Cornelia (mother of the Gracchi)

Cornelia (c. 190s – c. 115 BC) was the second daughter of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, a Roman general prominent in the Second Punic War, and Aemilia Paulla. Although drawing similarities to prototypical examples of virtuous Roman women, such as Lucretia, Cornelia puts herself apart from the rest because of her interest in literature, writing, and her investment in the political careers of her sons. She was the mother of the Gracchi brothers, and the mother-in-law of Scipio Aemilianus.

Quotes

• Vicit, Magne, felicitatem tuam mea fortuna. Quid enim ex funesta Crassorum domo recipiebas nisi ut minueretur magnitudo tua?
  • My luck, Magnus, has overthrown your good-fortune. For what did you receive from the ill-starred house of Crassus except the diminution of your greatness?
    • Quoted by Livy, Commenta Bernensia, Scholium ad Lucan, Pharsalia, X, 471

• Haec ... ornamenta [sunt] mea.
  • These are my ornaments.
    • Quoted by Valerius Maximus, IV, 4, incipit, relating an anecdote which has often been cited. A Campanian lady, who was at the time on a visit to her, having displayed to Cornelia some very beautiful ornaments which she possessed, desired the latter, in return, to exhibit her own. The Roman mother purposely detained her in conversation until her children returned from school, when, pointing to them, she said this famous locution: also commonly translated as "Here are my jewels."