considered the first and one of the most... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC - 50s BC - 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC Years: 64 BC 63 BC 62 BC 61 BC 60 BC 59 BC 58 BC 57 BC 56... Philippus was a member of a senatorial family. ...

Contrary to Rome's representation, Tacitus describes Atia Balba Caesonia as a pious, devoted mother and an ideal Roman matron; little other detail is known of her. There is no historical evidence to suggest that she was romantically involved with Mark Antony or in a contemptuous rivalry with Servilia Caepionis (basis for the character Servilia of the Junii), as is dramatized in the series. It is not known what involvement she may have had in the political intrigues of Julius Caesar or Octavian, but she did fear for her son's safety and at some point urged him to renounce his rights as Caesar's heir. Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... Bust of Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (Latin: M·ANTONIVS·M·F·M·N[1]) ( January 14 83 BC – August 1, 30 BC), known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. ... Servilia Caepionis (b. ...

Atia died in the year 43 BC, before the Battle of Philippi in which the legions of Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius. In the series, she outlives these events and even lives to see her son become the first Roman Emperor. Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC - 40s BC - 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s Years: 48 BC 47 BC 46 BC 45 BC 44 BC 43 BC 42 BC 41 BC 40 BC... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Ancient marble bust of Marcus Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (85 BC – 42 BC), or Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, was a Roman senator of the late Roman Republic. ... Caius Cassius Longinus featured on a denarius (42 BC). ...

Trivia

In the recaps for Rome on the webside Television without Pity, Atia of the Julii got the nickname "Julii Cooper", a reference to Julie Cooper, the constantly scheeming mother of Marissa Cooper on the teen soap The OC. A retread, also known as recap, is a manufacturing process designed to extend the useful lifespan of a worn tire. ... Television Without Pity (often abbreviated TWoP) is a website that provides detailed recaps of certain television dramas and reality TV shows, often by mocking them. ... // A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things proper name (for example, Bob, Rob, Robbie, Robin, and Bert are possible nicknames for Robert). ... Julie Cooper-Nichol is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., played by Melinda Clarke. ... Marissa Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television network series The O.C.. She is played by English-born American actress Mischa Barton. ... For Philippine soap opera, see Teleserye. ... The O.C. ( stands for Orange County) is an American television drama/soap opera program broadcast on the Fox Network. ...

References