Eunia
Encyclopedia
Eunia, sometimes known as Ennia, was a Greek woman who lived in the 1st century Roman Empire
. According to Suetonius
she is known as Ennia Naeva (Greek
: η Ευνία).
Eunia was of Greek
and Armenia
n descent. She was the daughter and second child born to Egypt
ian Greek Thrasyllus of Mendes
or Tiberius Claudius Thrasyllus and a Greek princess from the Kingdom of Commagene, Aka II of Commagene
, who was either a granddaughter or great-granddaughter of King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
. Her father, an Alexandria
n grammarian and editor of Plato
and Democritus
, was a noted astrologer, who became a friend to the future Roman Emperor
Tiberius
.
Her eldest brother was Tiberius Claudius Balbilus
, who became a learned scholar, a Roman magistrate and later prefect
of Egypt. Her niece was Claudia Capitolina
who would marry into the Kingdom of Commagene
. Eunia and her brother were most probably born and raised in their father’s house in Alexandria
, Egypt.
Eunia married the Praetorian Prefect
Naevius Sutorius Macro
. After the downfall and death of the Praetorian Prefect Lucius Aelius Sejanus
in Rome
in 31, her husband was appointed by the then Roman Emperor
Tiberius
to replace the former. Macro’s new position gave considerable influence to both Eunia and himself.
Macro and Eunia came into favor with Tiberius’ great-nephew and heir, Caligula
. According to Suetonius
, Caligula seduced Eunia. Tacitus
states that Macro induced Eunia to pretend to love Caligula.
After Eunia and Caligula’s affair in Capri
in 34, Caligula swore to marry Eunia if he became Emperor, putting this oath in writing. The interaction between Macro, Eunia and Caligula assisted Caligula in succeeding Tiberius when the latter died in 37. Sometime in 38 Eunia and Macro fell out of favor with Caligula and they both committed suicide.
Note these articles are partly based from the information of articles Thrasyllus of Mendes and Naevius Sutorius Macro from Wikipedia.
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. According to Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
she is known as Ennia Naeva (Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: η Ευνία).
Eunia was of Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n descent. She was the daughter and second child born to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian Greek Thrasyllus of Mendes
Thrasyllus of Mendes
Thrasyllus of Mendes, whose full name was Tiberius Claudius Thrasyllus , was an Egyptian Greek grammarian and literary commentator from Mendes, Egypt...
or Tiberius Claudius Thrasyllus and a Greek princess from the Kingdom of Commagene, Aka II of Commagene
Aka II of Commagene
Aka II of Commagene, also known as Aka II was a Princess from the Kingdom of Commagene, who lived between the 1st century BC and 1st century. She was of Armenian and Greek descent.There are two possibilities on the origins of Aka II...
, who was either a granddaughter or great-granddaughter of King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
Antiochus I Theos of Commagene
Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellenos (Greek: о Αντίοχος Θεός Δίκαιος Επιφανής Φιλορωμαίος Φιλέλλην, meaning Antiochos, a just, eminent god, friend...
. Her father, an Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
n grammarian and editor of Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
and Democritus
Democritus
Democritus was an Ancient Greek philosopher born in Abdera, Thrace, Greece. He was an influential pre-Socratic philosopher and pupil of Leucippus, who formulated an atomic theory for the cosmos....
, was a noted astrologer, who became a friend to the future Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
.
Her eldest brother was Tiberius Claudius Balbilus
Tiberius Claudius Balbilus
Tiberius Claudius Balbillus or Balbilus, also known as ‘Balbillus the Wise‘, was an Egyptian Greek astrologer and a learned scholar. Balbillus was the son of astrologer Tiberius Claudius Thrasyllus, also known as Thrasyllus of Mendes and Princess Aka II of Commagene, who was either a granddaughter...
, who became a learned scholar, a Roman magistrate and later prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
of Egypt. Her niece was Claudia Capitolina
Claudia Capitolina
Claudia Capitolina was an Egyptian Greek woman who lived in the Roman Empire, in the 1st century and possibly in the 2nd century. Capitolina came from a distinguished family of Equestrian rank. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. Capitolina was the daughter and only child of Tiberius...
who would marry into the Kingdom of Commagene
Kingdom of Commagene
The Kingdom of Commagene was an ancient kingdom of the Hellenistic Age.Little is known of the region of Commagene prior to the beginning of the 2nd century BC. However, it seems that, from what little evidence remains, Commagene formed part of a larger state that also included Sophene...
. Eunia and her brother were most probably born and raised in their father’s house in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt.
Eunia married the Praetorian Prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
Naevius Sutorius Macro
Naevius Sutorius Macro
Quintus Naevius Cordus Sutorius Macro was a prefect of the Praetorian Guard, from 31 until 38, serving under the Roman Emperors Tiberius and Caligula...
. After the downfall and death of the Praetorian Prefect Lucius Aelius Sejanus
Sejanus
Lucius Aelius Seianus , commonly known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 31, her husband was appointed by the then Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
to replace the former. Macro’s new position gave considerable influence to both Eunia and himself.
Macro and Eunia came into favor with Tiberius’ great-nephew and heir, Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
. According to Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
, Caligula seduced Eunia. Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
states that Macro induced Eunia to pretend to love Caligula.
After Eunia and Caligula’s affair in Capri
Capri
Capri is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Southern Italy...
in 34, Caligula swore to marry Eunia if he became Emperor, putting this oath in writing. The interaction between Macro, Eunia and Caligula assisted Caligula in succeeding Tiberius when the latter died in 37. Sometime in 38 Eunia and Macro fell out of favor with Caligula and they both committed suicide.
Sources
- Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars - Caligula
- Tacitus, The Annals of Imperial Rome
Note these articles are partly based from the information of articles Thrasyllus of Mendes and Naevius Sutorius Macro from Wikipedia.