AURELIA,

The wife of Caius Julius Caesar, and mother of the Dictator of the same name, may fairly take rank with Cornelia and other illustrious Roman mothers. She was a woman of excellent character, and carefully superintended the education of her son, who always exhibited towards her the greatest affection. It was in the year 63, B. C, that she had the satisfaction of seeing him elected Pontifex Maximus. Her parentage is not clearly ascertained, but Drumain conjectures that she was the daughter of M. Aurelius Cotta, and the sister of C. Aurelius Cotta, who was consul B. C. 75. Aurella lived to see her son consul, B. C. 59, and to hear of his exploits in Gaul; but after he left Rome for his province, she never beheld him more, dying B.C. 54, a short time before her grand-daughter Julia the wife of C. Pompeius.