Author(s):
Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum)
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Schmitt, Tassilo (Bielefeld)
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Kierdorf, Wilhelm (Cologne)
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Nadig, Peter C. (Duisburg)
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Müller, Christian (Bochum)
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Et al.
Roman patrician gentilic name (from the
praenomen
Postumus ), found in the highest offices from the 5th cent. BC on and politically significant until the 2nd cent. BC. As
dictator in 499 or 496 BC, an A. P. is supposed to have decided the battle at Lacus Regillus (Liv. 2,19-20). The Albi or Albini (Regillenses), who withdrew from politics with P. [I 9]'s military failure in the Jugurthine War at the end of the 2nd cent. BC, are his descendants. I. Republican Period [German version] [I 1] P., C. Etruscan haruspex, even consulted by Sulla Etruscan
haruspex (
haruspices ), who in 89 and 83 BC purportedly made prophecies of military success for L. Cornelius [I 90] Sulla (Cic. Div. 1,72; Liv. 77 fr. 19 W.; Plut. Sulla 9,6; 27,7: following Sulla's memoirs). Elvers, Karl-Ludwig (Bochum) [German version] [I 2] P., M. Tax farmer, charged with supplying the army in the Second Punic War From Pyrgi; one of the tax farmers (
p
ublicani ) entrusted with supplying the army in the Second Punic Wars; accused of fraud in 213 BC. Finally under popular pressure in 212 it turned into a suit for a
multa , which, for fear of conflict with the
publicani, the Senate would have liked to avoid. First with the help of a tribune of the people, and then by fostering unrest, P. attempted to evade conviction, which led to his exile through a capital trial; strict meas…