Ovinia gens

Last updated

The gens Ovinia was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens occur in history toward the end of the Republic, and from then to at least the fourth century. They produced generations of Roman senators, with Gaius Ovinius Tertullus obtaining the consulship toward the end of the second century. [1]

Contents

Origin

The nomen Ovinius belongs to a class of gentilicia formed from other names using the suffix -inius. In this case, it seems to be a patronymic surname derived from the Oscan praenomen Ovius. [2]

Branches and cognomina

Among the surnames of the Ovinii were Camillus, Rusticus, and Tertullus. Camillus was an ancient cognomen referring to a youth in the service of a priestly office, and was made famous by the dictator Marcus Furius Camillus during the fourth century BC. Rusticus referred to someone of rural origin or habits. Tertullus is a diminutive of the cognomen Tertius, "third". [3]

Members

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

See also

Footnotes

  1. A type of provincial governor.

Related Research Articles

The gens Acilia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, that flourished from the middle of the third century BC until at least the fifth century AD, a period of seven hundred years. The first of the gens to achieve prominence was Gaius Acilius, who was quaestor in 203 and tribune of the plebs in 197 BC.

The gens Baebia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. The first member of the gens who obtained the consulship was Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus, in 182 BC. During the later Republic, the Baebii were frequently connected with the patrician family of the Aemilii.

The gens Arruntia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first came to prominence during the final years of the Republic.

The gens Caecinia was a plebeian family of Etruscan origin at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the time of Cicero, and they remained prominent through the first century of the Empire, before fading into obscurity in the time of the Flavian emperors. A family of this name rose to prominence once more at the beginning of the fifth century.

The gens Ceionia or gens Caeionia or the Caeionii family was an ancient Roman senatorial family of imperial times. The first member of the gens to obtain the consulship was Lucius Ceionius Commodus in AD 78. The rise of this family culminated in the elevation of the emperor Lucius Verus, born Lucius Ceionius Commodus, in AD 161.

The gens Septimia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. The gens first appears in history towards the close of the Republic, and they did not achieve much importance until the latter half of the second century, when Lucius Septimius Severus obtained the imperial dignity.

The gens Novia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens first appear during the final century of the Republic, but the first of the Novii to obtain the consulship was Decimus Junius Novius Priscus in AD 78.

The gens Nummia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens appear almost exclusively under the Empire. During the third century, they frequently obtained the highest offices of the Roman state.

The gens Paccia, occasionally written Pactia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Only a few members of this gens achieved distinction in the Roman state, of whom the most illustrious was Gaius Paccius Africanus, consul in AD 67.

The gens Pactumeia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are not mentioned by the historians until imperial times, when one branch of the family achieved high rank, holding several consulships during the first and second centuries.

The gens Palfuria was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned during the first century of the Empire. The most illustrious of the family was Publius Palfurius, who held the consulship in AD 55.

The gens Passiena, occasionally written Passienia, Passenia, Passennia, or Passenna, was a plebeian family at ancient Rome, originally of equestrian rank, but at least one member was later admitted to the patriciate. Members of this gens appear in history from the early years of the Empire down to the third century, and several obtained the consulship, beginning with Lucius Passienus Rufus in 4 BC.

The gens Pedania was a minor plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned at the time of the Second Punic War, but they achieved little prominence until imperial times, when the ill-starred Lucius Pedanius Secundus attained the consulship under Nero.

The gens Ragonia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the early decades of the Empire, but they did not become prominent until the time of Commodus, in the late second century, from which period several of them attained positions of high distinction in the Roman state.

The gens Rupilia, occasionally written Rupillia, was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the latter part of the Republic, and Publius Rupilius obtained the consulship in 132 BC. Few others achieved any prominence, but the name occurs once or twice in the consular fasti under the Empire. The name is frequently confounded with the similar Rutilius.

The gens Salvidiena was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned toward the end of the Republic, and from then to the end of the second century they regularly filled the highest offices of the Roman state.

The gens Statia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned in the early decades of the Republic, but the name does not appear again in history until the time of Cicero. The Statii remained relatively undistinguished until the reign of Trajan, when Lucius Statius Aquila was raised to the consulship.

The gens Tigidia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. The only member of this gens to appear in history was Sextus Tigidius Perennis, prefect of the praetorian guard early in the reign of Commodus, but others are known from inscriptions.

The gens Turcia was an obscure plebeian family at ancient Rome. Few members of this gens appear in history, but a number are known from inscriptions, which indicate that the Turcii first came to prominence in the time of Augustus. After a period of relative unimportance, they repeatedly attained the highest offices of the Roman state from the third to the fifth century, holding several consulships.

The gens Tutilia was a minor plebeian family at ancient Rome. No members of this gens came to prominence until imperial times, but two of them attained the consulship under the Antonines.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. III, p. 74 ("Ovinius").
  2. Chase, pp. 125, 126, 139, 140.
  3. Chase, pp. 110–112.
  4. Orosius, vi. 19.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 PIR, vol. II, p. 442.
  6. 1 2 PIR, vol. II, p. 443.
  7. Aelius Lampridius, "The Life of Alexander Severus", 48.
  8. Fasti.
  9. PIR, vol. II, pp. 442, 443.
  10. CIL II, 4126.
  11. 1 2 Chronography of 354.
  12. 1 2 CIL VI, 1479.
  13. PLRE, vol. 1, p. 383 ("Ovinius Gallicanus").

Bibliography