the eldest son of Ascanius, who claimed the government of Latium, but was obliged to give it up to his brother Silvius, and received a compensation in the form of a priestly office. (Dionys. A. R. 1.70; Liv. 1.2.) According to the author of De Orig. Gent. Rom. 15, the Latins believed that Ascanius was identical with Julus, and that out of gratitude they not only described him as a son of Jupiter, but also called him Jobus, and afterwards Julus. It is at any rate not impossible that Julus may be a diminutive of Dius. The Roman Julia gens traced their origin to this Julus. [JULIA GENS.]