Silanus

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For the Italian city, see Silanus.

Silanus is the cognomen of a patrician branch of the Junius family of ancient Rome which came to prominence during the Empire. Important members of this family were three brothers who lived in the reigns of Claudius and Nero who were descended via their mother Aemilia Lepida from the emperor Augustus. All three brothers came to tragic ends.

• Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus(14 AD- by November, 54 AD), who was consul in 46 AD.
• Decimus Junius Silanus Torquatus(d. 64 BC, forced to commit suicide) who was consul in 53 AD.
• Lucius Junius Silanus Torquatus the elder (committed suicide on New Year's Day, 49 AD), praetor in 48 AD who was engaged to Claudius's daughter Claudia Octavia until Agrippina the Younger spread false rumors about his alleged incest with his sister Junia Calvina.

According to Sallust in his history of the Jugurthine War, Titus Turpilius Silanus was the commander of the Roman garrison at Vaga, and the only Roman to survive when the native Numidians rose up against the garrison. Silanus was subsequently tried and executed by the proconsul, Metellus, for suspected treason.