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[German version] [1] King Rex (pl. reges; Indo-Germanic * rḗg̑-s, Old Indo-Aryan rā́j-, Celtic -rīx) in Latin denotes a king; in the Greek world, the Indo-Germanic term probably gave way in the Mycenaean period to the ruler designations anax ( wanax ) and basileús . The Imperial and Byzantine word ῥῆξ ( rhêx) was originally a mere Greek transliteration of the Latin rex and generally refers to tribal kings of foreign peoples. According to the root of the word * h3reg̑- ('to straighten', 'to stretch out'), the job of the rex was to 'rule', i.e. to keep the world 'upright' and perpendic…

[German version] [1] Q., praetor 56 BC Q., 73 BC legate in Greece (Syll.3 748), 65 (?) proquaestor in Macedonia (IvOl 328). As tribune of the people, 59 he opposed the politics of the consul  Caesar together with his colleague Bibulus (Cic. Sest. 113; Vatin. 16; Cass. Dio 38,6,1: schol. Bob. 135, 146St.). After the praetorship of 56 followed the proconsulate in Maedonia (Cic. Fam. 13,40) Will, Wolfgang (Bonn) [German version] [2] C. Rufus (1st half of 1st cent. BC) C., Rufus from Fulginae, accuser (?) of L. Varenus c. 80 BC [1]. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [3] Priscus (1st …

(Old Latin Loucios, Greek Λεύκιος/ Leúkios or Λούκιος/ Loúkios, abbreviation L., in the east of the empire also Lu.). Roman praenomen. Etymologically related to lux (‘light’) [4. 823], according to ancient derivation ‘the one born at first daylight’ (Varro, Ling. 5,60; Fest. 106; Liber de praenominibus 5). A late invention is the derivation of L. as ‘descendant of the Etruscan Lucumones’ (Liber de praen. op.cit.) to explain the first name of the Roman king L. Tarquinius Priscus, who was originally called Lucumo. L. i…

Roman cognomen of a branch of the patrician  Cornelii (ThlL, Onom. 356-59). Attested from the 3rd cent. BC onwards; also Cetegus (Cic. Or. 160); Greek Κέθηγος ( Kéthēgos), supposedly because the family refused to wear the tunica (Porph. Hor. Ars P. 50). Also attested in inscriptions as a family name [1. 293]. There is perhaps no connection between the imperial and republican bearers of the name. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [1] Rufius Petronius Nicomachus C. Cos. 504 AD Cos. AD 504, patricius from c. 512, mag. officiorum, princeps senatus. During the siege of Rome …

Roman gentilicium. [German version] [1] C., praef. socium 201 BC C., praef. socium 201 BC (Liv. 31,2,5-9). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [2] Balbus, T., Praetor 59 BC, historian Balbus, T., tribunus plebis 63 BC (Vell. Pat. 2,40,4), praetor 59, finally procos. in Asia (MRR 2, 197). After his return he was an unsuccessful candidate for the consulate in 55 (schol. Bob. 156St.), in the Civil War he fought on the side of Pompey ( Pompeius), for whom he had already as tribunus plebis especially applied himself and who therefore had supported him when he ran for con…

Name of a tribe probably of Sabine origin [1]. In public life of the Republican era, name-bearers appeared first in the 1st cent. BC. The name became known especially in the 1st cent. AD through the epic poet M. A.   Lucanus and through the rhetorician L. A.  Seneca and his son by the same name, the philosopher and politician; see also Cornutus I. Republican era [German version] [I 1] Brocchus, C., senator 73 BC Brocchus, C., senator 73 BC (probably aedilicius), under Verres in Sicily ([2] Cic. Verr. 2,3,93 and passim; MRR 2, 115). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) Bibliography 1 Syme, RP 2, 587-…

Name of a Roman gens, frequently recorded in the Republican Period. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [1] Cn. P. Pollio Senator from Forum Clodii, praetor ad aerarium under Augustus Senator from Forum Clodii in Etruria. Having been a people's tribune he became praetor ad aerarium, an office which was created in 23 BC. He later became proconsul in Gallia Narbonensis, legatus Augusti or comes Augusti in Gallia Comata and afterwards in Aquitania, probably between 16 and 13 BC, when Augustus set up the new provincial organisation there. He died during a trip as legatus to Athens…

Roman family name, whose bearers appear in public life from 1st cent. BC (ThlL, Onom. 108f.). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [1] C. Brought charges against Agrippina, 1st cent. AD Client of Iunia Silana, exiled after bringing charges against Agrippina in AD 55. He was recalled after her death (Tac. Ann. 13,19,3; 21,2; 22,2; 14,12,4; PIR2 C 343). Eck, Werner (Cologne) [German version] [2] C. Ruso, P. Consul suff. 53 AD Cos. suff. in AD 53 [1. 43; 72]; father of C. [3] and [4]. Eck, Werner (Cologne) [German version] [3] C. Ruso, P. Consul suff. 79 AD Cos. suff. in AD 79, procos. A…

Italian family name, connected to Bruttium, Greek Βρύττιος ( Brýttios), varied also as Brittius, Brettius, and similar. Very common in southern Italy ([1]; ThlL 2,2214). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) I. Republic [German version] [I 1] B. Sura, Q.  Braetius Eck, Werner (Cologne) II. Imperial Age [German version] [II 1] B. Crispinus, L. Consul ord. 224 AD Son of B. [II 8], cos. ord. AD 224 [1. no. 969]. Eck, Werner (Cologne) Bibliography 1 G. Barbieri, L'albo senatorio da Settimio Severo a Carino (193-285), 1952. [German version] [II 2] B. Maximus, L. Procos. Cypri in AD 80 procos. Cypri i…

Proper name of Italic origin. I. Republican Period [German version] [I 1] R., P. Cos. 132 BC Praetor in 135 BC at the latest; as cos. of 132 BC together with P. Popillius [I 8] Laenas, oversaw the sentencing of Ti. Sempronius [I 15] Gracc(h)us' followers (Cic. Lael. 37). R. put an end to the major slave revolt in Sicily and imposed order to the province with the aid of a senatorial commission ( lex Rupilia, Cic. Verr. 2,2, passim; 2,3; 2,125; Val. Max. 6,9,8; Liv. Per. 59 et passim; MRR 1,497 f.). He died soon after, allegedly from grief, after his brother failed to be elected cons…

[German version] [1] Young Roman woman, example of female bravery Young woman who was hostage of the Etruscan king  Porsenna (508 BC). She escaped, swam across the Tiber (or rode across it on horseback) and reached Rome safely with a group of young girls; she had to be returned to the king but, in recognition of her bravery, he released her and a number of the hostages. After the peace treaty the Romans honoured her with a statue on horseback at the Velia on the Sacra Via (Liv. 2,13,6-11; Flor. Epit. 1,4,7). She remained one of the most widespread examples of female bravery (Boccaccio, De claris m…

Roman nomen gentile, attested to from the 1st cent. BC (Schulze, 132; 516). I. Republican period [German version] [1] F., T. Quaestor in 63 BC; in 57 as plebeian tribune he supported the recall of Cicero (Cic. P. Red. Sen. 21; Ad Q. Fr. 1,4,3; Att. 3,23,4). In 52 he was exiled for unknown reasons (Cic. Fam. 5,18). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) Bibliography Syme, RP 2, 594 (Name). [German version] [2] F. Gallus, M. Epicurean the Epicurean, M.  Fabius [I 18] Gallus. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) II. Imperial period [German version] [II 1] L. F. Rufinus Cos. suff. AD 113 ; belonged to P…

[German version] [1] Roman cognomen Roman cognomen (probably from nervus) meaning ‘strength’. Attested in the families of the Aebutii, Cocceii, Licinii and Silii. Its most famous bearer is emperor M. Cocceius N. [2]. Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) Bibliography 1 Kajanto, Cognominia 105; 247  Walde/Hofmann 2, 165. [German version] [2] Roman emperor AD 96-98 Roman emperor AD 96-98. Born on AD 8 November 30 in Narnia with the name M. Cocceius Nerva; his father was the jurist of same name (Cocceius [5]), his mother Sergia Plautilla. Presumably his fat…

Italian surname (Schulze, 355); according to Roman legend, Rome's war against Alba Longa under King Tullus Hostilius was decided through the fight between the triplet Curiatii brothers of Alba and the triplet Horatii brothers ( Horatius) of Rome, with the former being killed (Liv. 1,24f.; Dion. Hal. Ant. Rom. 3,16-20). After the destruction of Alba, the family is said to have moved to Rome and to have been included among the Patricians (Liv. 1,30,2; Dion. Hal. Ant. Rom. 3,29,7). The consul recorded in the fasti for 453 BC, member of the 1st collegium of the decemvirs for the d…

Roman plebeian gentile name (also spelled Deidius on coins and inscriptions, Schulze, 438). The name is attested from the 2nd cent. BC. I Republic [German version] [I 1] D., T.(?) People's tribune 143 BC Probably instituted as people's tribune in 143 BC (MRR 1,472) a law to regulate expenditure on banquets, so extending the lex sumptuaria of C.  Fannius Strabo (Macrob. Sat. 3,17,6). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) Bibliography E. Baltrusch, Regimen morum, 1989, 85f. [German version] [I 2] D., C. Fleet commander for Caesar In 46/5 BC fleet commander for Caesar (Flor. 2,13,75), i…

Roman plebeian nomen gentile, probably not from faber (‘smith’), but from Etruscan hapre like Faberius and others. [1; 2]. Perhaps the family immigrated to Rome [3], in the 3rd cent. BC it became part of the nobility with F. [I 3] but was unable to maintain this status in the 2nd cent. In Rome there was a compitum Fabricium (Fest. 180L) or a vicus Fabrici (ILS 6073) between Caelius and Palatine, perhaps named after the place of residence of F. [I 3] [4], and the pons Fabricius,  F. [I 1]. I. Republican period [German version] [1] F., L. People's tribune 62 BC In 62 BC probably people's trib…

[German version] [1] Lettuce plant Lettuce (θρίδαξ/ thrídax, also θρύ-, θρόδαξ/ thrý-, thródax, θριδακίνη/ thridakínē, Lactuca sativa L.), the lettuce plant known in several varieties (Theophr. Hist. pl. 7,4,5 et passim), whose cultivation and protection against pests, as well as culinary and medical uses, are described by Theophrastus. Thus, according to Theophr. Hist. pl. 7,6,2, its juice is said to help against dropsy and eye sores. Lettuce has been cultivated in Europe, North Africa and Asia for a long time …

Roman family name, probably derived from, and in manuscripts often confused with, Geminus (Schulze 108). I. Republican period [German version] [I 1] G. Friend of Pompey Friend of Pompey, on whose orders he murdered M. Iunius Brutus in 77 BC (Plut. Pompeius 2,6; 16,6). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [I 2] G. Friend des M. Antonius Friend of the triumvir Marcus Antonius [I 9], who tried in vain to persuade the latter to return to Rome in 32 BC and become reconciled with Octavian (Plut. Antonius 59,1). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) II. Imperial period [German version] [II 1]…

Rare Roman family name, occurring in Latium (Schulze 563). [German version] [1] F., M. Opponent of P. Clodius Pulcher He came from the municipal elite and was a follower of M.  Porcius Cato (Uticensis), whose political and personal intransigence he attempted to imitate, leading to envy and numerous electoral defeats. In 61 BC he attacked P. Clodius [I 4] Pulcher, in 60 he unsuccessfully charged Q. Caecilius [I 32] Metellus Pius Scipio. In the 50s he opposed Caesar, Pompey and Crassus in vain. He became aedile in 5…

Italic nomen gentile. The family was from the ancient local aristocracy of Praeneste (CIL I2 279-290; 1467-1471; 2439) and is attested in Rome itself and as traders on Delos from the end of the 2nd cent. BC onwards (RRC 204). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [1] S., L. Appears in Cicero's letters 67-44 BC as an Epicurean (Cic. Att. 7,2,4) and a friend of Pomponius [I 5] Atticus (Cic. Att. 7,1,1). In 43 the latter rescued S., who had been proscribed because of his wealth  (Nep. Att. 12,3). Bartels, Jens (Bonn) [German version] [2] S., M. Leader of Annius [I 14] Milo's followe…