Publius Cornelius Scipio, later to acquire the nickname "Africanus" because of his victory over Carthage in Africa, was born as a scion of the Cornelii, one of the oldest and most illustrious patrician families.  Scipio's father, after whom he was named, as well as his grandfather and great-grandfather had all held the consulship at some point or another.  Little is known of Scipio's youth, although Livy states that from age 14, Scipio never conducted any matters of business without visiting the temple of Jupiter.  He is also said to have claimed divine inspiration and was probably sickly as a child.