Minucia gens

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Roma, repubblica, denario di c. minucius augurinus, 134 ac..JPG
Roma, repubblica, denario di ti. minucius augurinus 134 ac..JPG
A denarius of the Minucia gens, depicting the head of Pallas on the obverse, and on the reverse a column honouring Lucius Minucius Augurinus, with the legend "C. Minuci. C. f. Augurini" (the minter of the coin). [1]

The gens Minucia was an ancient Roman family, which flourished from the earliest days of the Republic until imperial times. The gens was apparently of patrician origin, but was better known by its plebeian branches. The first of the Minucii to hold the consulship was Marcus Minucius Augurinus, elected consul in 497 BC. [2]

Contents

The nomen Minucius is frequently confounded with Minicius and Municius. [2] The Minucii gave their name to the street known as the Via Minucia, the Pons Minucius, a bridge on the Via Flaminia , and a columned hall on the Campus Martius . The gate known as the Porticus Minucia was named after the consul of 110 BC.

Praenomina

The Minucii used the praenomina Marcus , Publius , Quintus , Lucius , Tiberius , and Gaius . At least one early Minucius bore the praenomen Spurius . Other praenomina appear rarely, and only in the final centuries of the Republic.

Branches and cognomina

The oldest branch of the family, the Minucii Augurini, were originally patrician, but in 439 BC Lucius Minucius Augurinus went over to the plebeians, and was elected tribune of the plebs. His descendants included the consul of 305 BC and several later tribunes of the plebs. The surname was derived from the position of augur, an important priest specializing in divination. The college of augurs was held in high esteem, and membership was restricted to the patricians until around 300 BC. [2] [3] [4]

Some of the early Augurini bore the additional cognomen Esquilinus, presumably because they lived on the Esquiline Hill. Later surnames of the gens included Rufus, Thermus, and Basilus. The Minucii Rufi and Thermi appear from the latter part of the third century BC until the second half of the first century AD. Rufus means "red" and probably originally referred to someone with red hair. [5] Thermus, a borrowing from Greek, might refer to a bath or hot springs. [6]

The Minucii Basili appear only in the final century of the Republic. Their surname is derived from basileus, the Greek word for "king." [6] Although frequently written Basilius, the best manuscripts give Basilus. [7]

A number of plebeian Minucii had no cognomen.

Members

This list includes abbreviated praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see filiation.

Minucii Augurini

Minucii Rufi

Dedication for Apollo at Delphi made by Marcus Minucius Rufus (proconsul in Macedonia in 106 BC), commemorating his victories. ILLRP337DelphiMinuciusRufus.png
Dedication for Apollo at Delphi made by Marcus Minucius Rufus (proconsul in Macedonia in 106 BC), commemorating his victories.

Minucii Thermi

Denarius of Quintus Minucius Thermus, 103 BC. The obverse depicts the head of Mars. The reverse shows a Roman soldier fighting a barbarian and protecting an injured comrade - a reference to a military exploit of one of his ancestors. Q. Minucius Thermus, denarius, 103 BC, RRC 319-1.jpg
Denarius of Quintus Minucius Thermus, 103 BC. The obverse depicts the head of Mars. The reverse shows a Roman soldier fighting a barbarian and protecting an injured comrade – a reference to a military exploit of one of his ancestors.

Minucii Basili

Others

Footnotes

  1. The tradition that he was elected tribune immediately upon becoming a plebeian seems improbable, since there were already ten tribunes; but that he became a plebeian seems to be confirmed by the fact that several other Minucii were subsequently elected to this office.
  2. Or Titus, in Livy and Cassiodorus.
  3. There is some uncertainty as to whether the tribune of the plebs and the consul of 110 are the same person; one of them might be Marcus' brother, Quintus Minucius Rufus.

See also

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References

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Bibliography