Gaius Popillius Laenas
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- See also Popilius for other Romans with the same name.
Gaius Popillius Laenas (also spelled Popilius) was one of the two Roman consuls in 172 and 158 BC. The name indicates that he was of the gens of the Popilii, a name of Etruscan origin. The classical plural of Laenas was Laenates, which translations sometimes render as Lenate.
He was sent as an envoy to prevent a war between Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire and Ptolemaic Egypt. On being confronted with the Roman demands that he abort his attack on Alexandria, Antiochus played for time; Popillius Laenas is supposed to have drawn a circle around the king in the sand with his cane, and ordered him not to move out of it until a firm answer had been given. The Syrians withdrew.
For more information on the Laenas family, go to Laenas article.
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| Preceded by: Lucius Postumius Albinus and Marcus Popillius Laenas |
Consul of the Roman Republic with Publius Aelius Ligus 172 BC |
Succeeded by: Publius Licinius Crassus and Gaius Cassius Longinus |
| Preceded by: Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella and Marcus Fulvius Nobilior |
Consul of the Roman Republic with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus 158 BC |
Succeeded by: Servius Julius Caesar and Lucius Aurelius Orestes |
