Atia of the Julii
Background
Atia of the Julii is a member of the Roman aristocracy and a relative of Caesar. She has a daughter Octavia of the Julii and a son Gaius Octavian
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 1 The Stolen Eagle played by Polly Walker
A local trader named Timon and Atia have sex and Timon realizes Atia had sex with him so he would give her the white stallion he has. Later Atia tells her son Gaius Octavian she wants him to take the horse she got from Timon to Caesar in Gaul as a present. As Octavian is leaving with his escort, Atia tells Andros to bring back Octavian safely or his children will suffer. Atia reads a letter from Caesar asking her to pick one of available women from the Julii family to be a replacement wife for Pompey Magnus. Atia conducts a bull sacrifice and the Head Priest tells her no harm will come to Octavian. She asks Octavia how her marriage with Glabius is going and then tells her she must divorce him as she is to be married to Pompey. Later at a dinner party Atia offers Octavia to Pompey and lets him take his betrothal privileges early and he accepts. Pompey marries Cornelia and Atia vows revenge against Pompey
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 2 How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic played by Polly Walker
Atia finds Octavia and Glabius together and orders Glabius out. Octavia tells Atia she hates her and Atia slaps Octavia. Atia is complaining to Merula about Octavia when Castor announces Octavian is home. Octavian introduces Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo and insists they be allowed to stay for dinner. During dinner there is a discussion about politics where Lucius argues the preservation of the Republic is the most important factor while Titus thinks Caesar should ride into Rome and take over. At Atia's home Pompey Magnus, Marcus Tullius Cicero and Porcius Cato meet with Mark Antony. Mark Antony tells Pompey, Caesar wants to make a compromise. He will return if he is given a province to protect him from prosecution, and the senators reject his offer.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 3 An Owl in the Thornbrush played by Polly Walker
Atia angrily whips Castor in frustration when she finds out Caesar has become a traitor to Rome. Atia tells Timon she is planning to have a party and she will need him to provide her with bodyguards. Timon agrees to provide more men in exchange for sex with her later. Later on, outside of Atia's party, a group of Pompeians are gathered outside yelling and screaming. Atia blames Caesar to the crowd of Octavian, Octavia, Servilia of the Junii and Marcus Junius Brutus. She tells them if Caesar was there she would stab him herself. As the crowd outside tries to break down the door Atia decides on the order of who in the household will kill who so they are not raped and murdered by the rabble. Octavian notices the noise has stopped and Timon goes outside to find the crowd gone. During the night, Merula tells Atia that Octavia has snuck out of the house. As Timon goes to join Atia in bed she tells him to get his men and then sends them to kill Glabius. The next day Numa and Iolanthe go to Atia and beg for her protection. She has Castor order them to pay 5,000 dinari in order for him and his factories to be protected. Proculus is the next to beg Atia's protection, but they are interrupted when a Maidservant tells Atia, Glabius' body is outside. Octavia goes outside and cries at the corpse of Glabius. Atia then promises Octavia she had nothing to do with the death of Glabius.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 4 Stealing from Saturn played by Polly Walker
Atia agrees to hold a party at her home for Caesar. When Castor gives her the list of guests she wakes up Mark Antony and asks him why Caesar wants to invite Servilia. Mark Antony tells her Caesar probably is doing it, because Brutus has joined Pompey's camp, which satisfies Atia. She forces Octavian to eat hog testicles so he can build masculinity, and then gives Demeter the dinner list. At Atia's party, Servilia and Eleni arrive and Atia takes credit for inviting her. Atia approaches Servilia and tries to get her to admit that she and Cesar are having an affair, but Servilia won't admit it. Atia tries to get Calpurnia involved, however Calpurnia quickly shuts down the conversation.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 5 The Ram has Touched the Wall played by Polly Walker
Atia finds Gaius painting the toenails of Octavia and asks him what he was doing alone with Caesar in the supply closet. Atia assumes Gaius and Caesar were having sex, however Gaius insists they were not and he was helping Caesar due to a condition Caesar has. Merula tells Atia Caesar has declined her invitation for dinner, which upsets Atia. Mark Antony complains to Atia that the soldiers are getting restless for war and blames Servilia for keeping Cesar in Rome instead of Caesar going after Pompey and his men. Atia hires Titus Pullo to teach Gaius how to fight and do other manly things. Atia and Merula devise a plan and have Timon hire graffiti artists to paint depictions of Caesar and Servilia having sex on the walls of Rome.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 6 Egeria played by Polly Walker
Atia and Octavia watch as Octavian is getting swordplay training by Titus. She asks Octavian if he has had sex with a woman and then tells Titus to take him to a whorehouse. She looks over two jewelry brought by a Female Merchant and then purchases two of them, one for her and one for Octavia. When Mark Antony shows up late at her house for their dinner, Atia acts like she had forgotten about their date. She tries to convince Mark Antony to become ruler in Rome, with her as his queen, and to abandon Caesar. Mark Antony angrily calls her a harpy and she kicks him out of her house. She has Octavia bring gifts to Servilia including a slave with a large penis and a golden tortoise, in order to curry favor for when Caesar and Mark Antony are defeated. She also sends Octavian away to Mediolanum as she thinks Rome will become too dangerous for him with Caesar's defeat.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 7 Pharsalus played by Polly Walker
Upset with the guards that Timon has sent her, Atia sends Octavia to ask Servilia to send some of her guards to Atia's home. Octavia resists, but Atia insists. As Servilia asks to spend time with Octavia, Atia tells Octavia that she must go, even if it is a chore.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 9 Utica played by Polly Walker
Atia greets Octavian when he returns home after being away for two years. During a dinner party, Caesar offers to make Octavian a Pontiff and Atia thinks it is a great idea. She is told by Merula that Octavian and Octavia had sex and she goes after them with a whip. When Octavian stands up to her she slaps him. Octavia tells her Servilia told her that Atia killed Glabius and Atia denies it once more.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 10 Triumph played by Polly Walker
Atia and Merula go to the home of Servilia and Atia invites Servilia to sit with her during Caesar's Triumph, after making subtle digs at Servilia and Brutus. She has Octavian go and bring back Octavia from the monastery she has run away from and when Octavia returns she tells her she is happy that she is back. During Caesar's Triumph, Atia sits next to Caesar and exchanges looks with Mark Antony.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 11 The Spoils played by Polly Walker
At her party, Atia warns Caesar that Brutus will betray him and it is because of Servilia. Atia meets Niobe and takes her away to talk while Caesar and Lucius discuss how the deal with Mascius went, while also making fun of Niobe's dress. At the end of the party, Mark Antony waits until the other guests leave and then he corners Atia and they have sex.
During the events of Rome: Season 1 Episode 12 Kalends of February played by Polly Walker
Atia and Octavia attend an outdoor theater production depicting Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo's fight against the gladiators in the arena. Atia receives a letter from Servilia asking her to come for a visit. Atia tells Octavian that he will join her tomorrow to visit with Servilia. Servilia greets Atia and Octavian as they arrive at her house. Servilia tells Atia that she invited her to her home so she would be the first to know about Caesar's assassination. Servilia finishes telling Atia that she is now alone and tells her that she will have her revenge on Atia and that she will make her suffer and Atia and Octavian leave.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 1 Passover played by Polly Walker
Merula comforts Atia after Caesar is assassinated. Timon and Mark Antony arrive and Atia wants to leave the city while Octavian thinks they should stay. Mark Antony tells Atia that he is going north to raise an army to kill the perpetrators. As they are all leaving to had north, Mark Antony tells Atia that they must gather Calpurnia before they leave. Mark Antony and the others arrive at Calpurnia's home and Calpurnia demands that Caesar's will be read. Posca reads the will which includes freeing Posca, giving a sum of money to the people of Rome and giving his estate to Octavian. Octavian decides to stay and tells Mark Antony that there may be a way to force Brutus to come to a compromise and after hearing that she will be the mother of the richest man in Rome versus Servilia if Brutus compromises, Atia decides to stay.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 2 Son of Hades played by Polly Walker
Atia asks Mark Antony to describe Cleopatra to her and he senses her jealousy. Mark Antony tells Atia that Cleopatra requested Caesarion be recognized as Caesar's son and he told her no. At Atia's party for Cleopatra, Atia approaches Servilia and tells her she has nothing to fear and offers her friendship once more which Servilia accepts. Octavian threatens to tell Mark Antony about Atia's plan to have Servilia assassinated and after he tells Mark Antony, Atia is forced to tell Timon and his men to leave. Cleopatra arrives and she is introduced to Atia, and afterwards she presents Caesarion. Cleopatra leaves the party and as she does Atia whispers for her to die screaming. Merula tells Atia about Octavian's pledge to give money to the plebs as dictated in Caesar's will and Mark Antony and Atia storm into Octavian's room. Octavian tells them he plans on getting into politics and Mark Antony attacks him after Octavian calls Atia a whore. Atia finds a letter left by Octavian that tells her that he has left to stay with his friend Agrippa.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 3 These Being the Words of Marcus Tullius Cicero played by Polly Walker
Octavia is smoking marijuana with her friend Jocasta when Atia walks into the room and asks to smoke some and then insults Jocasta after asking her what Macedonia is like before walking away. Merula tells Atia that Timon is waiting to see her and when Timon enters, Atia sends him away. At dinner, Atia tells Mark Antony that she doesn't want to move to Macedonia once his consulship ends and if he does, he will be vulnerable to his enemies. Agrippa goes to Atia's home and tells Atia that Octavian offers his good wishes and hopes that Atia will keep her allegiances open. Atia sends Agrippa away and tells Merula to inform Mark Antony that Agrippa is in Rome. Mark Antony tells Atia that he didn't have Agrippa arrested because he knows that Cicero will refuse any alliance that Agrippa proposes and he promises not to harm Octavian. At dinner, Atia dines alone.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 4 Testudo et Lepus (The Tortoise and the Hare) played by Polly Walker
At dinner, Merula tells Atia that Althea sings well when Atia requests a singer and as Althea is singing to Atia, she collapses and dies as blood drips from her mouth. Merula tells Atia, Althea was poisoned and Castor sees Duro staring from the kitchen. Atia and Castor look on as Duro is being tortured by Timon and Saul. Atia tells Duro if he admits that Servihired him to kill her she will let him go. After Duro admits to being hired by Servilia, Atia tells Timon to kill and dump Duro's body discreetly. Castor begs for forgiveness and Atia forgives him. While praying at a temple, Servilia is kidnapped by Timon's men and brought to the home of Atia. She is then taunted by Atia and tortured by Timon. After Atia tells him to cut off Servilia's face, Timon frees Servilia and yells at Atia that he is not an animal and leaves. Octavia hands a letter from Octavian to Atia and tells her Octavian won the battle against Mark Antony.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 5 Heroes of the Republic played by Polly Walker
Octavia tells Atia that she is going to visit Octavian, but Atia refuses to go with her. Atia comes to visit Octavian and dramatically asks his forgiveness, but with questionable sincerity and Octavian forgives her. Atia returns home with Octavian and Octavia welcomes him home. Atia catches Agrippa dropping off Octavia and Octavia tells Atia that Agrippa abducted her, but when Atia finds out Octavia was at an orgy she angrily yells at her and demands Agrippa not tell anyone. Atia comes to visit Octavian and asks why he looks sad. At Mark Antony's camp, Atia arrives and brings along Octavian, and she smiles when Mark Antony and Octavian hug.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 6 Philippi played by Polly Walker
Octavian and Mark Antony create a list of prominent Roman citizens to kill and Atia adds the family of Jocasta, who she thinks is a bad influence on Octavia. As Octavian, Agrippa, Gaius Maecenas and the army leave, Atia gets Octavia to admit that she is dating Agrippa.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 7 Death Mask played by Polly Walker
Atia sees Jocasts crying and tells her to stop crying and that she went to a lot of trouble arranging Jocasta's marriage to Posca. During the wedding Atia brings up marriage with Mark Antony. The wedding is interrupted by Servilia demanding justice in front of Atia's home while Eleni pours the ashes of Brutus over Servilia's head. Atia and Merula go to investigate and Atia tells Merula not to do anything as Servilia will eventually go away. Atia complains to Mark Antony about Servilia's continued calling, and he suggests she go to see what she wants. Atia gets fed up and confronts Servilia, and after cursing Atia, Servilia stabs herself. Eleni then stabs herself with the knife and falls over dead. During a meeting between Octavian and Mark Antony they agree to split everything equally and then Octavian suggests a marriage should happen between the two houses after Atia suggests it. Mark Antony tells Atia that he will be marrying Octavia and not her and later he and Octavia get married by the Pontifex Maximus. The night after the wedding, Atia remembers the curse Servilia declared against her.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 8 A Necessary Fiction played by Polly Walker
Merula tells Atia that Octavian demands to see her that evening. Octavian introduces Livia to Atia, Octavia, Mark Antony and Agrippa. Octavian then accuses Octavia of betraying him and Agrippa admits to sleeping with Octavia. Mark Antony approaches the home of Atia and as the Head Lictor tells the soldiers in front of the house to make way, Chief Legionary blocks their way. The Head Lictor asks Mark Antony if they shall use force to enter, and Mark Antony tells him no and then starts yelling Atia's name. Atia opens the door and Mark Antony tells her he is leaving, but he will send for her. Atia surprises Octavia by sneaking Agrippa into their house.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 9 Deus Impeditio Esuritori Nullus (No God Can Stop a Hungry Man) played by Polly Walker
Octavia finds her daughter Antonia with Atia and she complains to Atia that Antonia doesn't listen to her. Atia asks Castor if there are any letters for her and he tells her no and Octavia tells Atia that Mark Antony will never call for her. Octavian, Atia, Octavia, Livia, Agrippa and Gaius Maecenas have dinner and Octavian asks Octavia and Atia to go to Egypt to ask Mark Antony to send more grain. Octavia asks if he is joking and he remarks that he can't remember the last time he joked and Livia brings up a time in the fish market a few days back. Atia demands that Octavian give her a villa in Capri and Octavia demands cash. On their voyage, Atia wonders how Mark Antony will react to her and Octavia accuses her of being sentimental. Atia, Octavia and Merula arrive at the palace of Alexandria and find the doors shut. Jocasta comes outside and says hello to Octavia and Atia and shortly afterwards, Posca comes outside and grabs Jocasta and rushes her away. Lucius tells Atia and Octavia that they are to return to their ship. Atia at first refuses to leave, but she eventually leaves after Lucius threatens the Egyptians will force them. On the boat, Octavia throws her wedding ring into the water and shortly after, Posca and Jocasta arrive on their boat and ask to sail with them. Atia, Octavia, Posca and Jocasta return home and Atia slaps Octavian when she figures out she was used by Octavian.
During the events of Rome: Season 2 Episode 10 De Patre Vostro (About Your Father) played by Polly Walker
At a dinner with Atia, Octavia, Livia and Alfidia, Livia remarks to the guests how Mark Antony fled from the Battle of Atium and left his soldiers to die. Octavia disagrees and says that the real reason Mark Antony left was to secure the gold from Cleopatra's ship. Livia tells Octavia, Octavian says differently, and Octavia calls Octavian a liar. Cleopatra's daughter and son, Helios and Selene, are brought to Atia's home and given to Octavia to take care of and Octavian tells Atia that Mark Antony killed himself. Before the start of the Triumph, Livia tells Atia that she should be the first in line, and Atia tells her she doesn't care what she or the priests say and that she will walk in front. Atia then warns Livia that better woman have tried to defeat her and they are all dead. As Mark Antony's body is paraded in front of the crowd, Atia looks away sadly.