6. L.MarciusPhilippus, L. F. Q. N., the son of the preceding, seems to have
been praetor in B. C. 60, since we find him propraetor in Syria in
B. C. 59 (Appian, App. Syr. 51). He
was consul in B. C. 56, with Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus.
Philippus was closely connected with Caesar's family. Upon the death of C. Octavims, the
father of the emperor Augustus, Philippas married his widow Atia, who was the daughter of
Julia, the sister of the dictator, and he thus became the step-father of Augustus (Suet. Octav. 8; Vell. 2.59, 60 ; Cic. Phil. iii. 6; Appian, App. BC
3.10, 13; Plut. Cic.
41). Ovid, indeed, says (Fast. 6.809), that he married the sister
of the mother (matertera) of Augustus, and hence it has been conjectured
that Philippus may have married both sisters in succession, for that he was the step-father of
Augustus cannot admit of dispute. (The question is discussed by Orelli, Onom.
Tull. vol. ii. p. 382.)
Notwithstanding his close connection with Caesar's family, Philippus remained neutral in the
civil wars. He was at Rome when the senate took open measures against Caesar at the beginning
of B. C. 49; and in the division of the provinces among the leading
members of the senate, he was purposely passed over (Caes. Civ.
1.6). He subsequently obtained permission from Caesar to take no part in the struggle,
and remained quietly in Italy during the whole of the war. Caesar, however, with his usual
magnanimity, did not resent this lukewarmness in his cause, but continued to show him marks of
friendship and esteem. Philippus was also on good terms with Cicero, who mentions him not
unfrequently, and calls him in joke Amyntae filius, in allusion to his
name Philippus (Cic. Att. 9.12, 15, 16, 18, 13.52).
Philippus was a timid man. After the assassination of Caesar, he endeavoured to dissuade his
step-son, the young Octavius, from accepting the inheritance which the dictator had left him
(Vell. 2.60; Suet. Aug. 8; Appian,
App. BC 3.10, 13; comp. Cic. Att. 14.12). When Antony and the senate came to an open
rupture, Philippus was one of the ambassadors sent to the former at Mutina by the senate, and
was nuch blamed by Cicero, because, being the ambassador of the senate, he brought back to
that body the shameless demands of Antony. (Cic. ad Fam. 12.4, Phil.
8.10, 9.1.)
Philippus must have attained a good old age. He lived till his step-son had acquired the
supremacy of the Roman world. for we find him mentioned as one of the Roman
nobles, who ornamented the city with public buildings at the request of the emperor. He built
the temple of Hercules and the Muses, which had been first erected by M. Fulvins Nobilior,
consul B. C. 189, and he surrounded it with a colonnade, which is
frequently mentioned under the name of Porticus Philippi. (Suet. Ocltv. 29 ; clari monimenta Philippi,Ov. Fast. 6.801; Mart. 5.49. 9;
Plin. Nat. 35.10; Becker, Römisch.
Alterthum. vol. i. p. 613.)
Philippus left two children, a son [No. 7], and a daughter, Marcia, who was the second wife
of Cato Uticensis. [MARCIA, No. 4.]