The fall of Sejanus in A.D. 31 aroused considerable controversy
in the ancient sources and has also continued to do so in modern
research. Indeed, questions of Sejanus’ intentions and of the
identification of his allies and enemies still remain of great
interest. No small part of this speculation concerns Antonia
Minor, who is considered by an increasing number of scholars to
have provided Tiberius with the critical information which led
directly to the fall of Sejanus. In one recent article on.the
family connections of Sejanus, it has been suggested that
Antonia Minor, as a relative of Sejanus and a figure of no
little influence, could have played a significant role not only
in his fall but also in his rise to power. The relationship
between the two, the subject of much conjecture but little
analysis, deserves to be considered in detail. The following
discussion will consist of three parts: I.) the alleged
relationship between Antonia and Sejanus before 31, II.) the
tradition that stresses Antonia’s importan