Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio

Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio (ca. 183 BC – 132 BC Pergamum, Asia Minor), the son of Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum and his wife Cornelia Africana Major, was a member of the gens Cornelia and a politician of the ancient Roman Republic. He was consul in 138 BC.

The gens Cornelia was a family of patrician descent. Notable figures from his family line include Scipio Africanus, the first conqueror of Carthage and Scipio Aemilianus, the third conqueror of Carthage and main opponent of Tiberius Gracchus. Gracchus himself was Scipio Nasica's cousin.

His accomplishments are sparsely recorded or discussed in the scholarly world, though he still played an integral role in the overthrow of Tiberius Gracchus, as well as holding many important offices within the Cursus honorum.

Scipio Nasica Serapio was the third member of his family to bear the agnomen Nasica (pointed nose). He succeeded his father as Pontifex Maximus in 141 BC, possibly because of his illustrious family name and his father's great reputation.

Not much is known about the early life of Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio. He is the child of Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum and his wife Cornelia Africana Major. Scipio Nasica was born in 183 BC. He was the maternal grandson of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus.

It is likely that his branch of the gens Scipio had drifted away from the majority of the family, on account of politically opposing views towards the Third Punic War. Corculum was opposed to the invasion of Carthage, where Scipio Aemilianus actually led the siege of Carthage.

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